Centres for curiosity and imagination , John Pearce (Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 1998) explores the concept of children’s museums in the USA and Europe, with plenty of case studies. http://www.gulbenkian.org.uk

Inspiring Creativity and Imagination - Making exciting spaces for children’s learning and development in early years settings, devised by Curiosity & Imagination in 2005 for national Sure Start. www.surestart.gov.uk/inspiringcreativity

Article 31 Action Pack - Children’s Rights and Children’s Play, ed. Harry Shier (PlayTrain, 1995) includes guidance on children’s participation in decision-making. PlayTrain also runs a children’s consultancy scheme. www.playtrain.org.uk

The Campaign for Learning and the National Organisation for Adult Learning provide advice on family learning. http://www.playtrain.org.uk, www.niace.org.uk

The Association of Children’s Museums is a worldwide network which provides useful information including Collective Vision: Starting and sustaining a children’s museum, ed. Mary Maher. www.childrensmuseums.org

Hands On! Europe is the European association of children’s museums. www.hands-on-europe.net

BIG (the British Interactive Group) provides publications and training. www.big.uk.com

ECSITE-UK is a network for science and discovery centres. www.ecsite-uk.net

The Free Play Network promotes free play principles and practice. www.freeplaynetwork.org.uk


Useful links

Action for Children’s Arts www.childrensarts.org.uk
Arts & Business www.aandb.org.uk
British Association for Early Childhood Education www.early-education.org.uk
British Educational Suppliers Association http://www.besanet.org.uk
Business in the Community www.bitc.org.uk
Campaign for Learning Through Museums and Galleries www.clmg.org.uk
CAPE UK www.capeuk.org
Centre for Accessible Environments www.cae.org.uk
Centre for Creative Communities www.creativecommunities.org.uk
Centre for Environmental Education www.cee.org.uk
Charities Aid Foundation www.cafonline.org
Community Action Network www.can-online.org.uk
Community Education and Development Centre www.continyou.org.uk
Councils for Voluntary Service www.nacvs.org.uk
Disability Rights Commission www.drc-gb.org
Drawing Power www.drawingpower.org.uk
Education Business Partnerships www.nebpn.org
Group for Education in Museums www.gem.org.uk
Help Yourselves www.helpyourselves.org.uk
Learning Through Landscapes www.ltl.org.uk
National Association for Gallery Education www.engage.org
National Centre for Volunteering www.volunteering.org.uk
National Children’s Bureau www.ncb.org.uk
National Council for Voluntary Organisations www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
National Grid for Learning www.ngfl.gov.uk
National Playbus Association http://www.playbus.org.uk
National Science Week www.the-ba.net/nsw
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action www.nicva.org
Scottish Council for Vountary Organisations www.scvo.org.uk
Sound Sense www.soundsense.org
Wales Council for Voluntary Action www.wcva.org.uk