Who We Are

The IPA Scotland logo

IPA Scotland is a small and vibrant membership charity, registered in Scotland, working to protect, preserve and promote the child’s right to play as a fundamental human right.

IPA Scotland’s work, values and principles are underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and in particular article 31:

States parties recognise the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

A longstanding branch of the IPA organisation, IPA Scotland has a proud history of participating in the IPA Council and IPA World Board. We are proud that a Past President, Past Secretary and current IPA World Board member all hail from Scotland.

IPA Scotland has developed training, study visits and projects and was actively involved in recent initiatives on Play in Crisis and Children’s Right to Play and the Environment. IPA Scotland was delighted to host the IPA Triennial World Conference in 2023.

9 members of the IPA board, 5 standing and 4 sitting in fron of them. They all look jubilant, and many are holding saltires. There is an article 31 poster between them

A group of IPA Scotland board members at the IPA Presidents’ Reception, held at IPAGlasgow2023

In 2015 IPA Scotland celebrated its 21st year and to mark the occasion, pioneer for play and founding member of IPA Scotland, Alan Rees, wrote Working for Play - A History of IPA Scotland to mark 21 years. It outlines both the history of the branch to that point, as well as the wider changes for play at the time.

The International Play Association (IPA) is an international non-governmental organisation founded in 1961 in Denmark.

It provides a forum for exchange and action across disciplines and across sectors. IPA’s purpose is to protect, preserve and promote the child’s right to play as a fundamental human right.

IPA has a small administrative Board of Directors, and a Council of national representatives. All work as volunteers. IPA has members in close to 50 countries, and active groups in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the USA and Wales.

IPA Branches initiate a wide variety of projects that promote the child’s right to play. These include seminars, conferences, study tours, research, publications, playground design, playwork training and the organisation of play programmes and play days. They often collaborate with other local and national organisations which promote the wellbeing of children and children’s rights.

International Branches

Please note that not all international branches have an online presence, and that some branches are hosted by other national play organisations. For those that don’t have an online presence, or that we are not aware of, we have linked to their membership page at IPA World. All branches must have a minimum of 10 fully paid members at any given time, to be considered a branch by IPA World.