Brighton & Hove Playbus win National Award for best playwork team in the country

A team that reaches out to children across the city bringing fun, games and play has won a national award.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s Playbus Team has won the National Award for Best Playwork Team 2015 beating a 5-strong shortlist of contenders for the coveted prize.

The team work year round to offer creative and enjoyable open access play sessions for children that bring families together and give the city’s kids a taste for active play outdoors.

The judges heard the team are constantly coming up with fresh and unique ideas for activities for the children to get involved in and they are particularly well known for creating their own equipment and materials that the children can play with.

The award  which is given by an independent panel of play experts, is organised by Meynell Games and sponsored by Unite, IPA, SQA, Cache and Skills Active.

Councillor Sue Shanks, chair of the children and young people committee, said: “I am delighted to hear that the Playbus Team have won national acclaim for the important work that they do to ensure all our children have play opportunities near to where they live across the city.

“The Playbus service offers children all sorts of play and activity which helps children socialise and brings communities together. It is important we do everything we can to get kids active and enjoy participating in sport and play is the first step toward that.

“On top of this Playbus goes to some of the more disadvantaged neighbourhoods to bring play to kids that helps to overcome barriers to play and tackles social exclusion.