The Play Awards

The Trustees recognised that there exists very little public awareness of those providing the most exciting and stimulating play provision and experiences for children. Thus the Nancy Ovens Awards were launched in 2004 which recognised and encouraged contributions made by individuals, community groups, local authorities and others to the provision of good quality play experiences in outdoor settings. They decided to create four annual awards based on the following categories:

• Award for Best Design of a Play Experience
• Best Community Award for Play
• Best Promotion of Outdoor Play Facilities
• Outstanding Contribution to Play

Key to judging the awards for play and provision of exciting play opportunities that Nancy championed are the following criteria:

Involvement by Children/Young People:

Local communities need to be able to articulate their aspirations, needs and priorities. As such children and young people must be actively involved as equal partners with adults in the design of their play space. Their ongoing involvement in the management of the play space must be evidenced.

The Physical Environment:

The physical environment should be recognisable as a place to play and invite children to explore and gain new and different experiences.

The Play Experience:

Through play children and young people should be able to develop a positive sense of self and gain life-skills required in adulthood.

Access to the Play Space:

Every child irrespective of gender, background, cultural or racial origin, or ability should have equal access to the play space and have been involved in the decision making process in the design and delivery of the project. Importantly, The Trustees are involving children in the final decisions about who should receive the play awards.

Awards for Play previous years winners

2008

The 2008 Awards for Play were held at ‘House for an Art Lover’, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.

• Award for Best Design of a Play Experience.
  • Castle Green Play Space, Broughty Ferry - Dundee City Council
• Best Community Award For Play
  • Northfield Area Forum – Aberdeen
  • The Friends of Aberfeldy Parklands in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council
• Best Promotion of Outdoor Play Facilities
  • Dundee City Council for the new play facilities at Baxter Park
• Outstanding Contribution to Play
  • Cathy Bache and the work of The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery in Letham , Fife.
• Nancy Ovens Award for Play 2008
  • Alan Rees MBE
• See the 2008 awards in detail

2007

The 2007 Awards for Play were held at Evolution Skatepark, Stevenson, North Ayrshire. The Awards were presented by Adam Ingram MSP (Minister for Children and the Early Years) to: 

• Outstanding Contribution to Play
• Guth Airson Iarrtasan Nis (GAIN ) for the Eoropie
  Dunes Park, Ness, Isle of Lewis
• Best Design of a Play Experience
  • The Play Area and Wildlife Garden in Clozium, Lennox Estate
  • Kilysth Grounds for Play in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow 
• Best Community Award for Play
• The Limekilns Community Project, Fife
• Abriachan Forest Trust, Inverness

2006

The 2006 Awards were held in Fort William the awards were presented by Donald Gorrie MSP to:

• Outstanding Contribution to Play
  • North Ayrshire Skate Group, Stevenson
• Best Community Award for Play
  • The Tiree Community Business
  • The Broomhouse Grove Project, Edinburgh
  • The Hope School Trim Track, South Ronaldsay, Orkney

2005

The 2005 Awards were held at Kirkshaws Play Area, Coatbridge. The Awards were presented by Patricia Ferguson, MSP, Minister for Sport, Culture and Tourism to:

• Outstanding Contribution to Play
  • Ormlie Community Association Thurso
• Best Design of a Play Experience
  • Inverlochy, Lochaber
• Best Community award for Play
  • Friends of Ravelston Park & Woods, Edinburgh
• Best Promotion of/for Outdoor Play Facilities
  • Summerlee Heritage Park (NLC)

2004

2004 Awards were held at The Yard, Edinburgh and the awards were presented by Euan Robson MSP, Deputy Minister for Children & Young People to:

• Outstanding Contribution to Play
  • Parents Action for Safe Play Kirkshaws Coatbridge
• Best Design of a Play Experience
  • East Lothian Council – Lauderdale Park
• Best Community Award for Play
  • The Range Adventure Playgroup Broxburn
• Best Promotion of/for Outdoor Play Facilities
  • The Yard, Edinburgh

How to Apply

The process is simple in line with the way Nancy liked to approach all funding for community groups. We have endeavored to keep the application form to 2 pages and leave it up to you to add information to that if you wish to.

Applications are open to be received from 1st March to 1st of June each year and the awards will be presented in August/September of each year.

Please download application form and guidance