Former Olympian brings first UK PLAYCE to Portsmouth

A unique, National Institute for Health and Care Research supported, multi-movement activity space was opened to the public on Friday 19 July, following a special ribbon cutting ceremony with the city’s Lord Mayor and football legend Alan Edward Knight MBE

© University of Portsmouth/Mark Kellet

Residents were invited to a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, to celebrate the official opening of the UK’s first PLAYCE.

Portsmouth was chosen as the first city to be home to a multi-movement activity space, built using a pioneering scientific model for movement called the Athletic Skills Model (ASM). The versatile public area has been constructed in Lords Court, Landport, after the council approved the use of the site.

The NIHR is extremely proud to have supported this development through its funding of community-led community consultations and engagement during the preparatory stages of the project. This involvement empowered local residents to shape and take ownership of their community-based movement hub and to develop a space that would work for them. 

The purpose of this PLAYCE is to get people moving by challenging them to think outside the box when it comes to physical activity. It has been designed in a way that anyone can use the space, from young and old and with all skill levels, including those with disabilities and additional needs. 

Science is involved in the layout, so that basic forms of movement, including balancing, climbing, throwing, jumping, etc., can be done. These are known as the ASM’s fundamental 10.

The idea originated in the Netherlands, where more than 50 PLAYCEs and Skill Gardens have been built in schools, hospitals, sport clubs, and public spaces.

Portsmouth’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Jason Fazackarley, and former Portsmouth FC player Alan Edward Knight MBE officially opened the PLAYCE to the public on Friday afternoon (19 July). People living in the surrounding area were invited to come down and try it out. 

© University of Portsmouth

The project has been a collaboration between the NIHR, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth City Council (PCC), and the Athletic Skills Model (ASM) Company, and is being led by Dr Martina Navarro and Dr Chad Witcher.

Dr Martina Navarro, from the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth, wanted to bring it to the city after seeing its success abroad. As a former Olympic athlete, competing in Taekwondo for Brazil at the Beijing games in 2008, she is passionate about getting people moving. 

She said: “The Athletic Skills Model is a different way of thinking about movement, sports, physical education and healthcare. As an example, if PE teachers and coaches encouraged us to practise a range of basic skills, such as jumping and balancing embedded in a wide variety of sports, people are more likely to become better sportsmen and women.”

Part of PLAYCE was painted by local artist Mark Kellet, owner of an independently run business based just outside Portsmouth called Mark Kellett Art.

The project has been funded by the University of Portsmouth and supported by external organisations, including the NIHR, Portsmouth City Council, and South Western Railway Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF). Funding to the value of £1,500 was provided by the NIHR and spent on community consultations and engagement.

Dr Zoë Sheppard, Research Delivery Manager at Clinical Research Network Wessex said: "We were absolutely delighted to fund part of this innovative project through our small grant scheme working with communities under-served by research. We've looked forward to hearing from Martina and Chad about the progress of the design and build, including at our 2023 Showcase event. The space will leave an important legacy for the local community. A massive well done and thank you to everyone involved."

Additional funding from the council's public health team has also trained a number of local community representatives and exercise professionals in ASM theory and principles, so they can optimise both the use of the PLAYCE and apply the knowledge within their own setting. Funding was also secured to improve the area surrounding the site, through greening it, making it more visually appealing and climate friendly.

Future plans for the PLAYCE could include school, sports clubs, health centres, sports coaches and informal carers using it to carry out their training or exercise programmes.  

Cllr Darren Sanders, Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness, said: “I'm pleased to say we're leading the way by providing an eye-catching and innovative exercise space that is free to use for all our residents. The location of the space, in the heart of the city and close to lots of housing, is a choice that my fellow councillors and I hope will encourage more people to enjoy play and free movement as part of their daily routines.”

Both the physical health, and mental wellbeing benefits of being active cannot be overlooked, given physical inactivity is associated with 1 in 6 deaths in the UK. 

Portsmouth is one of the first universities to develop a Civic Partnership Agreement with partners in the local community and region to promote inclusion and enrich economic, social and cultural life. Its goal is for education and research knowledge and skills to benefit the Portsmouth Harbour region and surrounding areas.

Professor Anne Murphy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) said: “The PLAYCE Pompey is a great example of how the University encourages collaboration within our region with organisations and residents, to help the area flourish. We are actively contributing to the economic, social, and cultural vitality of our community, to ensure we are a University for Portsmouth.”

For more information, to view the designs and leave feedback online, visit the Portsmouth PLAYCE website here.

You can also follow the progress of the PLAYCE on Instagram and Facebook.