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Our History

Playtrain was founded as a project of the National Playing Fields Association in 1981, and steered to independent charitable status in 1988. Throughout these 20 years the organisation has maintained an unwavering commitment to children and young people’s rights and, in particular, the right to play, and to be involved in cultural life and the arts.

Over the years Playtrain has developed and grown steadily, never losing sight of its original aims. It expanded the range of training work undertaken, to become recognised as a leading independent playwork training agency.  As it developed Playtrain became a leading force in implementing equal opportunities in playwork.  It explored the creative potential (and problems) of computers, video and other new technology in children’s play, long before other playwork agencies started to use them. It undertook innovative research and development projects on issues of children and creativity. It extended the boundaries of training adults in creative skills and developing play and creative arts projects with community groups.

Playtrain broke new ground in children and young people’s arts and cultural expression by organising the Article 31 conference in 1993. Play practitioners from around the country attended this conference to promote Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which states children and young people have a right to play and leisure and to take part in cultural life and the arts.

Since that conference, Local Authorities and Voluntary organisations, both in play and the arts, nationally, have adopted Article 31 as their guiding principle. It is largely thanks to Playtrain’s work that the provisions of Article 31 are now known and understood by thousands in the field of playwork, culture and the arts.  One of Playtrain’s major contributions in the UK has been a firm commitment to challenging discrimination and injustice, and promoting genuine equality of opportunity, particularly in the areas of anti-racist and anti-sexist creative play and arts practice.

In addition to regularly contracted ‘one-off’ participatory workshops, creative consultations and training, Playtrain is currently delivering an innovative creative programme with young mental health service users at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.  Playtrain is also currently delivering an arts and media project with ‘Looked After’ young people in Birmingham City Council Children’s Homes.   In April 2009, Playtrain, funded by the Lankelly Chase Foundation, launched a year-long inclusive play and arts project with disabled children and young people across Birmingham.