360 Play centre prepares to re-open in Milton Keynes with hundreds of free tickets being given away

360 Play on Knowlhill is planning to welcome back children on May 17th.

And it has launched a special Young Minds campaign to support children and families across our communities

who have been struggling throughout the pandemic and need a helping hand back to normality.

Owner and founder Duncan Phillips has pledged more than £60,000 worth of tickets for children and families who have struggled through lockdown for 360 Play centres across the country.

The dad-of-two said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on the younger members of our society. Unfortunately we may only see the impacts when the world does start to return to normal but the warning signs are very clear to see."

He added: "We have closely followed the child health experts throughout the pandemic and considered where

we could have an impact to help our children.

"Our children have struggled with isolation throughout the pandemic, all their usual social interaction with family and friends that shapes who they are has gone. Parents have been working from home whilst home schooling and providing childcare. Babies have been born who have never met or had interaction with other babies or adults."

Research show the formative years are intrinsically important to a child’s development and that the role of play is vital for both psychological and physical growth.

Prof Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, addressed MPs on the Education Select Committee earlier this year. He said: "When we close schools we close their lives. The pandemic has caused a range of harms to children across the board from being isolated and lonely to suffering from sleep problems and reduced physical activity.”

Dr Kathryn Lester, senior lecturer in developmental psychology at the University of Sussex, said: "The importance of play for children’s wellbeing is still all too easily overlooked, and sadly even more so in the midst of a global pandemic.”

Duncan says he is passionate about getting children playing together again in safe settings. He is asking people to nominate families in MK who are deserving of free tickets.

"Through our Young Minds Campaign if we can reach out and give just one family some help right now it will have been a success. That’s why I am so proud to play our part reaching out to thousands of families who may not have the ability to access our sites to come along as or guests and play again in active and open settings, he said,

"In this campaign we are reaching out to our local communities to help find out who really need a day

of carefree family fun. It’s more important now than ever that we look after our youngest generation and their developing minds.

"If you know someone in your community who would benefit from this we need you to nominate them."

For the first 30 days of 360 Play reopening, in stage three of the roadmap, we will be gifting over 50

tickets daily to the most deserving families.

Friends, families, local charities or CAHMs teams can nominate families who they consider would benefit from a play date together.

To find out more or nominate a family you feel would benefit from this campaign visit here .