History of the Aberdeen Play Forum

The first meeting of Aberdeen Play Forum was held on the 11th May 1999, following a Play Talk Conference held at Aberdeen Lads Club. A group of staff working with and for children and young people wanted to ensure that following Aberdeen City Council’s adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31 was fully implemented.

Aberdeen Play Forum was formed to:

• Promote Play in Aberdeen
• Ensure that all children and young people have access to safe, good quality play provision
• Involve representatives from all areas of the city
• Ensure that the views of children and young people are taken into account when planning play and leisure provision
• Provide a forum for all individuals, statutory and voluntary organisations with an interest in play
• Share information

There have been many organisational changes in statutory and voluntary agencies since the Play Forum was formed in 1999.  The local and Scottish Parliament elections in May 2007 changes priorities affecting the external environment for the Play Forum.