You can find updates on the East Midlands team's work and other relevant regional news here.
11 July 2007
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) have announced that a further 11 local authority areas from across the East Midlands are to benefit from BIG’s £124 million Children’s Play programme.
Play England has been working closely with local authorities in the East Midlands region to help them make long-term action plans for children’s play. The local authorities have been awarded nearly £2.5 million, to distribute through play partnerships in their areas.
The successful local authorities were Ashfield District Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Gedling Borough Council, Kettering Borough Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council, South Derbyshire District Council and West Lindsey District Council.
Richard Gott, regional manager for Play England – East Midlands, said: 'We have seen fantastic commitment from local authorities in the development of their play strategies and the majority of play leads seem to really acknowledge the importance of play. I'd like to say a big congratulations from the Play England - East Midlands team.'
20 February 2007
Congratulations to North West Leicestershire District Council and East Lindsey District Council. The Big Lottery Fund announced on Monday 19 February 2007 that both are among the first 32 local authorities from across England to benefit from the Big Lottery Fund’s £124 million Children’s Play programme.
20 February 2007
The team has met with all local authorities across the region, supporting their applications for lottery funding. They have encountered some great ideas, but also some of the problems each area faces in terms of making quality play provision a reality for local children and young people. The first local authorities networking event took place in January and was very well attended. A second event is planned for April 2007.
January 2007
Local authorities have the opportunity to receive support from Play England – East Midlands. A team of strategic play enablers have been appointed to provide free support to those local authorities developing play strategies. Get in touch with the East Midlands office for more details.
Play England is a project of the Children's Play Council, part of the National Children's Bureau
'Through play children explore social, material and imaginary worlds.'
Best Play - what play provision should do for children, NPFA / PLAYLINK / Children's Play Council, 2001