Green MSP Gillian Mackay takes Space to Play Campaign to Parliament

A South Lanarkshire campaign group is calling on the Council to recognise the importance of play for children’s’ wellbeing and to take action to improve play opportunities in local communities. 

The Space to Play campaign is asking South Lanarkshire Council to prepare a play strategy, to open up Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA)  out-with school hours and to renew all local play parks.

The group has been backed by Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay who recently raised a motion in parliament.

The Central Scotland MSP believes that implementing these actions will help ensure that South Lanarkshire upholds the rights of children to play and be heard, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Gillian Mackay MSP said:

“I commend the hard work and effort of the Space to Play campaigners who rightly highlight that Multi Use Games Areas and play parks are fabulous spaces to help improve health, wellbeing and community activity.

“I would urge South Lanarkshire Council to prepare a play strategy which would see more MUGA’s opened up out-with school hours for community use, renewed parks and more opportunities for children to play in our communities.”

Kirsten Robb from the Space to Play Campaign added:

“We’d like to thank Gillian for her support and all the MSPs who have signed the motion so far. By getting play raised in parliament we are saying loud and clear that play is vital and that our children deserve better. To help our kids, we are asking people to sign the Space to Play South Lanarkshire petition on change.org, join the campaign page at www.facebook.com/spacetoplaysl and ask their MSPs to sign Gillian’s motion too.”