Chief executives in England's 150 local councils received a letter from the BLF last month detailing their grant allocations. They have until 13 January to register their interest in the programme.
The funding, 124m of which is dedicated to developing and improving local play provision while 31m will be used to fund a regional support and development infrastructure, has been calculated according to the child population and deprivation in the area.
Local authorities will be expected to consult with local stakeholders, including the voluntary and community sector, to draw up a local play strategy around the local play partnership. The Children's Play Council has been awarded a 150,000 grant from the BLF to develop draft guidance for local authority areas in drawing up play strategies (News, 22 September). This will be published in time for the launch of the programme.
Grants will be awarded in four rounds, with application deadlines in July 2006, November 2006, March 2007 and September 2007. The play strategy will form the basis of the application, along with a portfolio of evidence detailing how it responds to the needs and wishes of local children and young people.
Adrian Voce, director of the Children's Play Council, said, 'This is a strategic approach to play. Without local authority leadership it is unlikely that children's play would receive the priority it needs in order to sustain funding in the long term. It's now down to the play sector to seek a good response from their lead departments in the local authority and to form a play partnership that together produces an effective play strategy.'
Meanwhile, Wales is due to launch its national play strategy - the first in the UK - in January. A 20m fund, to be produced in the spring, has been awarded from the BLF to support the strategy and address healthy eating and exercise for children in Wales.
In Northern Ireland there is no distinct children's play programme proposed, but a BLF spokesperson confirmed that the open grant strand of the Young People's Fund - 'Change UR Future' has scope for healthier activity and learning through play.
In Scotland, play campaigners are pushing for a political manifesto for play, following the announcement last month that the country would not receive the anticipated 20m share of Big Lottery funding. The chair of Play Scotland, Margaret Westwood, said, 'There is no play programme or funding for play in Scotland. We are now in competition with other communities to get a share of Scotland's entire BLF, which is 257m over three years.'
For more information on the BLF in England visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.
