An Introduction to Sutcliffe Play
Sutcliffe Play is one of the worlds leading designers and manufacturers of childrens play equipment, with headquarters in Upton, West Yorkshire. They are also the only employee owned play company in the UK.
The company is proud of its West Yorkshire heritage and has been providing employment opportunities in Wakefield for many years. Sutcliffe Play is as dedicated today to enriching peoples lives as engineer Richard Sutcliffe was four generations ago when he focused his energies on improving the safety, welfare and efficiency of the mining industry.
The company is also committed to promoting inclusive play as an integral part of the community, enabling children of all ages and from all walks of life to benefit from active recreation.
Sutcliffe play equipment is designed to encourage children to be creative. A carefully balanced element of risk and challenge is inherent in Sutcliffe Plays approach to play spaces, providing youngsters with varying degrees of challenge and stimulation.
Advocates of truly inclusive play, the company uses innovative design to enable children to play together and to explore the limits of their capabilities, without realising it! Thats why inclusive features are carefully and subtly designed into most Sutcliffe Play equipment, without compromising on levels of risk or challenge.
Sutcliffe Plays depth of knowledge and understanding is a result of working with, and listening to, leaders in the fields of play, disability, risk and design. The company may be a world leader in its field, but it recognises the need to listen to others as it strives to create new and exciting play opportunities for all.
The company is renowned for its pioneering approach to play. Its impact-reducing rubber swing seats and safety flooring systems are used throughout the world, complemented by recent, innovate product launches such as the Mission & Orchard Ranges, which provide children with progressive challenges without rules or boundaries.
In addition to the UK, Sutcliffe Play is seeing sales growth throughout Europe and in the Far East and the US.
Chairman, Robin Sutcliffe is passionate about play. In todays increasingly politically correct world, he is refreshingly forthright about the many controversial issues surrounding play. A founder member of the Association of Play Industries and current Chair of Yorkshire Play, representing play and play work in Yorkshire, Robin represents the play industry at regional, national and international level.
Byram Cum Sutton Parish Council wanted an exciting new play area catering to children aged 2-12, which would blend into the natural setting with existing trees. The site, located near to a major motorway intersection, had historically been a play area with the last items of equipment removed a number of years ago.
As part of a six year £10 million project to protect Morecambe from coastal flooding, Lancaster City Council wanted to create a destination playground on the town’s seafront. The new playground needed to be strong enough to stand up to the coastal environment. The playground was to be given a maritime theme to complement its location on the seafront and adjacency to Morecambe’s sailing club.
Bluebell Park is a state-of-the-art school providing primary, secondary and post-16 facilities for 185 students with special educational needs. The new school combines two former schools, Springfield School and The Elms, and provides advanced facilities including hydrotherapy pools and sensory gardens.
Williamson Park’s two playgrounds needed a much deserved makeover following over 10 years of heavy use by an increasing amount of visitors to the popular destination park. With funding from the Council, and a £30,000 grant secured by volunteer group the Friends of Williamson Park from the Lancashire Environmental Fund, Sutcliffe Play was tasked with transforming the play areas...
