Playbuilder

We have secured £355,240 from the governments Playbuilder Project, for the development of seven play areas across Aylesbury.

This means an average of approximately £50,000 per play area.

This funding forms part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) national investment in play totalling £235 million, of which Bucks has received over 1.1 million.

Wycombe, South Bucks and Chiltern District Councils have also been successful, with Bucks County Council being the lead authority, using a DCSF revenue grant to fund a post that will support the four districts in delivering their milestones and collate information for claims and reports.

Selection
The 7 Aylesbury Playbuilder projects will be delivered over two years starting April 2009, 4 in year 1 and 3 in year 2. The play areas selected for development have been chosen using the following criteria: higher areas of deprivation, higher child population and existing poor play value assessments. The seven play areas due for development are:

Year 1

• Alfred Rose Park, Elmhurst & Watermead
• AylesburyDenby Walk Oakfield
• AylesburyHaddington Way Oakfield
• AylesburyWaivers Way Mandeville & Elm Farm, Aylesbury
  
  Year 2
• Haydon Hill Quarrendon, Aylesbury
• Meadowcroft Gatehouse, Aylesbury
• Simpson Place Mandeville & Elm Farm, Aylesbury

Design
The areas will aim to stimulate child development through play and bring children into contact with nature - maybe even involve them getting muddy occasionally! Innovative designs will move away from the more conventional rubberised, sanitised, and fenced-in areas known today as the KFC (kit, fence, carpet) type of play area and might include elements such as earth mounds and other natural materials, and features designed to promote positive social contact and interaction through play.

The overall aim of the initiative is to reach those children with the greatest needs, give local people the chance to use healthy, high quality play sites near to where they live, and to give parents the confidence to let their children enjoy outdoor play.

Engagement and consultation
The programme will involve discussions with children and young people, parents, carers and the wider community, including locally-elected members. We aim to generate a sense of community ownership of the new play areas while measuring satisfaction with the new provision. Children seen as ‘hard to reach’ will be accessed through voluntary and community sector groups.

People and organisations who are involved with the Playbuilder project

• Members of the Bucks Play Partnership
• County, District, Town, and Parish Councillors
• Schools within the locality to the play areas
• Youth Groups within the locality to the play areas
• Residents' Groups within the locality to the play areas, including Neighbourhood Action Groups
• Residents living within 240 metres of the play areas
• Housing Trusts
• Community Safety Teams
• Police Community Support Officers working near to the play area
• RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents)
• Play England
• Site Users