We are delighted to share the news that our Chief Executive, Marguerite Hunter Blair, has been named in the New Year’s Honours list. Marguerite will receive an OBE for services to Play, Learning and Health. The Award recognises her tireless work to ensure every child’s right to play.
I am delighted and feel privileged to have received an OBE for services to Play, to Learning and to Health.
I first became passionate about children’s play when working in Community Services in Belfast City Council and I need to name-check and thank an inspirational Community Worker, Moya Hinds, for taking the time to explain to me why play is essential for children’s development. The simple acronym SPICE has stayed with me ever since-Play is at the heart of children’s Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Emotional development.
This led me in turn to join with colleagues in the Parks Department to study for a diploma in Managing and Developing Play Provision organised by another inspirational figure, Tony Chilton. Tony had started his career as an Adventure Playground worker in the late sixties and as a Play Development Consultant created a course that incorporated all the elements that local authorities needed to take account of in developing and managing all aspects of their play provision: project management; education and training in Playwork; play area design and construction; play policies and strategies. He introduced us to the idea of assessing play value in playgrounds when carrying out playground inspections and the reality that playgrounds could be ‘overused’ by children and young people if there was insufficient provision on the site for the local population of young people.
After 15 years with Belfast City Council, I was appointed Chief Executive of Playboard Northern Ireland. One of the first people to reach out was the play legend – Bob Hughes. He kindly came over to Belfast to provide training for the staff teams and Board members at Playboard and he insisted that we close for the day to allow all staff to attend, including the administration team and caretaking staff. This was a gamechanger in the dynamics of the organisation. His presentation on the impact of play deprivation on children and young people affected all of us, “I am a parent and I have worked here for 5 years” said one member of staff “and I only now understand why the work of this organisation is so vitally important”.. This strong team dynamic that Bob helped build at the start of my time in Playboard was incredibly important to the success of Playcare and other award -winning projects we were able to create and deliver.
When I joined Play Scotland some 19 years ago this month, a strong case had already been made for play to be mapped across key policy areas in the new Scottish Government. My job was to forge alliances and partnerships and create the climate and circumstances to make this a reality. Establishing the Play Commission in 2007 proved to be a pivotal moment for play in Scotland and helped make a sound case for funding for the play sector and for policies for play in education, health and planning. The launch of Scotland’s Play Strategy and Action Plan 2013 was another seminal moment in making children’s right to play a reality in Scotland and I look forward to the launch of the Play Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030. By achieving a legal framework for Play Sufficiency and Children’s Participation in Planning and with UNCRC fully incorporated in Scots law, we have now moved to the implementation phase in Scotland of
ensuring every child’s right to play is fully realised, at home, in learning environments and in the community- not eighty per cent, not ninety-six per cent but every child.
I would like to pay tribute to the many wonderful Board Directors of Play Scotland and the inspirational and innovative Staff teams that I have worked with over the years, many of whom have continued their support long after official terms have expired. Our amazing and hardworking membership is also at the heart of our achievements at Play Scotland, together with our Scottish Government colleagues, funders, researchers and play colleagues across Scotland, the four nations and far beyond. To all our consultants and writers over the years a big thank you, and to the media for helping us to make the case for play!
And finally, a big shout out for Cherie Morgan whose enthusiastic support and professionalism has underpinned the success of all we do at Play Scotland.
Playfully,
Marguerite
News coverage of Marguerite Hunter Blair, OBE announcement.
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