Welcome to Common Threads!

Common Threads is a world-wide community of playwork practitioners, trainers, development and support workers, authors, academics and theorists which exists to promote playwork theory and practice.

Playwork practice is a distinct set of methods which can be used by adults in any setting with children and young people of all ages to support playfulness. We provide training in these methods and publish resources which support playwork theory and practice. We offer information and support to anybody using, or who is interested in using, playwork practice.

We operate as a social enterprise which means that we make a charge for some of the things we do, so that we can put the profits back into providing support and information for our members, developing research projects and giving financial support to grass-roots projects both in the UK and abroad. We have also developed socially responsible ways of working, read the full details here: Ethical Trading Policy.

Common Threads is currently made up of about 8,000 members, 50 trainers who deliver our courses both across the UK and abroad and a (small!) handful of office-based folk who keep the show on the road. We invite anybody who works with children to join us to work for more playfulness in children's lives!

What's new

Thanks for voting us Best Playwork Training Provider 2010!

  Playwork for Playschemes - our new one day playscheme course. There aren't that many days left before playschemes start!!!

  Resources at bargain prices - we've got some great bargains on our publications for a limited period. Activities on a Plate plus a copy of Global Glue for only £15. The Story Pack at half price for only £8.

  Therapeutic Playwork Reader one - read a free extract from this great play theory resource - a must for anybody teaching or studying playwork. Free download but please contact us to request the password and click here to buy the full book for a limited period at half price - now only £9.00!

  For the very first time - the complete set of Playwords! We can now offer this fantastic research resource for the first time as a complete set for only £17.50.

  Playwords - Winter 2010 Issue 41 - available now! We're putting together the next issue so if you have any articles you'd like to see published (or know somebody who may wish to contribute) please contact us.

  Common Threads information - we often get asked for information about ourselves so here's a handy document to download and keep - or email to a colleague. If you'd like a large number of printed copies for event/conference delegates, network meetings etc then please contact us.

  Resource Reviews - new reviews section of useful resources, written by our members.