The Big Lottery Fund had made playful ideas a reality for Huntingdonshire after awarding the district council £300,000 for play schemes in the area.

Huntingdonshire District Council produced a play strategy setting out plans for the development of both play facilities and activities for children and young people. The strategy identified areas within Huntingdonshire where additional investment and support for play facilities were required.

The money awarded will go towards five schemes, which were identified after consultation and research was conducted with residents about play facilities and opportunities available in the district.

The schemes planned to improve and develop children and young peoples local play facilities.
are;

Stukely Meadows skate park project with an award of £60,000, which will provide a high quality skate park and Stilton skate park project with an award of £50,000. The funding will pay for the manufacture and installation of various skate park equipment. The project will achieve a designated play area, which is free to young people. This will also be a place for young people to meet each other, and build social relationships.

Fusion holiday play scheme, Huntingdon with an award of £52,000. This project is already running and provides a range of play opportunities during school holiday periods, for young people.

Proud To Be Loud Holiday Playscheme, St Neots with an award of £60,000. This project aims to target young people who may not have access to free play opportunities in school holidays. This funding will further develop and enhance this existing project.

Play Outreach Project with an award of £48,000 will provide mobile supervised play opportunities for young people across the district and will target areas where barriers to play exist.

The remainder of the funding will be allocated for project management costs.

Councillor Mike Simpson, chairman of the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Culture and Leisure Thematic Group, said; “We are thrilled that the tremendous efforts of all the groups working together to develop a structured play strategy for Huntingdonshire has been recognised by the Big Lottery Fund. Play is about more than just swings and roundabouts. The council, and the groups we are working with, acknowledge that play and leisure activities improve the skills, confidence and self-esteem of our children and young people. This generous award will enable us to bring half a dozen exciting projects to fruition.” 

The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for awarding money for good causes raised by the National Lottery. They are committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.

Click on the link on the right for more information on various play areas for children in the district.