Our Parks Too: “Don’t girls belong in public space?”

 

Our Parks Too is a new campaign film created by charity Make Space for Girls with teenage girls from across the UK to explain what their experiences of parks are really like, and what they want the people who shape these spaces to understand.

 

Make Space for Girls campaigns for parks and public spaces to be designed with teenage girls in mind. Its work highlights a simple but often overlooked issue: as girls reach their teenage years, they become much less visible in parks and other public spaces.

 

The film grew out of several months of engagement with girls around the country, including a series of sessions bringing together 18 girls aged 12-18. They shared their experiences, challenged assumptions and helped decide what they wanted to say to the people with the power to make change. Their words and ideas shaped the final film, which is written and presented by teenage girls themselves.

 

 

The campaign is aimed particularly at councils, developers, planners, architects, landscape architects and others involved in commissioning, designing and managing public space.

 

Its message isn’t that there is a single design solution: Those shaping places need to look at who is, and isn’t, using them, and involve teenage girls meaningfully in the process.

 

After watching Our Parks Too and hearing directly from the girls about what needs to change, Make Space for Girls suggests professionals start conversations within their organisations.

 

But most importantly, the charity urges place shapers to talk to teenage girls in the communities they are designing for. As the girls clearly state in the film – don’t just talk to the people using the spaces – find those who don’t. 

 

Make Space for Girls is also asking professionals to fill in a short feedback form on the Our Parks Too website to help them understand the impact of the campaign. 

 

The charity is particularly keen to hear about projects where Make Space for Girls might be able to offer advice, resources or support to help turn ideas into action.

 

Find out more: Visit Our Parks Too on the Make Space for Girls website