Tanny Stobart of chamber member Play Torbay received a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Torbay Community Champion Awards.
Tanny was the founding Director of Play Torbay (formerly known as the Torbay Play Forum), promoting children’s play in the Bay. The aim of Play Torbay is quite simple: to provide fun, accessible play opportunities all year round, including playground adventures, play days and special events, based on an understanding that play is the single most important developmental process in any child’s life and a fundamental human right.
Tanny has been the inspiration and driving force behind Play Torbay, which has touched so many people’s lives over the last 25 years. Play Torbay has put the fun and joy into children’s lives and given hope to many families for whom it has been a lifeline. Play Torbay has given children the opportunity for children to be creative and use their imagination through the adventure playgrounds at Indigos in Brixham and Wildfox in Paignton, simply to be children.
Tanny has shown what we can all do when we care for each other. She has brought together collaborations of arts, playworkers and children that have given them a voice and helped them find their place in the world. Tanny has inspired others and given them room to grow. Without Tanny, there would be no Play Torbay.
Tanny has also served on a number of national committees and developed policy and practice at a national level on children’s play. Tanny has developed nationally recognised playwork training in England and Wales. Tanny has presented her work with Play Torbay at national and international conferences and, in doing so, has put Torbay on the map as a place where great things can happen.
https://www.torbaycommunities.com/tanny-stobart-voted-torbays-community-champion-2025/