Play England is supporting local authority playbuilders and play pathfinders to deliver the government’s £235m investment in play and transform local areas into innovative and adventurous play spaces.
This programme is a major part of the national Play Strategy, launched in April 2008. Under this programme, children across the country will get 30 new and exciting adventure playgrounds and up to 3,500 new or refurbished play areas.
The funding will enable local authorities to work closely with children, families and communities to build stimulating and exciting play spaces.
Local authorities are expected to demonstrate how they will ensure that the capital investment is sustainable in terms of ongoing maintenance of sites. They should indicate how they plan to mainstream this funding and support for play beyond 2011, and consider how to maximise the use of other capital assets to support their play investment.
There are 30 play pathfinders, who each have available around £2.1m capital and £500,000 revenue funding to each build a large adventure playground and develop a minimum of 28 free play areas for children aged 8 -13 years old.
There are 122 playbuilders who have available, on average, £1.1m capital and £45,000 revenue funding to develop a minimum of 22 free play areas for children aged 8 -13 years old.
Wave 1 play pathfinders and playbuilders were selected in April 2008.
Wave 2 play pathfinders and playbuilders were offered funding from April 2009.
Download a list of all playbuilder and play pathfinder local authorities [38KB Excel]
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has appointed Play England to support and challenge local authorities receiving funding under the government’s new play pathfinder and playbuilder programmes.
An integral part of this work is to develop play in practice across England – developing a quality advice, information and support service for adventure playgrounds and play providers.
Local authorities are expected to consider the Play England guidance Design for Play and Managing Risk in Play Provision when undertaking their capital investment.
For further help or information, please contact us.
