A major new campaign has been launched to protect public parks as government reforms threaten protection of vital playing fields
Jill Scott MBE has today been announced as the new President of Fields in Trust – the UK’s only charity dedicated to protecting Britain’s parks, playgrounds, playing fields and green spaces. Her appointment comes just two days before the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
To mark her appointment, Jill recently joined schoolchildren in Gorton, Manchester for a kickabout, reflecting on her own journey and the vital role her local playfield in Sunderland played in sparking her love of sport when she was growing up.
From grassroots pitches to becoming one of the nation’s most loved sports personalities, her story shows the transformative power of accessible green spaces for young people. But today, those spaces face an uncertain future.
The growth in women’s and girls’ football since England hosted and won Euro 2022 has been extraordinary, thanks in part to Sport England investment, which helped create over half a million new playing opportunities and saw 129,000 more girls playing in schools.
Yet these gains are at risk. As part of its new planning reforms, the Government recently proposed removing Sport England as a statutory consultee on planning decisions, weakening the protections that stop playing fields being lost to development.
Without these safeguards, thousands of pitches could be lost, undermining access to sport at the exact moment participation is thriving. With rising youth inactivity and a £7.4 billion cost to the economy each year, the stakes for our health, wellbeing and community cohesion have never been higher.
A long-time advocate for sport’s power to change lives, Jill’s commitment aligns with the growing national focus on creating opportunities for young people. The former England midfielder takes on the role as Fields in Trust celebrates its centenary year.
Founded in 1925, Fields in Trust has helped protect nearly 3,000 spaces across the country and throughout its distinguished history has enjoyed strong support from the Royal Family. HRH The Prince of Wales has been Patron since 2024, succeeding Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth II who was Patron for an incredible 70 years.
On her appointment as President, Jill Scott MBE said: “I’m honoured to become President of Fields in Trust at such a pivotal time. My journey began on local pitches in Sunderland and it was those community spaces that really enabled everything that followed.
“Without Roker Park on my doorstep, I wouldn’t have become an England footballer. But more than that, I’ve seen how sport and green spaces build confidence, friendships, and help young people discover what they’re capable of.
“I’m concerned that so many of these spaces have been lost already. As President of Fields in Trust, I urge everyone to support and protect their local parks – to enjoy them, fight for them, and never take them for granted. Access to parks and green spaces should be seen as a right, not a privilege.”
Jill’s appointment comes as the charity is set to celebrate its 100-year anniversary on July 8, 2025, 100 years to the day since the inaugural meeting of the National Playing Fields Association, as the charity was previously known.
The Centenary event in London on 8 July, will bring together supporters, Ambassadors, politicians, corporate partners and key stakeholders to launch a strategy on its renewed mission. This renewed focus has also seen the recent appointment of Tony Juniper, the respected environmentalist and Chair of Natural England, as Ambassador.
Helen Griffiths, Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Jill Scott as our new President at a critical moment for the UK’s parks and playing fields. As protections are stripped away, our nation’s green spaces face a significant threat and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
“Jill’s powerful voice and lived experience highlight just how vital these spaces are for the physical and mental wellbeing of our communities. With youth inactivity rising and local facilities vanishing, we must act now. Our centenary year isn’t just a celebration, it’s a rallying cry. We urge everyone, from policymakers to local residents, to work with us and protect these irreplaceable assets before it’s too late.”
A pupil from Sacred Heart Junior School, aged 11, who joined the kickabout with Jill said: “Sometimes me and my friends go to my local park and play tig, have a kickabout or play basketball. I’d be really sad because I’ve been going there since I was a little child and I’d hate to see it leave.”
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