Hackney Play Association is a registered children's charity (no. 1145960) operating in the London Borough of Hackney. Established in 1972 as a campaign group advocating for improved play facilities[4], it transitioned into a service provider focused on enriching children's lives through inclusive play opportunities[1][3].

Mission and Activities

The organisation aims to enhance physical health, emotional well-being, and social development by delivering play services tailored to children, young people, and families. Key initiatives include:

• Inclusive play provision: Supporting disabled children's access to mainstream play services through adapted facilities and trained staff[2][5].
• Playwork training: Offering professional development for staff, volunteers, and trustees, alongside youth leadership programmes[2].
• Community engagement: Operating adventure playgrounds and hosting events that foster creativity, risk-taking, and collaborative play[3].

Historical Context

Originally founded to address the lack of safe play spaces in Hackney[4], the charity celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022[1]. Over decades, it has evolved from a grassroots campaign into a structured provider maintaining multiple playgrounds across the borough[3].

Governance

As a registered charity, it adheres to standards set by the Charity Commission, prioritising transparency in fund allocation and service delivery[2][5]. Its work emphasises child-led play as essential for developmental resilience[1][3].

[1] https://www.hackneyplay.org [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1145960&subId=0 [3] https://www.hackneyplay.org/about/ [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=272651&subId=0 [5] https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1145960