Exploring play sufficiency, planning, design and participation — shaping a more playful Northern Ireland.

PlayBoard NI’s 40th Anniversary Conference “Spaces for Play, Spaces for Childhood”

Join us on Thursday 20th November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast, for PlayBoard’s unmissable 40th Anniversary Celebration Conference: Spaces for Play, Spaces for Childhood.

This landmark event brings together leading voices, changemakers and play advocates to champion every child’s right to play. Through powerful presentations, fresh insights and evidence-based discussions, we’ll reimagine how our communities, policies and spaces can better support children’s wellbeing, creativity and development

Don’t miss this inspiring day of action, ideas and impact —join the conversation on shaping a future where play is a priority in Northern Ireland.

Play is a vital foundation for children’s wellbeing, learning and development — shaping creativity, confidence, social skills and resilience. Beyond childhood, it underpins healthier communities and more inclusive planning, education and health systems. Yet access to play remains uneven, making it essential that we collectively reimagine how our environments, policies and services support every child’s right to play.

Through a series of expert presentations and discussions – set against the backdrop of Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Right to Play) – the conference will explore approaches to delivering play sufficiency, the planning and design of playable, engaging environments, and the importance of enabling children and young people to actively shape the spaces in which they live and play.

Speakers from across academia, policy and practice will share fresh insights, lived experiences and emerging evidence to inspire action – helping us collectively to shape communities’, towns and cities that truly value and support play. 

Speakers include:

  • Ben Tawil and Mike Barclay (Ludicology)
  • Marianne Mannello (Play Wales)
  • Marguerite Hunter-Blair OBE (former CEO of Play Scotland)
  • Eugene Minogue (Play England)
  • Dr Michael Martin (University of Sheffield)
  • Dr Naomi Lott (University of Reading)
  • Dr Rachael Black (Queens University Belfast).

This key event offers an invaluable opportunity to connect with colleagues from across government, local councils, education, the community and voluntary sectors and beyond – all with a view to advancing the child’s right to play and building more child-friendly communities across Northern Ireland.

This is a must-attend event for anyone working in policy, education, local government, planning, infrastructure, community development or the play and youth work sectors.

Be part of shaping the next chapter — where play is not an afterthought, but a priority in policy, planning and everyday life.

To register your place

We look forward to welcoming you to this special event celebrating PlayBoard NI’s four decades of “Leading the Play Agenda”.

Please feel free to share this invite with relevant colleagues, contacts and networks.