Hartcliffe children demand safer streets to play out in

As part of a joint project with Playing Out and Knightstone Housing, children from Room 13 Hareclive in Hartcliffe, South Bristol, are calling for safer streets from speeding traffic so they can play out more where they live.

Doing research in Hareclive Primary School, making their own film, speaking out in a residents’ film, marching, hosting an event – children are turning concerns and ideas into action and change.

Child-led research: do children play out?

Room 13’s research shows that some children in Hareclive school never play out and nearly all children want to play out more. If children could go out, they would want to:

• meet up with friends
• go to relatives’ houses
• play football
• go on bikes and scooters
• explore
• go to the park
• have adventures…

“All the things YOU used to do when you were young!”

The biggest thing stopping children from having more freedom is fear of traffic and speeding cars. This has also been identified by police and local residents as a major problem in the area.

The Sad Reality: Room 13’s film about safer streets

Here’s Room 13’s amazing film about the need for safer streets for children – planned, written, acted in and produced by them:

View ‘The Sad Reality’ video on Vimeo

“We’re all in this together. Let’s change things!”

Some residents have been working hard to try and slow traffic on their street. But it’s too big a problem for one street to solve…

Hartcliffe Safer Streets: residents’ film

Here are the views from residents:

Watch the Hartcliffe Safer Streets: residents’ film on Vimeo

Room 13 children are calling for action and change

Both films were shown to a packed hall at a special event in St Andrew’s church, Hartcliffe, where the audience really listened to children. We know that starting small leads to change, so here’s what we can do together:

• Share the films and this page with everyone you know!
• Watch our speed when driving: a pedestrian is likely to be killed at 30mph but injured at 20mph – there are good reasons why ‘20 is plenty‘
• If you spot dangerous driving that might result in an accident or harm, get the number plate and call Police 101. The car owner will get a warning letter. A second warning letter can result in the car being removed.
• Get together with neighbours or other parents to hold a playing out session at your school or on your street. It creates a temporary safe play space and sends the message out that streets are also for children. Playing Out can help.
• Contact Playing Out with any other thoughts or ideas!

Read about what Kate, Dinah and Jo have done on their streets, working with neighbours and other parents to change things for children. Sign up to their blog to stay in touch with playing out around the country.

Room 13 has its own website is www.room13hareclive.org.uk and the studio can be commissioned to work on projects where they need expertise around children, creativity, children and voice. Because the Room 13 team meets regularly to run their studio space and work on all kinds of projects and ideas, the team is a ready made consultation group on issues to find out more about children’s concerns, ideas and suggestions.