When was the last time you experienced fun? Genuine, belly-laughing fun? In a world that often feels increasingly serious, fun can sometimes be viewed as a guilty pleasure. However, what if it is actually essential? The Open University and Fullscope Collaboration embarked on a journey to explore these questions and understand why something so crucial for supporting children and young people often goes unrecognised. The research revealed that ‘fun’ is not only vital for supporting children and young people, but also for those working with them. The charities and funders interviewed all expressed that, without fun, they would struggle to support young people.