A few months ago, Kaleigh from Magic of Play came to us with an idea: what if we brought together the people making play happen across Birmingham and the West Midlands, not just to talk about children’s right to play, but to celebrate it, share it, and build something together? … Read more
I came across an article the other week that made me stop and think. It ranked the safest and riskiest places in Britain for children to play outside, drawing on data about park provision, pedestrian road casualties, 20mph road coverage, antisocial behaviour rates and more. The methodology seemed thorough, and … Read more
Why the Right to Play Matters – and Why It Needs Defending At ROAM, we know that childhood isn’t just about safety or structure, it’s about risk, imagination, and freedom. And we know it needs to be accessible to all children, regardless of economic background, disability, or where they live. … Read more
“I think the key’s stuck, it won’t open.” Not exactly the words you want to hear an hour before your guests start arriving. But that’s how our Sunday afternoon began, outside the gates of Martineau Gardens with over 100 people due to join us for ROAM’s 5th Birthday celebration. Thankfully, … Read more
As ROAM celebrates five years as a registered charity, we’ve been reflecting on the people, places and moments that have shaped our journey. From the first pop-up play sessions to our growing network of families, volunteers and collaborators, it’s been a joy-filled (and often muddy!) adventure. Here’s a look back … Read more
Last autumn, we were excited to pilot our much-loved ROAM-IN sessions at Martineau Gardens. It was a big transition, moving from our familiar space at Kingswood Meeting House, but we hoped this beautiful new setting would offer even more opportunities for the children and families who attend. And what a … Read more
Birmingham is blessed with an abundance of green space, and yet the distribution of parks in the city is very unequal, and worse still, many of the most economically disadvantaged parts suffer most from a green space deficit. With a huge rise in city centre living over the last two … Read more
In December 2024 the Government launched an inquiry entitled: Children, young people and the built environment. This inquiry is investigating how improving planning, building and urban design could improve the health and wellbeing of children, and also benefit the whole population. “It will look at how children and young people … Read more
Since September 2021, we have been delighted to be able to offer a free weekly outdoor playgroup for the local community. This was made possible thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Community Fund’s ‘Local Connections Fund’. The fund was created to help small charities and community groups … Read more
One of ROAM’s objectives is to inspire parents and caregivers in other communities to give their children the freedom to roam. In the second in her blog series, ROAM’s Laura Billingham describes how she and a friend gave their own children this experience close to home in Bearwood. A year … Read more