Free to Play UK
Play supports children to build confidence, friendships, physical health and resilience. However, children’s freedom to play outdoors has narrowed, while concerns about their mental health and inactivity have grown. Free to Play UK recognises play as a right and focuses on the outdoor, child-led and adventurous play that has become less available.
A place-based approach
Free to Play UK is designed as more than a grant programme. It will take a whole-system approach, shaped by the opportunities and barriers affecting play in each place.
The initiative has an initial programme value of more than £9.3 million, including local match funding. It will bring together 20 community foundations, with local programmes expected to open in spring 2027.
Community foundations will work with children, families, local organisations, schools, councils and other partners to understand what makes everyday play possible. Each community foundation will shape its work around its local context, using a combination of convening, commissioning and grants. This approach aims to strengthen local leadership, build capacity and support the conditions for sustainable play provision. Shared learning will also help identify patterns across different places and contribute to wider evidence, policy and practice.
Learning across the UK and Canada
The initiative is being developed with funders, community foundations and play sector partners.
Before local activity begins, the participating community foundations are taking part in a dedicated learning programme. A community of practice and programme-wide learning support will continue throughout the five years.
UK Community Foundations will provide UK-wide insight, convening and advocacy. Renaisi will support learning across the programme, with guidance from Play England, Save the Children and academic and sector experts.
Free to Play UK will also learn alongside our sister programme in Canada, where 22 places are already taking part. This cross-border relationship will create opportunities to share experience, evidence and practice as both programmes develop.
Working with funding partners
The initial funding provides a strong foundation, but the scale of the opportunity is greater than any one funder can support alone.
We are inviting funding partners to help strengthen and extend the initiative while preserving its flexible, locally led approach.
Download our one page summary here
An invitation to co-invest
If your organisation is interested in children, communities or the places where children grow up, speak with our Partnerships and Insight team about collaborating.