PLAY provision in Richmondshire will
benefit from a Lottery jackpot of £200,000, it was announced today
(Tuesday).
(left to right) Paul Radley, Army
Welfare Service; Kate Davis, Richmondshire Community Safety
Partnership (on the swing); Coun Jane Branch, Chairman of Play
Partnership and Member Champion for Recreation and Healthy Lives;
Judith Bromfield, Richmondshire Council for Voluntary Services;
Lynda Powell, Head of Partnerships, Richmondshire District Council;
Vivienne Osborn, North Yorkshire County Council 4 Youth; Simon
Robson, North Yorkshire County Council Sure Start.
From after-school activities to new
playground equipment, from play rangers to park play leaders, the
grant will pave the way for a raft of ambitious initiatives across
the district.
The Play Partnership – which includes representatives from the
voluntary sector and public bodies including Richmondshire District
Council – launched a bid for the cash from the Big Lottery in
September.
The bid's success will make it easier than ever for youngsters
to play in Richmondshire.
The Play Partnership includes representatives from Richmondshire
District Council, North Yorkshire County Council 4Youth extended
schools, Richmondshire Council for Voluntary Services,
Richmondshire Leisure Trust, the local primary care trust,
Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership and the Army Welfare
Service.
Projects which will benefit from the £200,000 grant include:
- the introduction of a play ranger service, in partnership with
Hambleton District Council, to provide mobile play provision in
rural areas for children aged between five and ten
- an extension of 4Youth Outreach Provision to target young
people aged between 11 and 16 in rural areas
- the creation of a new skate park next to the old tennis courts
in Middleham
- the installation of new fixed play equipment in North Cowton,
Harmby and Leyburn
- the development of a new natural play area at Hipswell Habitat
by the Army Welfare Service – the first of its kind in
Richmondshire
- the launch of a park/play youth worker by the YMCA in
Richmond
- the opening of a Stay and Play project, managed by the Sure
Start Children's Centre Manager, offering 'drop in' facilities in
Catterick Garrison and Colburn, Wensleydale, and Swaledale and
Arkengarthdale
- the launch of All for Fun, Fun for All, a project to
provide free play sessions for children in Askrigg, which will also
form part of a "toy library" to operate across Richmondshire.
Councillor Jane Branch, Chairman of the Play Partnership and
Richmondshire District Council's member champion for healthy lives
and recreation, said: "We are absolutely delighted that our bid was
successful. A great number of projects across the district now have
the green light, and they will make a real difference to the lives
of young people in Richmondshire.
"It's so important for young children to have physical and
developmental activity from an early age, and this funding will
really help us to deliver that."
Councillor Stuart Parsons, member champion for culture and
heritage, added: "Well done to all the partners who worked together
on this project, which will make an absolutely brilliant difference
to play facilities throughout the district."
Lynda Powell, head of partnerships for Richmondshire District
Council, said: "This grant is fantastic news for the district, and
a real endorsement of our approach. The Play Partnership is part of
Richmondshire District Council's commitment to partnership working,
bringing in experts from across the region."
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