15m grant for regional play work

01 March 2006

A 15m grant has been awarded to the Children's Play Council (CPC) to develop support for play in England at regional levels over the next five years. The Play England Project will see the creation of nine regional offices to support local agencies in planning for play in their area. It will also look into the long-term feasibility of establishing a national play organisation for England, similar to Play Wales and Play Scotland.

The Play England Project will see the creation of nine regional offices to support local agencies in planning for play in their area. It will also look into the long-term feasibility of establishing a national play organisation for England, similar to Play Wales and Play Scotland.

Local authorities and partners were invited by the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) in December to review and develop play strategies in order to secure their share of the BLF's 155m children's play programme (News, 5 January).

In September 2005, CPC received a 169,000 three-month BLF development grant to prepare the bid for regional support and develop draft guidance to help local authority areas draw up play strategies.

The new BLF funding, along with guidance about to be launched, will help local agencies identify, develop and disseminate best practice and promote strategic and sustainable development of play provision.

Adrian Voce, director of the CPC, said it was a 'great privilege' to receive such a large grant. 'The announcement marks the culmination of several years' intensive work within the sector to make the case for children's play. This investment should help transform play opportunities across the country, to the benefit of children and the communities in which they live.'

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