Wendy Russell
@wendyrussell.bsky.social
She/her. Researcher, evaluator & consultant on children's play and playwork, mostly geography and philosophy. Focus on the politics of space for children. Based in Nottingham, Senior Research Fellow at Uni of Gloucestershire, UK #SpatialJustice
Reposted by Wendy Russell
Our recent article reflecting on neighbohood play during the first covid-19 lockdown, using Donald Winnicott (and Bonnie Honig and Joanna Kellond) to think about play, space, and care, both in the pandemic and beyond, now has a home in @tibg.bsky.social's December issue.
@wendyrussell.bsky.social
@wendyrussell.bsky.social
Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers | RGS Journal | Wiley Online Library
In this paper, we explore what the experiences of some children and families in their neighbourhoods during the first UK COVID-19 lockdown can tell us about the value and importance of neighbourhood ...
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Our recent article reflecting on neighbohood play during the first covid-19 lockdown, using Donald Winnicott (and Bonnie Honig and Joanna Kellond) to think about play, space, and care, both in the pandemic and beyond, now has a home in @tibg.bsky.social's December issue.
@wendyrussell.bsky.social
@wendyrussell.bsky.social
Please sign the petition to save Human Geopgraphy at University of Leicster
c.org/MrqhhLBH8J
c.org/MrqhhLBH8J
November 7, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Please sign the petition to save Human Geopgraphy at University of Leicster
c.org/MrqhhLBH8J
c.org/MrqhhLBH8J
Reposted by Wendy Russell
Human Geography at Leicester is facing closure. Staff contracts are to end in June 2026; students are to be relocated to other universities, or taught out by a maximum of two (!) teaching-only staff. Other departments and subjects are facing closure, too. Please join the demo!
November 6, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Human Geography at Leicester is facing closure. Staff contracts are to end in June 2026; students are to be relocated to other universities, or taught out by a maximum of two (!) teaching-only staff. Other departments and subjects are facing closure, too. Please join the demo!
Reposted by Wendy Russell
At a trustees’ meeting at Shiremoor Adventure Playground last night, and the playworkers reported an average of 50-60 kids at after-school sessions through October. And a massive 422 visitors (children & adults) for the Halloween playday. It’s such an important place.
November 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM
At a trustees’ meeting at Shiremoor Adventure Playground last night, and the playworkers reported an average of 50-60 kids at after-school sessions through October. And a massive 422 visitors (children & adults) for the Halloween playday. It’s such an important place.
I'm reading through a collection of #playworkers' documentation of brief snapshot moments of playing & laughing out loud. In amongst the funding & sustainability headaches & other not-so-good aspects of the work, these joyous moments are what it's all about. #nonsense #playforplayssake #pleasure
November 5, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I'm reading through a collection of #playworkers' documentation of brief snapshot moments of playing & laughing out loud. In amongst the funding & sustainability headaches & other not-so-good aspects of the work, these joyous moments are what it's all about. #nonsense #playforplayssake #pleasure
Call for Abstracts for 2026 IPA world conference (2-5 Nov in Christchurch). Deadline 17 Feb 2026 NZDT. Theme: Auahatia (Innovating for Play), exploring bold, inclusive & culturally rich ways to create a world where all tamariki have the right to play
www.ipachristchurch2026.com/call-for-abs...
www.ipachristchurch2026.com/call-for-abs...
Call for abstracts
www.ipachristchurch2026.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Call for Abstracts for 2026 IPA world conference (2-5 Nov in Christchurch). Deadline 17 Feb 2026 NZDT. Theme: Auahatia (Innovating for Play), exploring bold, inclusive & culturally rich ways to create a world where all tamariki have the right to play
www.ipachristchurch2026.com/call-for-abs...
www.ipachristchurch2026.com/call-for-abs...
Oh wow, can't wait to read this! I loved the Francis Alys exhibition. Open access too. Now all I need is some time ...
uclpress.co.uk/book/playthi...
uclpress.co.uk/book/playthi...
Playthings and Playtimes
Explore the concept of play through diverse cultural lenses, from toys to local practices that shape the experience of play.
uclpress.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Oh wow, can't wait to read this! I loved the Francis Alys exhibition. Open access too. Now all I need is some time ...
uclpress.co.uk/book/playthi...
uclpress.co.uk/book/playthi...
Reposted by Wendy Russell
Please do sign up for - and share - this webinar, on Dec 3rd, to hear about some of the amazing work going on nationally and locally to restore children's ability to play out on their doorsteps.
@rezinachowdhury.bsky.social @edwardlamb.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social @aliceferguson.bsky.social
@rezinachowdhury.bsky.social @edwardlamb.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social @aliceferguson.bsky.social
Restoring children's freedom to play out: let's seize the moment
Society is waking up to children's right and need to play out; councils and orgs around the UK are taking action, come and get inspired !
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Please do sign up for - and share - this webinar, on Dec 3rd, to hear about some of the amazing work going on nationally and locally to restore children's ability to play out on their doorsteps.
