Play2Nurture: Bringing Together the Therapeutic Power of Play, Community Playwork, and Reflective Tools to Produce a Play Sanctuary

Play2Nurture, run by Play Gloucestershire (UK), runs sessions for small groups of school-aged children facing economic and/or emotional hardship in a dedicated, nurturing and playful space, The Play Sanctuary. Working at the intersection of playwork and play therapy, sessions are supported by qualified staff, young volunteers, and a Pets as Therapy qualified dog. Staff attend reflective sessions with a local play therapist. They also work collaboratively with an evaluator using mappings and creative approaches to reflect on how the space works to create conditions for play. This article introduces the project and discusses lessons learned from the first three years.