Explore Play Wales
New research published by the Bevan Foundation shows that living in temporary accommodation has the potential to seriously affect a child’s wellbeing and ability to develop and learn. The report also highlights the risk of physical harm.
Living in temporary accommodation means uncertainty, and a lack of space and privacy. Even accommodation which has been designed for the support needs of families, such as hostels and refuges, can have its limitations when temporary stays last for months or even years.
In the report, The impact of temporary accommodation on children and their families, the foundation says:
‘Play is incredibly important to child development and can help a child cope with situations of crisis, but living in cramped conditions or having toys in storage can limit play opportunities.’
In its list of recommendations for keeping life as normal as possible for children and their families whilst living in temporary accommodation, the Bevan Foundation calls for the:
- Welsh Government to amend the Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill to prohibit the use of accommodation which does not provide a child with the means to play
- Welsh Government fund and provide suitable play packs for children living in temporary accommodation.
The research report includes a spotlight on Play Wales’ project to provide play packs for families living in temporary accommodation. Welcoming the new research, Play Wales says:
‘Our small-scale pilot project which supported local authority play teams to engage with parents and families indicates that children have little access to safe, clean, or culturally appropriate spaces for play, and are often isolated from community-based provision. We particularly welcome the recommendations calling for more consideration being given to prohibiting the use of accommodation which does not provide a child with the means to play.’