Over 100 volunteers
Over 10 schools
Over 4000 children
2 Continents
100s of creative ideas
About us
Children in a conceptual design workshop in Bristol, UK
Who we are:
Dream Networks is a not for profit community interest company that exists to enable businesses, communities and educational institutions to collaboratively design and build sustainable play areas in marginalised communities.
We pride ourselves in placing children and collaboration at the heart of the process. The programmes that we offer create lasting networks that continue to serve communities long after the projects are over.
Moreover, they provide children with the agency and tools to design their own play areas, using computer-aided design software.
We connect the pieces in the collaborative network to make children's Dreams of playing a reality!
Our Values:
We believe that everyone needs to play and has a right to play.
We believe that everyone can contribute towards creating a safe and fun place to play.
We believe designing play areas is child's play. Literally!
We believe that technology can be utilised to enrich learning and sustain environments.
Our vision
In August 2012, Marie, the founder of Dream Networks met Esther, a 3 year old girl on a dry, arid empty field in Tanzania. They did not speak the same language but soon became great friends. Every day Esther would walk the short distance from her home to watch as community members, local skilled workers and overseas volunteers, gathered material around & constructed. Perhaps it was curiosity that caused her to quickly join the diverse team, & Esther became Marie's favourite wood sander. After the 2 weeks were complete, she began to inspect the now painted colourful structures, trying to determine how they worked. Once she jumped off one short wood stump, she knew its function: it's for play! That’s when Marie knew creating play areas made a difference to children & communities. That everyone can contribute towards engineering solutions.
Our people
Dream Networks could not exist without the individuals and companies who dedicate their time, expertise and financial support. Our collaborative team is invaluable in enabling the sustainable design processes fostered at Dream Networks to thrive. I am just the dreamer who put pen to paper and asked who wants to join in on the fun!
Our team
Andrea
Programme Manager
Andrea is an academic and play enthusiast who believes in the power of play to shape the livelihoods of both children and adults. Andrea manages our co-design programmes and works closely with schools and business to implement our workshops.
Marie
CEO and Founder
Marie is a senior chartered engineer with over 9 years of product development experience within advanced technology industries. She is passionate about children experiencing the joy and developmental benefits play affords. She believes children should have agency to shape their built environment and play, which is one of the reasons she founded Dream Networks. Marie loves dancing, anything creative, baking cakes and the Christian faith.
Olga
DIgital Marketing
Olga helps Dream Networks make its mission and progress visible to existing and future collaborators. Coming from a psychology background, she knows just how important play is in the development of a child's cognition and imagination. It is her ambition to help adults help children get the play opportunities they deserve, with collaboration being at the heart of the process.
Our advisory board
Claire Leigh
Advisory Board member - Child's rights and International Development
Claire Leigh is the Director of Global Policy, Advocacy and Research at Save the Children. In this role she leads Save’s knowledge and influencing agenda for children living in developing countries and conflict zones. Previously Claire has worked for a variety of internationally-focused organisations including UNDP and UNICEF in New York, the Overseas Development Institute in London, and as an advisor to the Presidents of Rwanda and Liberia as part of the Africa Governance Initiative. Claire has also spent time working for the British Government, first as a senior policy advisor in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and subsequently in the Policy Planning Staff of the Foreign Office. Claire holds a first class degree in History from Cambridge and an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford. She has two young children, Maya and Nancy, who love to play, and says "the Covid Pandemic has shown us all how vital opportunities to play and interact are for children's health, happiness and development. I believe passionately in the right of all children to access play spaces, regardless of who they are or where they are from, which is why I am so proud to join the Board at Dream Networks.
Steve Hilton
Advisory Board Member - Sustainable Business Strategies
Claire Leigh is the Director of Global Policy, Advocacy and Research at Save the Children. In this role she leads Save’s knowledge and influencing agenda for children living in developing countries and conflict zones. Previously Claire has worked for a variety of internationally-focused organisations including UNDP and UNICEF in New York, the Overseas Development Institute in London, and as an advisor to the Presidents of Rwanda and Liberia as part of the Africa Governance Initiative. Claire has also spent time working for the British Government, first as a senior policy advisor in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and subsequently in the Policy Planning Staff of the Foreign Office. Claire holds a first class degree in History from Cambridge and an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford. She has two young children, Maya and Nancy, who love to play, and says "the Covid Pandemic has shown us all how vital opportunities to play and interact are for children's health, happiness and development. I believe passionately in the right of all children to access play spaces, regardless of who they are or where they are from, which is why I am so proud to join the Board at Dream Networks.
Steve Maslin
Advisory Board Member - Sustainable Design Practices
Steve is an Architect and Consultant member of the National register of Access Consultants. He pays particular attention to informing the achieving inclusive and mind friendly environments, whilst designing, advising, writing, speaking and teaching. Steve is Director of Building User Design, with other roles within BSI, BRE, Design Council CABE, the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems and Initiative Homes.
“Play matters because it provides the opportunity for children not only to gain physical exercise, but to learn how to exercise their senses and thereby feed their minds.”
