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Play is not a luxury.
It is a right.
And in Birmingham and the West Midlands, there are people doing extraordinary things to protect and champion it every day.
Play Makers Brum is a one-day conference exploring children’s rights, children’s wellbeing and building communities through play — bringing together grassroots organisations, playwork practitioners and local authority leaders to share stories, build connections and strengthen the collective voice for play across our region.
On the day
Speakers & programme
Professor Helen Dodd
University of Exeter
Why Play Matters for Children’s Mental Health — an opening keynote exploring the vital relationship between play, mental health and children’s wellbeing.
Emma Bearman
Founder, Playful Anywhere CIC
Building Communities Through Play — how grassroots neighbourhood play and creativity helped shape a whole-city approach to play sufficiency in Leeds.
Sarah Robbins
CEO, The Springfield Project
Building Communities Through Play — a Birmingham story about championing children’s agency and ensuring every child has access to a rich diet of play, whatever their background.
Get involved
Workshops
Four workshops will run throughout the day — all attendees will take part in three. When you register, we’ll ask for your preferences and guarantee you a place in at least two of your choices.
Therapeutic Playwork
Ali Wood · Meriden Adventure Playground
What is playwork — and what is therapeutic playwork? Hear stories from an adventure playground where children’s freedom to play enables them to overcome anxiety and build resilience.
SEND & Inclusive Play
Children’s Quarter · ROAM IN
What does inclusive play actually look like? Moving beyond tick-box accessibility to environments where every child genuinely belongs.
Child Friendly Neighbourhoods
Sarah Robbins · Springfield Project
Exploring what it means to build neighbourhoods where children have the freedom, space and confidence to play independently.
What’s a SPARK?
Glue Collective
An interactive session inviting you to discover SPARK — an advocacy space for play, art, rest and kin. Bring your hands and your imagination.
Join us
Get your ticket
Refreshments throughout the day and a buffet lunch are included in your ticket. We’ve kept prices as low as we can — because this day should be for everyone.
If cost is a barrier, please get in touch at play@roam.org.uk — we don’t want anyone to miss out. You can also purchase a donate-a-ticket at checkout to help extend a place to someone who needs it. Any surplus from the event will go directly back into supporting play across the West Midlands.
Register now →Accessibility & getting here
Please share any accessibility requirements when you register — this information is used solely to support your attendance and will be deleted within 30 days of the event. For travel and directions, visit the Austin Court website.