Summary of the programme
BIG’s Children’s Play Initiative
£150 million was awarded to the Children’s Play initiative, based on the recommendations of the 2004 play review Getting Serious About Play, which defined children’s play as “what children and young people do when they follow their own ideas, in their own way and for their own reasons.” This initiative is now closed to applications.
The Children’s Play initiative aimed to:
- create, improve and develop children and young people’s free local play spaces and opportunities throughout England, according to need
- support innovation and new ways of providing for children’s play
- create a support and development infrastructure to ensure local agencies have the resources and skills to achieve the first two aims
- promote the long-term strategic and sustainable provision for play as a free public service to children
- ensure that local authorities work with other local stakeholders to develop children’s play strategies and plans
- ensure that good, inclusive and accessible children’s play services and facilities are provided locally.
The Children’s Play Initiative was delivered in three strands:
- Children’s Play programme (£123 million awarded)
- Playful Ideas programme (£12 million awarded)
- Play England project (£15 million awarded)
Children’s Play programme
Each local authority area was allocated an amount of money based on the child population of the area and weighted by the level of deprivation. Application packs were sent to all local authorities asking them to coordinate their area's application with their local play partnerships.
Local authorities were required to consult and use its play strategy as the basis for developing project proposals that meet local play needs. Applications were invited from each local authority, comprising a portfolio of projects that reflect the joint interests of the local play partnership.
Each local authority received notification from BIG on the amount of funding that can be allocated for a portfolio of projects in its area.
As part of the application process local authorities were asked to develop a local play strategy to address identified needs. The Children's Play Council produced guidance on the production and implementation of play strategies.
351 awards were made to Local Authorities. The final round of awards was made in August 2008.
Interim Evaluation
An interim report completed by ECOTEC May 2009, highlighted challenges and early successes:
Successes
- 90% of Local Authorities reported that the programme had raised the profile of play.
- 48% of portfolios said BIG funding had helped them to secure extra funds.
- Unexpected outcomes achieved including enhanced parental engagement, increased social and community cohesion.
Challenges
- 55% of Local Authorities felt the infrastructure for play in their area was sustainable.
- Many Local Authorities have had issues with staff recruitment and retention.
- Planning permission and legal issues have caused significant delays to a number of portfolios.
- Inadequate or ineffective delivery partners have led to a number of re-tenders.
- Poor weather, delays with building contractors and delays in receiving match funding.
Playful Ideas Programme
This programme made grants to voluntary and community groups and town or parish councils, for projects that support innovation and new ways of providing for Children's Play.
The Playful Ideas programme has made grants to projects that focus on innovation and new ways of providing for children’s play. Projects awarded funding from this programme displayed a creative and novel approach to addressing an identified need within the field of children’s play.
The programme was open to voluntary and community groups, the social enterprise sector, and town and parish councils.
64 capital and revenue grants between £10,000 and £250,000 were awarded for projects lasting up to 5 years.
Play England Project
Children’s happiness and healthy development was at the centre of our £15 million partnership with the Children’s Play Council. In February 2006 we awarded our first grant under the Children’s Play initiative to the Children's Play Council (part of the National Children's Bureau) for the Play England Project. This was a major five-year development to help local agencies in planning for play across their area through the setting up of a national support and development infrastructure across the regions.
Since then, the Play England Project has been available to provide advice and support to both local authorities and the voluntary and community sector.
Letter to local authorities 
