Call for playground investment THE Association of Play Industries (API) is calling on the public to support its Pathway to Play campaign by writing to their local MPs, urging the government to invest in public playgrounds in their first Budget on 30 October. The campaign seeks to address the growing crisis of childhood obesity and mental health issues by ensuring that every child has access to safe, high-quality outdoor play spaces. Sir Keir Starmer and key government ministers have already been approached by API Chair Dr Amanda Gummer, who is advocating for policy changes that will make outdoor play a central aspect of childhood. Dr Gummer says: ‘Investing in playgrounds is crucial for reversing the alarming trends in childhood health. Outdoor play is an essential aspect of childhood and public playgrounds are the number one location for children’s outdoor play. ‘Policy oversight has led to inadequate provision of dedicated play spaces, resulting in children spending more time indoors, alone and inactive. The new Chancellor will be announcing the first Labour Government Budget on 30 October and it’s imperative that they find room in the budget to protect our children’s right to play in their communities. Urgent change is needed to reverse rising childhood obesity and mental health problems.’ The API has created a template letter for members and supporters to send to their local MPs. The letter highlights the importance of conducting a national audit of playgrounds, securing long-term funding for community play spaces and integrating outdoor learning into schools. The API urges everyone who cares about children’s wellbeing to download the template letter from the API website, personalise it and send it to their MP before the budget on 30 October. ‘The aim from API is to ensure that together, we can ensure that the government recognises the vital role of public playgrounds in building healthier communities.’ www.api-play.org/news events/pathwaytoplay-campaign/ 8 paf-media.co.uk news SPORTS and entertainment group R3 Sport has appointed Sam Kemp as managing director of Operations, Tournaments and Events to help drive the business, with a particular focus on its tournaments, including launching a Padel Super League and supporting the continued success of charity event PadelAid. Kemp joins R3 Sport from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), where he spent over six years managing recreational tennis competitions and leading the development of all LTA Padel competitions. At R3 Sport, which launched in February this year to invest in the sports and entertainment sectors with a particular focus on padel tennis, Kemp will lead all aspects of operations, tournaments and events strategy. One of the main focus points will be on R3 Sport’s plans to build a Padel Super League and he will also oversee the strategic development of a portfolio of events and exhibitions as the company continues to grow. R3 Sport plans to start building two padel tennis venues in the UK that will have between 16 and 20 courts, and is developing a series of major events while scouting elite padel tennis players in the UK and abroad, who it will manage. R3 Sport is also the exclusive distributor of Bullpadel Rackets and Equipment in the UK and Ireland. There are currently over 90,000 people in the UK who play padel, and R3 Sport says this number has increased by around 1,380% since 2020. The number of players in the country is predicted to reach 600,000 by the end of 2026. www.r3-sport.com R3 Sport recruits Sam Kemp from The Lawn Tennis Association
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