The Department developed the ‘Build your PlaySpace’ interactive tool to engage children and young people in the Fair Play consultation in a fun and interactive way. The tool is one strand of a wider consultation strategy that includes an activity poster/competition for children and young people, live events to encourage local dialogue with children, young people, their families and practitioners and written consultation. Responses from all of these strands will be analysed as a whole.
We recognised that, in order to engage most effectively with children and young people, it was important to offer them a choice of how to share their views on play with us, and to do so in a fresh and creative way. The tool has been designed specifically for children and young people between the ages of eight and 13, and the vast majority of the responses received thus far (approximately 75 per cent.) have been from within this age group, although we have deliberately not limited responses solely to this group.
The tool was launched on 20 May and it has been supported by a cross channel advertising campaign with young people, parents and school workforce channels carrying animated banners with links to the tool.