Adventure Playgrounds have been around in the UK for over 60 years, but with funding cuts affecting services across the UK, what might happen in Bristol?
To set the scene first, let’s remind ourselves of some of
the history involved. In 1931, a Danish architect named Sorenson came up with
the concept of a ‘junk’ playground as a result of his observations of children
at play on construction sites and junkyards. He proposed a space where children
would be permitted to play in ways otherwise prohibited to them and realised
his vision years later during the German Occupation.
The children’s rights
campaigner, Lady Allen of Hurtwood, identified with the ethos of this type of
play and promoted the idea in England. After considerable opposition to a
‘junk’ playground, the name was changed to adventure playground and with the
support of local and national organisations, the first playgrounds opened in
London in the late 1940’s. They were set up on sites which had been bombed and
across the country were opened in blighted or blitzed neighbourhoods, involving
children in the design and operation of these spaces.
Unfortunately, the way in which Bristol’s Adventure
Playgrounds are funded has recently changed. Previously, the services were
either funded directly by Bristol City Council or, in the case of Windmill
Hill, funding from Bristol City Council was received by Windmill Hill City Farm
to run the provision. Last year, Bristol City Council undertook a commissioning
process to provide youth and play services across the city, which covers
adventure playgrounds. The outcome of this process was announced last September:
the city was divided into 7 areas with a consortium and lead partner for each;
£22 milllion was allocated over 5 years for youth and play; Councillor Gary Hopkins
appeared confident that ‘when other councils are slashing funding for youth
services, Bristol City Council is committed…(to)…..ensure there are quality
services for children….to meet the needs of local communities’, but it now
seems less clear.
Windmill Hill City Farm has sadly had the funding for its
adventure playground withdrawn and the adventure playground closed at the
beginning of February. This is a huge loss for the community. Sarah Rowland,
Leader, stated in the Evening Post "The closure has come as a real blow as
there is nowhere else in the local community where the kids can go and enjoy
activities for free." She and another staff member have been transferred
across to work for the lead partner in their area’s consortium, Learning Partnerships
West. It is not known currently if any services could resume at a later date or
what other plans might be in place.
In terms of numbers of children affected so far, around 100
children per session came to Windmill Hill City Farm Adventure Playground, with
around 250 children registered in total. So there are 100 children per evening
and weekend looking for somewhere else to explore. These fit with average
numbers across the UK for adventure playgrounds so we can assume that there is
a minimum of a further 1000 children registered across the city for the other four
playgrounds, who may be affected by a cut in services.
As long term consequences, ‘Matrix: an economic evaluation
of play provision’ 2010 by Play England concluded that for every £1 that is
spent on adventure playground provision, £1.32 is recouped. This is as a result
of long term benefits to health and education as a result of increased
wellbeing in childhood. So cuts to these services now could result in higher
costs further along the line.
To sum up, it’s clear that Adventure playgrounds have a rich
history in the UK and there are large benefits for children and young people in
our communities, to the communities in which they reside and to the long term
costs incurred by society. Funders, Bristol decision makers, local
representatives and the community need to be aware of the emotional, health and
monetary benefits of these provisions before any further decisions to cut or
reduce services are made.
If you would like to show your support for Bristol Adventure
Playgrounds, you could:
sign a petition –www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportbristolplay/
and/or contact your local councillor, MP or consortium leader http://www.bristol.gov.uk/press/children-and-young-people/contracts-announced-new-bristol-youth-links-service
Sarah Holway, Development and Support, BAND.
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