Whipton's Summer of Play

By Jemima Moore (Whipton Community Builder)

When I first began as a community builder in Whipton, I heard from parents how much they needed spaces for their children to play and for themselves to connect—especially during the summer holidays. The church playgroups, as well as Meet with Mummies, were all closing for the Summer, leaving a real gap for families.

After conversations with volunteers at St Katherine’s Priory, I decided to try something simple: a weekly pop-up play session, open to all. Every Friday afternoon from 12–2pm, I brought along resources from my early years teaching days—games, Lego, dinosaurs, a parachute, giant bubbles—and set up spaces where play could unfold naturally.

Over the summer we held 17 sessions in total, including two at Summerway Park, adding up to well over 30 hours of play and hundreds of conversations with families. By the end, we had regulars who came most weeks, and it was wonderful when families who first joined the Pop Up Play at Summerway Park then came over to St Katherine’s.

Devon Wildlife Trust kindly lent us their bug spotting kits, and Merry Go Round Toy Library shared their circus skill toys. We also tried the idea of a toy swap at Summerway Park, where children brought toys to exchange. It was simple, fun, and gave families a new way to share with each other.

Children played, and conversations with families flowed. By the end of the summer, I had heard so many different ideas: exercise sessions that parents and children could do together, a home education group at the priory, family jam music sessions, a Halloween trail and party. Most hopeful were conversations about ways that families themselves could help keep playgroups going during the holidays.

It really was a brilliant summer: lots of play, lots of connection, and lots of plans for what’s to come next.