Playing Out as a movement began in Bristol in 2007, where a small group of residents frustrated at the lack of freedom to play out for their children applied for a ‘street party’ road closure simply to allow street play – see Playing Out website, set up by the Bristol group.
Since 2013 we’ve worked with residents of Kings Heath and Moseley, Dens of Equality, Birmingham Play Care Network, other local organisations and Birmingham City Council to facilitate events with the ambition of making Playing Out a normal part of life in Birmingham.
The Active Wellbeing Society recognised the potential for what Playing out could do for all people living on a street to bring people together. With support from Birmingham City Council (and now Solihull City Council too), Active Streets expanded hugely the number of streets and people involved, including support provided by ‘Activators’ and equipment to run activities. Find out more about Active Streets and opening your road in Birmingham for play.
Launching in June 2017, Project Brum was Birmingham City Council’s initiative providing young people with the opportunity of a paid summer internship within the Active Wellbeing Service, stories supported by Spacemakers – See our Project Brum Stories.
The Active Wellbeing Society now supports Project Brum paid summer internships in many different roles, working with Active Parks, Active Streets, Big Run, Big Birmingham Bikes and the Big Feed and operating behind the scenes analysing data, targeting marketing and developing the best strategy to meet needs.