@rezinachowdhury.bsky.social @edwardlamb.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social @aliceferguson.bsky.social
@rezinachowdhury.bsky.social @edwardlamb.bsky.social @playingout.bsky.social @aliceferguson.bsky.social
Reposted by Wendy Russell
If you're interested in understanding segregation and integration better, here is a good paper by the UK's leading academics on the topic
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The Geographical Journal | RGS Research Journal | Wiley Online Library
This paper analyses the changing geographies of ethnic diversity and segregation in England and Wales using Census data covering the last 30 years (1991–2021). Residential segregation of all ethnic g...
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
If you're interested in understanding segregation and integration better, here is a good paper by the UK's leading academics on the topic
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Great thread here from @alisonstenning.bsky.social on the case for paying attention to children's capability to play during #Covid19 lockdowns, including a couple of articles we wrote based on our research. So pleased @aliceferguson.bsky.social gave evidence on this to the Covid Inquiry
Good that the Covid Inquiry is hearing about play, that it’s not just a nice to have, that it’s essential to childhood, for fun, that it’s how children exercise, that public play is unevenly policed, and that children’s right to play should have been upheld in lockdown.
@playingout.bsky.social
@playingout.bsky.social
Covid exercise messaging left children stuck indoors, UK inquiry hears
Children not allowed out partly because their exercise – playing – looked too much ‘like fun’, says campaigner
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great thread here from @alisonstenning.bsky.social on the case for paying attention to children's capability to play during #Covid19 lockdowns, including a couple of articles we wrote based on our research. So pleased @aliceferguson.bsky.social gave evidence on this to the Covid Inquiry
Reposted by Wendy Russell
🚨 We’re Recruiting: Independent Chair, Senior Independent Director & Independent Director 🚨
Help lead our bold, new 10-year strategy #ItAllStartsWithPlay!
Find out more & apply by 23 Oct 👉 www.playengland.org.uk/newsblog/wer...
#IndependentDirectors #Chair #Trustee #CharityLeadership
Help lead our bold, new 10-year strategy #ItAllStartsWithPlay!
Find out more & apply by 23 Oct 👉 www.playengland.org.uk/newsblog/wer...
#IndependentDirectors #Chair #Trustee #CharityLeadership
September 23, 2025 at 7:35 AM
🚨 We’re Recruiting: Independent Chair, Senior Independent Director & Independent Director 🚨
Help lead our bold, new 10-year strategy #ItAllStartsWithPlay!
Find out more & apply by 23 Oct 👉 www.playengland.org.uk/newsblog/wer...
#IndependentDirectors #Chair #Trustee #CharityLeadership
Help lead our bold, new 10-year strategy #ItAllStartsWithPlay!
Find out more & apply by 23 Oct 👉 www.playengland.org.uk/newsblog/wer...
#IndependentDirectors #Chair #Trustee #CharityLeadership
Reposted by Wendy Russell
The swinging children appears again as an illustration to a piece about child poverty -
September 4, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The swinging children appears again as an illustration to a piece about child poverty -
This is an inteesting study, thanks. While the authors differentiate 'physical activity' and PE, much of the focus is on PE. There is a lot that can be done looking at how the school supports play during breaks.
outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
@opal-cic.bsky.social
outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
@opal-cic.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This is an inteesting study, thanks. While the authors differentiate 'physical activity' and PE, much of the focus is on PE. There is a lot that can be done looking at how the school supports play during breaks.
outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
@opal-cic.bsky.social
outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk
@opal-cic.bsky.social
Reposted by Wendy Russell
🚨New Research 🚨
Ahead of the release of Wave 30 of the BES Internet Panel, the team has examined Labour's decline since the 2024 GE.
Labour's support has splintered into mostly indecision or left-liberal parties, but they've also lost their few right-wing voters.
🧵⬇️
tinyurl.com/3m62exph
Ahead of the release of Wave 30 of the BES Internet Panel, the team has examined Labour's decline since the 2024 GE.
Labour's support has splintered into mostly indecision or left-liberal parties, but they've also lost their few right-wing voters.
🧵⬇️
tinyurl.com/3m62exph
Looking for Labour’s lost voters - The British Election Study
www.britishelectionstudy.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:15 AM
🚨New Research 🚨
Ahead of the release of Wave 30 of the BES Internet Panel, the team has examined Labour's decline since the 2024 GE.
Labour's support has splintered into mostly indecision or left-liberal parties, but they've also lost their few right-wing voters.
🧵⬇️
tinyurl.com/3m62exph
Ahead of the release of Wave 30 of the BES Internet Panel, the team has examined Labour's decline since the 2024 GE.
Labour's support has splintered into mostly indecision or left-liberal parties, but they've also lost their few right-wing voters.
