Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01440 · Session 4

Plans for new Children and Young People Bill

Closed Submitted 28 Jun 2012 Education
Signatures
550
194 online signatures with a country
Comments
13
Considered
3 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Play Scotland, the National organisation for Play works to promote the Importance of Play for all children and young people, and campaigns to create play opportunities in the community. We are underpinned by Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 31 states that "all children have the right to play".

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on
- A Scotland for Children: A Consultation on the Children and Young People Bill which will incorporate Children’s Rights into the Bill.

Play Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to include a Statutory Duty for Play in this new Bill. This could place a Duty on local authorities to provide sufficient and satisfying play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities.

This would help the Scottish Government delivery on their commitment to improve children’s outcomes and quality of life through play.

What the petitioner did first

We have been campaining for a Statutory Duty for Play for many years. In 2008 we launched the Scottish Play Commission where this was one of key recommendations to the Scottish Government. A Statutory Duty for Play was also one of the key messages in our Manifesto for Play 2011.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 18 Sep 2012
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 11 Dec 2012
    Public Petitions Committee
    Current Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 4 Jun 2013
    Education and Culture Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

194 online signatures
  1. Scotland168 86.6%
  2. United Kingdom20 10.3%
  3. England4 2.1%
  4. Wales2 1%

Comments

13 comments, oldest first
  1. Petricia Craib 17 Jul 2012
    Good work, glad someone is drawing attention to the importance of play.
  2. Myra Struthers 27 Jul 2012
    Play is so central to a child's development and wellbeing
    - we need to ensure they have safe spaces to do this.
  3. Lynn Stewart 30 Jul 2012
    I am supporting this petition. My children live across the road from our school and there is a huge pitch they could play in safely away for. The busy main road and side roads. They would also benefit from being allowed to ride their bikes in the playground instead on the road too. We have a run down park that has been left to ruin by Glasgow City Council and it is a total disgrace that they won't invest a few thousand pounds to install some new equipment for the kids to play.
  4. Lynne Macdonald 30 Jul 2012
    This is a start to giving the children of Scotland safe areas to play,Society go on so much about children of all ages causing bother in streets and being noisy Well they need good parks to play for all ages,More community youth Centers where there is activities to suit all and a place to hang out with their peers!!
  5. Jacqueline Kerr 30 Jul 2012
    Please pass this bill for ALL our kids. Thank you.
  6. Jackie Sheridan 31 Jul 2012
    My kids has no where to play as the council refuse to cut the grass across from my house due to cut backs, no cut back in my council tax
  7. mahnaz Dastoori 2 Aug 2012
    All children should be given the opportunity to play in a safe secure environment. Please give them this chance. Thank you
  8. Carol Ball 9 Aug 2012
    Children develop numerous skills through play so the more opportunities that are available to support these developments the better.
  9. Carol Higgins 12 Aug 2012
    Where are the play areas for wheelchair using children? Disabled children need to play too!
  10. Khalidah Mohammed 14 Aug 2012
    Play in any form is every child's right, please do not take this away from them !
  11. Sue Strachan 23 Aug 2012
    Everyone should have an opportunity to play outside in a safe and stimulating environment. We need to ensure that all of Scotland's children have that opportunity in the future.
  12. Raymond Cattanach 25 Aug 2012
    Play is a very important part of a child's development so we need to protect green spaces and invest in outdoor facilities to create a safe and stimulating environment for our children.
  13. Frances Barbour 31 Aug 2012
    Play is what children do, it is at the core of their being. Every child has the need to play including children in hospital. We need to make sure sick children have access to good play services.