From Cambridge to Hong Kong, Mexico to Melbourne, Play Included is quietly leading a global movement that is helping neurodivergent children connect, communicate and thrive through the simple joy of LEGO® bricks.
If you have worked in education, therapy or SEN support in the past few years, chances are you have heard of LEGO therapy. But what you might not know is that one organisation has taken this idea further than anyone else and done it on a truly global scale.
Play Included, based in the UK and partnered with the LEGO Foundation, is training thousands of professionals around the world to deliver Brick Clubs. These are safe, inclusive spaces where neurodivergent children can build, play and grow together. While many providers offer local or regional training, Play Included’s reach now spans over 25 countries across six continents, something no competitor comes close to matching.
From Pittsburgh to Hong Kong – What Global Looks Like
Just this past year, facilitators trained by Play Included have delivered over 600 Brick Clubs, working with more than 2,000 children in places as far apart as:
• Hong Kong, where Chinese language training is enabling inclusive delivery across schools and therapy centres
• Mexico, where passionate educators are bringing the LEGO brick based therapy model into their classrooms
• The United States, where a growing partnership with Carnegie Mellon University is using Brick Clubs to bridge social and economic divides in Pittsburgh
• Australia and New Zealand, where local champions are scaling delivery through universities and community services
• And of course, the UK, where Brick Clubs are becoming a recognised model for group play therapy with the NHS, local authorities and schools all taking part
And the best part? Most of these facilitators trained online using Play Included’scertified LEGO therapy training platform, available in English, Spanish, Danish and Chinese.
“I regularly hear from teachers and parents who are amazed by the changes they see. One school said Brick Club was the only reason a child wanted to come in on Thursdays.”
– Certified Facilitator, UK
More Than Just a Course – It Is a Movement
What sets Play Included apart is not just the scope, it is the intention. This is not about pushing training out into the world and hoping for the best. It is about supporting people to do it well, with empathy, creativity and a focus on child voice.
“It is not just about building with bricks. It is about building trust.”
— Dr. Gina Gómez de la Cuesta, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Play Included
In one case shared in the organisation’s 2024 Impact Survey, a child who had been nearly non-verbal for over a year started speaking again after six months of Brick Club sessions. Another child, who had not left his bedroom for three months due to anxiety, ended up co-facilitating a group within a year. This is the kind of change that training alone cannot guarantee. It comes from the culture of support that Play Included builds around its global network.
Why It Matters
Let’s be honest. There are plenty of free or DIY versions of LEGO based therapy floating around. But Play Included has invested in making sure what they offer is evidence based, inclusive and respectful of the neurodivergent experience.
Being the only provider certified by the LEGO Foundation is no small thing, and it is not just a badge. It means the organisation works to a gold standard, underpinned by research and built on best practices in psychology, play and education.
If you are a professional working with autistic or neurodivergent children, there is no better place to start than with Play Included’s LEGO based therapy training. It is designed to equip you with the skills, resources and confidence to make a real difference.
With ambitions to train 10,000 professionals by 2030 and reach 100,000 children, Play Included is not just delivering a programme. It is building a movement that spans borders, languages and learning styles.
Want to join the global Brick Club community?
Explore facilitator training, memberships and resources at www.playincluded.com — or follow @PlayIncluded to see what the international network is building next.
