The Government told the charity that it will not be renewing any national play contracts when they come to an end this month.
The loss means that there will no longer be any play organisations holding contracts with the Government and no national policy on children’s play.
Play England, previously known as the Children’s Play Council, has held Government contracts since 1999 and the Government also funded national development work on play in the 1980s.
A national play strategy was launched in 2008 and Play England was named as the support body for the strategy to work with 20 Play Pathfinder and 43 Playbuilder local authorities that were allocated funding to develop 30 adventure playgrounds and up to 3,500 play areas for children from eight to 13 years old.
Play England was also involved in Play Shaper, a national professional development programme, funded by the previous Labour Government, that encouraged local authorities to consider children's play when planning towns and cities.
After the election last May, play strategy contracts were reduced but a new contract was awarded to Play England to deliver a programme to build capacity for play provision in the voluntary sector in 20 areas.
Play England’s director Adrian Voce said, ‘This is a sombre moment. There has been uninterrupted Government support for strategic activity on play since the 1990s. A huge amount has been achieved for relatively little central investment. We have led a national change programme that has had a real and positive impact on children and communities.
‘We are calling on each of the governing parties to think again and to make it the priority that it is for children and families.’
Mr Voce said that Play England’s work would continue and that a new structure and work programme was being finalised.
Meanwhile, Play England has launched a new resource to help communities facing cuts to children’s play facilities to start their own local campaign and be part of a national movement. The downloadable action pack Save Children’s Play features advice and simple steps on campaigning to support communities standing up for play services in their area that are being hit by local authority cuts.
Visit www.playengland.org.uk