🧵⬇️
tinyurl.com/3m62exph
Thanks for this overview, it's useful. I get this is an analysis of *main* policy areas, but there's a lot missing from this contents list that can feed into the *main* issues, particularly in terms of children's and families' lives, health and wellbeing. #SocialInfrastructure #SpatialJustice
September 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Thanks for this overview, it's useful. I get this is an analysis of *main* policy areas, but there's a lot missing from this contents list that can feed into the *main* issues, particularly in terms of children's and families' lives, health and wellbeing. #SocialInfrastructure #SpatialJustice
Interesting read. But we need to think further upstream from MH services. The decline in children's mental health over the last decade coincides with the decimation of play and youth services. If we're really looking at multiple approaches to prevention, let's fund them
📢 The £51bn case for improving children’s mental health
1 in 5 UK children aged 8–16 likely have a probable mental health condition (NHS Digital, 2023). Yet only 36% referred to NHS services are seen within 4 weeks. Thousands wait over 2 years. 1/5
New report: pbe.co.uk/publications...
1 in 5 UK children aged 8–16 likely have a probable mental health condition (NHS Digital, 2023). Yet only 36% referred to NHS services are seen within 4 weeks. Thousands wait over 2 years. 1/5
New report: pbe.co.uk/publications...
August 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Interesting read. But we need to think further upstream from MH services. The decline in children's mental health over the last decade coincides with the decimation of play and youth services. If we're really looking at multiple approaches to prevention, let's fund them
"It is no longer viable—or even desirable—to manage by prescribing fixed end‑states...What matters instead is cultivating the conditions under which coherent, desirable futures can emerge from within the system itself".
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Outcomes & Systems: From Predicted Goods to Emergent Cohesion
Critical summary – the single through‑line of the essay
substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:02 AM
"It is no longer viable—or even desirable—to manage by prescribing fixed end‑states...What matters instead is cultivating the conditions under which coherent, desirable futures can emerge from within the system itself".
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Totally agree with this - creating conditions for safe active travel is a political endeavour and includes challenging the power of the road and car industries, including the myth of EVs role in reaching net zero
🚨New Paper Alert: Physical activity has enemies.
🚶♀️ 🌳 To sharpen advocacy, we need to know who our enemies are and how they operate.
DOI: lnkd.in/gf8E9fZb
🙏 @jpahjournal.bsky.social and coauthor team @joeyjmurphy.bsky.social @benjaminrigby.bsky.social @grantennis.bsky.social
🚶♀️ 🌳 To sharpen advocacy, we need to know who our enemies are and how they operate.
DOI: lnkd.in/gf8E9fZb
🙏 @jpahjournal.bsky.social and coauthor team @joeyjmurphy.bsky.social @benjaminrigby.bsky.social @grantennis.bsky.social
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
August 9, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Totally agree with this - creating conditions for safe active travel is a political endeavour and includes challenging the power of the road and car industries, including the myth of EVs role in reaching net zero
Reposted by Wendy Russell
We've created a detailed list of 139 films on childhood, which can be used for teaching these subjects:
www.qmul.ac.uk/clpn/media/c...
www.qmul.ac.uk/clpn/media/c...
August 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
We've created a detailed list of 139 films on childhood, which can be used for teaching these subjects:
www.qmul.ac.uk/clpn/media/c...
www.qmul.ac.uk/clpn/media/c...
Thank you @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social and @playengland.bsky.social for reintroducing this play sufficiency amendment. This is much more than (important) designated play provision, it's about making neighbourhoods and town centres play friendly
bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
Amendment 179 to Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Planning and Infrastructure Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle's amendment After Clause 52 (179) to Planning and Infrastructure Bill, proposed during Committee stage
bills.parliament.uk
August 4, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Thank you @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social and @playengland.bsky.social for reintroducing this play sufficiency amendment. This is much more than (important) designated play provision, it's about making neighbourhoods and town centres play friendly
bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946/s...
Reposted by Wendy Russell
DEEP BREATH: 5 years of meticulously researched game data culminate for us on National Play Day, Weds 6th Aug.
🤯We realised game discovery was broken.
🧪We made a prototype game-finder.
🎯We Kickstartered it into reality.
🥘We cooked with our backers.
🚀We launch Ludocene.com into the world on 6th Aug.
🤯We realised game discovery was broken.
🧪We made a prototype game-finder.
🎯We Kickstartered it into reality.
🥘We cooked with our backers.
🚀We launch Ludocene.com into the world on 6th Aug.
August 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
DEEP BREATH: 5 years of meticulously researched game data culminate for us on National Play Day, Weds 6th Aug.
🤯We realised game discovery was broken.
🧪We made a prototype game-finder.
🎯We Kickstartered it into reality.
🥘We cooked with our backers.
🚀We launch Ludocene.com into the world on 6th Aug.
🤯We realised game discovery was broken.
🧪We made a prototype game-finder.
🎯We Kickstartered it into reality.
🥘We cooked with our backers.
🚀We launch Ludocene.com into the world on 6th Aug.
I'm looking forward to reading this, whay a treat - an open access too! Thank you to all involved
We're delighted to interview our members, Valeria Llobet, Didier Reynaert, Afua Twum-Danso Imoh, and Wouter Vandenhole, about their edited collection, Critical Children’s Rights Studies: A Research Companion:
www.qmul.ac.uk/clpn/news-vi...
www.qmul.ac.uk/clpn/news-vi...
July 15, 2025 at 9:57 AM
I'm looking forward to reading this, whay a treat - an open access too! Thank you to all involved