Active Play
Our Active Play programme boosts physical activity in children and helps them develop fundamental movement skills such as coordination and balance, all through playing physically active games.
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All Scotland’s children will thrive
We believe it is our shared responsibility to support and enable all of Scotland’s children and young people to access our diverse open spaces and to empower them to enjoy these spaces for the purposes of playing, learning and fostering a connection to the environment.
Our vision is for a sustainable Scotland where our children and young people can play, learn and thrive outdoors.
Play is a life-enhancing experience
Boosting physical activity and promoting happiness and wellbeing, outdoor play is vital for children’s health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re leading on the delivery and development of outdoor play opportunities in communities, nurseries and schools across Scotland.
We want every child in Scotland to be happy, healthy, resilient, and have the best possible start in life. We want them to be able to form friendships, learn new skills and have fun.
We support communities, charities, schools, outdoor organisations and public bodies to collaborate, innovate and develop in outdoor play and learning, sharing best practice and feeding into research to promote better understanding of the importance of outdoor play.
We are committed to use our experience to empower and equip families, childcare professionals and educators with the confidence, enthusiasm and skills to encourage and support our children and young people to play and learn outdoors.
Outdoor play is a life-enhancing experience and we want all of Scotland’s children to thrive outdoors.
We have a wealth of resources available for you to download and use, so that you can join in with our mission to get all of Scotland’s children outdoors!
Get in touch if you would like to discuss how we can help you.
Play resources
Make time for outdoor play
We’ve worked with our network of practitioners to develop a wealth of hints and tips for ELC practitioners, parents and carers to help make outdoor play a reality for more young people. Our tips provide fun activities as well as more informative tips, like how to build an outdoor shelter.
More hereNational Position Statement
Playing and learning outdoors is life-enhancing.
Help us make playing and learning outdoors an everyday activity for all children in Scotland by signing up to the national position statement.
The national position statement on outdoor play and learning has gained more than 100 signatories since its launch. These include national organisations and charities, local authorities, government and public bodies, and NGOs.
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What can we do for you?
Thrive Outdoors offers a range of services, including consultancy, training, and service design. Our team are experts in Outdoor Play and Learning and are equipped to help you empower children and young people to benefit from the outdoors.
Get in touch to find out more.
Contact usOutdoor Community Play Fund
The Outdoor Community Play Fund supports childhood health and wellbeing through outdoor play.
Read moreOutdoor Early Learning
Outdoor Nurseries, a partnership between Inspiring Scotland and Glasgow City Council are improving children's health, well-being and development through outdoor play-based learning.
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Loose Parts Play!
Play helps children unlock their creativity and let’s their imaginations soar. Find out how to create imaginative, creative and fun play with crates, pebbles and bits of string with our Loose Parts Play toolkit.
Sign up to Thrive Outdoors Newsletter
Thrive Outdoors runs a newsletter highlighting sector news and updates, tops tips on outdoor play and learning, charity spotlights, what we’re currently reading and more!
Podcast
Outdoor Play IS the Way!
Thrive Outdoors’ podcast aims to share best practice and connect practitioners by bringing you a new guest every month from the Outdoor Play and Learning Sector.
Our news
20.07.2023
More funding for children across Scotland to access Outdoor Community Play
Minister for Children, young people and keeping the Promise, Natalie Don visited Kirlandneuk Community Centre this week to celebrate the extension of the Outdoor Community Play, which will enable 14,000 children and families across Scotland to access outdoor community play on their doorstep.  Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Inspiring Scotland, the extension
Read More30.06.2023
IPA 2023 in pictures
After five years in the making, the Inspiring Scotland Thrive Outdoors fund team gathered in Glasgow last month for the International Play Association (IPA) Triennial World Conference 2023. Â Hosted at Glasgow Caledonian University, the conference brought together 550 delegates from more than 40 countries including New Zealand, Hong Kong and the rest of the
Read More20.04.2023
Introducing the graduates of the first Thrive Outdoors Leadership Programme
The first ever Thrive Outdoors Leadership Programme finished last week with all 21 graduates coming together to celebrate.  Funded by a number of investors including Scottish Government and developed by Inspiring Scotland, the bespoke six-month programme supported emerging leaders for the outdoor community play and outdoor ELC sectors, meeting for sessions every three weeks. As
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Portfolio of charities
Thrive Outdoors
PEEK
Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund and GCC Active Play Fund. Possibilities for Each and Every Kid was established in 2000 and has been operating for 20 years as a charity supporting children and young people aged 0-25 years and their families impacted by poverty across Glasgow. Through play, creative arts and community development
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Thrive Outdoors
The Jeely Piece Club
Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund and GCC Active Play Fund. The Jeely Piece Club, based in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow, delivers a range of services for children from pre-school upwards and is based in a purpose built play centre. Inpiring Scotland works with The Jeely Piece Club in all three strands of
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Thrive Outdoors
Smart Play Network
Part of Organised Outdoor Community Play Fund. Smart Play Network (SPN) are the national organisation supporting and delivering play opportunities for the benefit, health and wellbeing of children and families across Scotland. They provide a range of support and practical tools to 394 members, from starting up a new service, through policy development and delivery
Learn MoreContact us
We work with experts from the voluntary, public, private and academic sectors. Get in touch if you want to help us build a better Scotland.
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