Yinka Olusoga from the School of Education, Cath Bannister, a visiting researcher at the University of Sheffield, and Alice Olusoga from Whiteley Woods Outdoor Activity Centre spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield to discuss their work researching wide games.
‘Wide games’ are collective games which are usually played outdoors in open spaces, particularly by Scout and Guide groups.
Researchers from the School of Education are now working with the Whiteley Woods Outdoor Activity Centre to co-produce research that looks at people’s memories of this kind of children's play over the decades.
Speaking to Paulette Edwards from Radio Sheffield, Yinka Olusoga explained how wide games often involve “physical activity, but also problem solving, teamwork and communication”, and “everybody coming together for a goal.” Examples can include Capture the Flag and Foxes and Rabbits.
The team will be working on a series of oral history recordings, and they are looking for people to share their stories of games children were playing in the 1960s and beyond by getting in touch with oac@whiteleywoods.org.uk
Listen to the full interview below.
