Playbuilders Year two - April 2010 to March 2011
Richmond is now deciding on year two play areas for Playbuilder 2010-2011 and we need your help to nominate some of the proposals. Playbuilder is a scheme promoting natural play areas. This could be creating a new site or developing natural play features on an existing play area. The sites in year one covered areas in Hampton North, West Twickenham, North Richmond, Heathfield, Mortlake and Barnes Common, Hampton Wick and Ham Petersham & Richmond Riverside.
The playbuilders page contains more information on what we achieved in Richmond borough in year one.
We are looking for another good geographical spread across the borough. The areas should meet the needs of 8-13 year olds - not excluding younger or older children but all projects to include that specific age range. We should also meet the needs of at least one of the following priority groups: girls and young women; disabled children; and minority groups for example asylum seekers, refugees, black and minority ethnic groups and travellers.
When we think of play areas we might think of the more traditional playgrounds but play can be in all sorts of places. It was once very popular to ‘play out’ on the street so why not bring back the more non-specific play destinations such as church grounds, supermarket land, town centres, a dedicated play or pedestrianised street.
Background information
The overall aim of the Richmond Play Strategy 2007-2011 is to ‘improve access to play in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. There are three main priorities identified;
- Providing opportunities for 8-15 year olds
- Addressing the barriers to accessing quality opportunities for play
- Ensuring that everyone has access to those opportunities
The priorities for the action plan are:
- Improving the provision of access to free play and recreation for 8-15 year olds
- Tackling barriers which prevent access to free play opportunities caused by fear of crime, disability, low disposable income or living in areas of relative social deprivation for children 0-19 years
- Improving co-ordination of play opportunities
Richmond believes that play should be freely chosen, children should be free to come and go and that it should be free of charge, wherever possible.
Play Policy:The aim is to ensure all children and young people who live, visit or go to school in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames have easy access to a range of quality play opportunities.
Nominate a play area near where you live
Areas you might like to consider to become potential Playbuilder areas could include, Crane Park, Barn Elms and Bushy Park.
Areas that could be considered for year two as they did not get funding in year one:
- South Richmond
- Kew
- Hampton
- St Margarets and Twickenham
- East Sheen
- Teddington
- Twickenham Riverside
- Fulwell and Hampton Hill
- South Twickenham
To nominate, complete the suggestion form with details on where you would like to nominate and any other details (for example who owns the land).
Your nominations need to be in by 17 March 2010 so the panel can decide on 11 play areas for year two by 31 March 2010.
Expressions of interest from partnerships
We are also looking for expressions of interest from partnerships to manage a Playbuilder scheme. This can be open to partnerships, voluntary organisations, community groups and statutory organisations such as council departments. In the case of partnerships a lead organisation must be identified as first point of contact and recipient of funding.
The capital funding should provide a play space for the maximum of £50k for each public play space but we can be flexible with the spread of funding across the 11 sites. We will also consider projects that complement the Playbuilder theme and the funding could be used for match funding.
We cannot fund the refurbishment of existing schools or children’s centres. The funding does not allow for the maintenance and repair of Playbuilder areas once completed so this is to be considered when nominating a site. The funding will not cover revenue costs, for example staff salaries, rent and promotion, retrospective funding such as paying for any projects already completed.
For expressions of interest and to manage a Playbuilder site please discuss your ideas with the project team, and contact Louise Bell for an application form.
Email: louise.bell@richmond.gov.uk
Phone: 07958 743249
(pdf, 35KB)