About Us
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 disadvantaged communities. Collaboratively schools, businesses and communities based in the UK and developing countries, develop creative play areas in underutilized areas. Play areas that are tailored to the communities needs and supported by business across a global, digital communication network.
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
The Dream Networks Vision is based on four core values that emphasis our desire to enable local and global neighbors to support each other, sustain their environment and promote cultural awareness. Of course, we achieve all these values in a creative, innovative and playful manner.
Community Tailored
We believe that as people we should demonstrate love for our local and global neighbours and also love for our environment. Our play areas are tailored to needs of the community and the forms of play the children need and desire. Our play areas reflect an understanding and appreciation of the local needs, environments and culture.
Business Supported
Transfer of skills and finances to provide empower and equip both the students and local community participants. Business also able to network and build relations as employees provide capacity building as part of the design and development process
Sustainably Built
The play areas are built in a manner that enables local community members to take ownership of the use of readily available, safe to use, local materials and resources. Our programmes promote the conservation of materials and the innovative use of natural resources.
Creative Play Areas
Research repeatedly recognises that play projects make a significant difference to areas and promote social interaction and provide a sense of community ownership in deprived neighbourhoods where there was little or no provision for play spaces. Our play areas support the development of essential skills required for earcly childhood development, cultivate creativity and aim to encourage social confidence. Not only that, our play areas provide voluntary work and paid employment opportunities to local youth and adults.
Our Origins
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 curiosity caused her to quickly join the diverse team & Esther become my 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 of one short wood stump, she knew their function, they were for play! That’s when Marie knew creating play areas made a difference to children & communities. That everyone can contribute towards engineering solutions.
Our Collaborative Impact
Who We Work With
Dream Networks has a collaboration and community based developmental ethos. Consequently we aim to collaborate with organisations towards our common vision to design and build creative, community tailored playgrounds in disadvantaged areas..
Our Team
“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!”
Marie Williams
Marie Williams
CEO and Founder
Marie is a senior chartered engineer and product manager with over 9 years of product development experience within advanced technology industries. She has significant experience as a volunteer working with people from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has worked with numerous primary and secondary schools to deliver interactive and technology based workshops such as the bloodhound project , water for the world and BBC2 (UK) programmes. Marie has lead the development and building of play areas with local and international volunteers in Tanzania, Kenya and the UK. Marie loves dancing, anything creative, baking cakes and the Christian faith.
Global Community Project and Building Managers
Local project and building managers within the community the play areas are to be built.
The Project managers manage the implementation of the play area and ensure community engagement. The Building managers manage the building of the play area and ensure the play areas that are robust and safe to use.
Advisory Board
Dream Networks is a UK registered Community Interest Company (C.I.C). As a C.I.C social enterprise, all assets owned by Dream Networks are used to operate and sustain the company. All profits are used within the community and schools we collaborate with. Dream Networks advisory board is comprised of members who have experience in sustainability, corporate partnerships and local manufacturing processes. The advisory board members are not liable for the guidance and advice they provide.
Steve Maslin
Advisory Board Member- Inclusive Design Practises
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.”
Stephen Hilton
Advisory Board Member-Sustainable Business Strategies
Stephen has 20 years experience of smart and sustainable cities. As Director of Futures at Bristol City Council, Stephen held strategic responsibility for sustainability, climate change, resilience, civil protection, city innovation, economic development and international affairs. His achievements include, the award of European Green Capital 2015 and becoming a Rockefeller 100 Resilient City. Recently, Stephen established Bristol Futures Global, an independent consultancy specialising in collaborative approaches to creating smarter, greener, more inclusive and resilient cities. He is a Fellow at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute and a Director of the Bristol £ local currency.