Launched in October 2020 and using Zoom, PLAY Live is the Whitworth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to take the Early Years programme online and into people’s homes, schools and nurseries. PLAY Live brings together over 550 children and their grown-ups each session, using play as a catalyst to promote creativity whilst alleviating loneliness, isolation and improving wellbeing.

Over the last 9 months PLAY Live and PLAY Live Baby have engaged a total of 3311 children and their grown-ups, growing from 95 participants in the first session to over 550 in the most recent.

The pandemic provided an opportunity to try something we wouldn’t have otherwise tried. We’ve created a play community that brings people together with no limits in terms of distance. A unique, diverse mix of people from across the UK and across the world (including Greece, Argentina, Portugal, Ireland and the USA) who come together in their homes, hospitals, refuges, community centres, schools or nurseries to connect through the universal language of play.

This film looks back on a year of PLAY Live through the pandemic.

Thanks to all the parents, grandparents and carers that shared their PLAY Live experiences with us and to Belle Vue for producing such a beautiful film bringing it all together.