Cllr David Oxley (Stockwell West and Larkhall), Cllr Joanne Simpson (Stockwell West and Larkhall), Cllr Claire Holland (Leader of Lambeth Labour), Cllr Ben Kind (Cabinet Member for Children and Families).

Lambeth Labour is committed to ensuring every child has the space to play, stay active, and feel welcome in their community. In 2022, we pledged to ensure young people have turn up and play for free sports facilities in every neighbourhood.

That’s why we’re getting rid of outdated ‘No Ball Games’ signs across the borough – because kids should be encouraged to play, not told they can’t.

So far, nearly 100 signs have been removed without a single complaint. Over the next six months, we’re taking down the rest. This is part of our wider commitment to making Lambeth a UNICEF accredited Child Friendly Borough, where young people feel valued and have a say in shaping their communities.

We’ve worked closely with young people in Lambeth to understand what matters to them. Over 1,500 children and young people took part in shaping Child Friendly Lambeth, with many saying they wanted more green spaces to play in and to feel safer outdoors. Play is at the heart of childhood. It helps children develop social skills, stay active, and build confidence. Yet, over the last decade, access to play has declined across the country as Tory and LibDem austerity has impacted public services everywhere.

A recent State of Play report from the Raising the Nation Play Commission revealed that outdoor play has fallen by 50% in a generation, and over 2 million children in England don’t live within a ten-minute walk of a playground. Hundreds of play spaces have closed since 2012, and funding for parks and play areas in some parts of England has been slashed because of cruel Tory and LibDem cuts to council budgets.

In Lambeth, we’re doing things differently. Creating safe and welcoming play spaces near homes for every child. We’re getting rid of outdated ball game restrictions and collaborating with young people to design public spaces. Local communities can also apply to close residential roads for regular traffic-free play sessions, fostering neighbourly connections.

Since 2022, Lambeth Labour has offered free swimming for under-11s at local pools, promoting family activity and making swimming accessible to all. From Brockwell Park to Myatt’s Fields, we are also protecting and improving our green spaces so children and families have great places to play. We invested £1m on Clapham Common, including a new kids waterplay facility, and another £1m in Ruskin Park, which delivered a renewed children’s playground. We’ve also introduced planning policies ensuring new developments prioritise creating safe and accessible play areas, providing ample space for children to engage in activities like running, cycling, and exploration.

This local action ties in with the Labour’s Child Health Action Plan, which aims to give every child the best start in life. Nationally, the new Labour Government is committed to making sure that all kids get equal access to sports and activities, ending the postcode lottery in PE lessons and putting health and well-being at the heart of childhood.

Initiatives like cutting waiting lists to access child mental health, introducing breakfast clubs in primary schools or the Labour Mayor or London’s free school meals programme complement our focus on play and activity. Here in Lambeth, we’re doing our part by making sure there’s a free play space in every neighbourhood, as we promised in our 2022 manifesto.

Play is essential – not just for fun, but for health, confidence, and community. That’s why Lambeth Labour is committed to making our borough a place where every child can thrive, ensuring that play remains at the heart of our community and making sure Lambeth’s kids have the space to run, kick a ball, and – most importantly – enjoy their childhood.