Save your playground
Improving children's play provision is never more important than at this moment, if only to ensure the last two years of investment are not wasted. Cutbacks are undeniably essential but don't use play as a soft target, play should not be first in line for cuts.
The government decision to remove the ring fencing and the possibility of further losses from the £75m capital funding for play promts us to review the very real benefits of investment in play. This was the final tranche of the £235m playbuilder programme dedicated to building and refurbishing 3,500 playgrounds across England as part of the previous governments Play Strategy. Data being collated by DfE will determine what level of cuts are to be made and the Local Authorities should hear their new allocation (if any) by the end of August.
The API calls for government to evaluate its decision relating to the play funding very carefully. Saving money from the 'playbuilder' grant should not be a soft option or quick fix. Not only will the possible cuts affect our children and their communities, but will have a devastating impact on the play industry, UK manufacturing and therefore the economy as a whole.
Playbuilder is under threat ACT NOW!
Coverage of the campaign
Save the Playground campaign on GMTV [view clip]
Playbuilder Cuts BBC 6 O'Clock News [view clip]
Hundreds of playground schemes mothballed [view article]
Channel 4 new on Playbuilder cuts [view article]
Sky News on Playbuilder cuts [view article]
The Telegraph on Playbuilder cuts [view article]
Daily Mail on Playbuilder cuts [view article]
BBC Newsround on cuts [view clip]
The Gardian on Playbuilder cuts [view article]
Telegraph Obesity warning regarding cuts [view article]
Plus many others [view source]