What people say about Playful…
Playbox has been able to provide a fun, interactive and educational platform at Cardigan Fields. Encouraging play in a space that was under used, improving dwell time and above all customer experience. We look forward to developing the partnership and community use with Playbox.
Site Management, Xscape Leisure & Cardigan Fields
Arts & Minds worked with Playful on an event in May 2018. Playful's space was beautiful and welcoming. The workshops were well planned, fun and creative. Their team made an effort to welcome everyone and our members, most of whom who have mental health issues, felt comfortable and relaxed. It felt like a safe space, where people could express themselves without fear of judgement or criticism. We love Playful! Tom Bailey, Arts and Minds
The Playbox offers more than a range of activities for children. It gently invites children, their parents, carers and wider communities into a space where their imaginations can be stretched, where creativity can blossom, risks can be taken and where new connections can be formed.
It coaxes everyone to tap into deeper layers of play and in doing so builds confidence. In times where children and communities often live in isolation and fear, the Playbox serves as a playful and healthy antidote’
Jill Man, Together for Peace
“Playful Leeds provides well organised and imaginative opportunities that are inspiring and help people of all ages fufil their potential through play and interaction’”
“Playbox touches down in a community and throws open its doors. The confident arrive first, followed by the curious and they spread the word to the cautious.
Playbox brings a space without convention and that offers everyone the opportunity to get involved, to give, to share and to take away”
We enjoy engaging with Emma and her teams as she brings a creative and optimistic approach to making life better in communities. She also brings together teams of positive creative people who really help to make a difference Martin Dean, Leeds City Council
“I think it fair to say we are big fans of the Playlab. It really inspires kids and adults to have fun and use their imagination .All the events and activities are very engaging and hands on and enjoyable!”
We came across playlab when it opened a pop-up around the corner from our shop in Leeds Kirkgate Market. We knew Emma as customer of ours so heard all the plans she had in store for the shop. A few days after it opened we came in with the kids after a shopping trip in town. The kids made rings and necklaces and had a great time and got really involved.During another visit we picked up a leaflet about the young inventors club which was a kids club run during the Easter holiday’s. Our son read this and asked if he could go. The club was really we thought out with different activities everyday and gave him the opportunity to try things he’d never experienced like coding and re programming toys. We really impressed by the well thought out activities the ran and our son was really engaged and excited to go everyday. He made lots of new friends and did some really cool stuff. Our son aged 8 said ‘ i wish I could go to this everyday for a year’ you can’t get a better review than that! Thank you so much to all the staff who helped run this!
After that we couldn’t keep the kids away. We spent days off at the lab after only ‘popping in for a bit’ turned into all day! Our daughter Emily got involved with a slime making tutorial which she loved!
I think it fair to say we are big fans of the Playlab. It really inspires kids and adults to have fun and use their imagination .All the events and activities are very engaging and hands on and enjoyable!
We are already asking when the next young inventors club will be. The Playlab turned a small shop into a inviting, fun and comfortable oasis and we already miss it now it’s gone!!
We hope everyone at Playlab all the best for the future and look forward to what happens next! Parents of Young Inventor
“I felt like part of something bigger. I think places like this should be cherished because they are good for the mind, for the soul and for the heart!”
I have been living in the UK for about 6 years now. In Leeds, for about 4 and a half. Although, most of the time I feel like a ‘citizen of the world’, I think it is more difficult to fully feel like you are part of a community. This mainly because I really did not know where to go or where to start looking and also I would worry that I would not fit in because I am not from ‘around here’. Leeds has grown so much in the past years and has become more vibrant and full of new restaurants and shops. But what if you don’t want to ‘buy’ anything? What if you just want to hang out with people in a way that does not feel uncomfortable, awkward or forced? Where would you go? Where do you go if you just want to meet people and do something together? Where do you go, if you are on your own or have a family, and want to have a real, old style meet up where you can chat and share stories and do something creative together? Well, the answer for me is/was PlayLab! There, I always felt at home and excited to ‘do things’, meet and talk to other people.
I felt like part of something bigger. I think places like this should be cherished because they are good for the mind, for the soul and for the heart!
Fran