Harrogate Borough Council

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The Dean of Ripon the Very Reverend Keith Jukes is swapping his cathedral's pews for a children's playground on Monday, 10 November as he gives his blessing to new facilities at Millfield play area.

 

New equipment has also been installed at Borrage Green play area following Harrogate Borough Council receiving over £250,000 from the Big Lottery Fund's Children's Play Programme.  The council has developed a three-year phased project to improve and develop new play opportunities and experiences for the district's young people.  As well as the lottery money, the council is also using nearly £600,000 of commuted developer contributions specifically earmarked for children's play  

 

Pupils from Ripon Cathedral School and Moorside Primary School were consulted about which play equipment should be provided and Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, Cllr Pat Jones, has been impressed with their involvement.  She said:  "They were really enthusiastic and wanted to tell us how they like to play and what they like to play on, things that are challenging and fun.

 

"The council manages and maintains 58 playgrounds right across the district.  We will also be able to use some of the lottery money to improve facilities that are managed by Parish Councils.  Together, they all play a valuable role in outdoor recreation, providing children and young people with an area to relax, explore, meet friends and play."  

 

Caroline James, Big Lottery Fund Yorkshire and Humberside Head of Region, said: "This investment into new play facilities that the Big Lottery Fund grant has made possible is fantastic news for children, families and communities in the Harrogate district.  Play is vitally important for a child's physical, emotional and social development."

 

Over £50,000 has been spent to fully replace equipment at these two play areas and plans are in the pipeline for enhancements to four other play areas in the city as part of the bigger project. 

 

The council has also recently provided Bishop Monkton with a £5000 Parish Council play area grant and a further £13,679 of developer commuted sums for a new play area in the village.

 

 

 

 

·         The Big Lottery Fund will support children's play with £155 million through:

-          the £124 million Children's Play programme, with funds available to every local authority area in England;

-          a separate £16 million Playful Ideas programme focussing on innovation; and

-          a £15 million grant to the Children's Play Council, part of the National Children's Bureau, to fund England-wide development and support.

·         Under the Children's Play programme, in deciding how best to allocate the available funds to each authority the Big Lottery Fund have allocated: 50 per cent of the funding on the basis of child population, and 50 per cent of the regional population living in the most deprived 20% of Super Output Areas included in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004. The minimum amount allocated to any local authority is £200,000.

·         Under Playful Ideas registered charities; voluntary or community groups; charitable or not-for-profit companies; social enterprises; and town and parish councils can apply. However, other organisations, such as schools, can work in partnership on Playful Ideas projects.

·         The Big Lottery Fund awarded a grant to the Children's Play Council a strategic alliance of organisations working to promote the importance of play and to stimulate better play opportunities. Play England - a project of the Children's Play Council - lead on this work by helping agencies to develop play strategies and apply for Children's Play funding. For further information please visit www.ncb.org.uk