Helping councils create more inclusive playgrounds through the Government’s £18 million Playground Fund
The Government’s £18 million Playground Fund provides 66 local authorities across England with funding to create or improve three playgrounds in some of the country’s most deprived areas.
For councils, this is an opportunity to invest in high-quality play spaces that better reflect the needs of their communities.
It is also an opportunity to put inclusive play at the heart of the design process from the very beginning.
At Inclusive Play, we specialise in the manufacture and supply of inclusive play equipment designed to help children of different abilities play, explore and enjoy outdoor spaces together.
As an Association of Play Industries (API) member, we are proud to support councils, playground companies, designers and other organisations looking to deliver high-quality, inclusive play provision.
What does the Playground Fund mean for councils?
Each of the 66 successful local authorities will receive £270,000 to create or improve three playgrounds.
The Government’s guidance highlights the importance of:
- Creating accessible and inclusive playgrounds
- Meaningfully involving children, young people, families and local communities
- Considering the needs of disabled children and young people
- Providing high-quality play opportunities
- Creating sustainable play spaces that can be enjoyed for years to come
- Following appropriate procurement and quality considerations
With three playgrounds to plan, councils have a significant opportunity to rethink how their local play provision works for the whole community.
More information on the playground fund can be found in the below links:
Inclusive play should be considered from the start
Creating an inclusive playground is about more than providing access to a site or adding a single piece of accessible equipment.
A genuinely inclusive play space should provide meaningful opportunities for children and families with different abilities to participate, explore and play together.
That means considering inclusion throughout the project, from community engagement and site selection through to equipment selection, layout and long-term maintenance.
Questions councils may wish to consider include:
- Can children with different abilities play alongside one another?
- Does the playground provide a variety of physical, sensory and social play experiences?
- Are there meaningful play opportunities for children with mobility impairments?
- Does the equipment cater for different ages, abilities and interests?
- Have disabled children and families been included in the consultation process?
- Is accessibility considered across the whole play space rather than around individual pieces of equipment?
- Will the playground continue to provide valuable play experiences as children grow and develop?
Specialist inclusive play equipment
Inclusive Play manufactures and supplies a wide range of freestanding inclusive play equipment for playgrounds, schools, local authorities and other play environments.
Our range includes equipment designed around different types of play, including:
Spinning and movement
Equipment that encourages physical activity, balance, coordination and social interaction.
Rocking and dynamic play
Rockers and springers designed to provide movement-based play for a range of users.
Sensory and musical play
Equipment that introduces sound, movement and sensory experiences to outdoor play.
Bouncing and active play
Trampolines and other equipment that encourage physical activity while offering different ways to participate.
Social and cooperative play
Equipment that can encourage children to interact and play alongside one another.
Our approach is centred on creating genuine play value, rather than treating inclusion as an afterthought.
More than equipment
Choosing the right equipment is only one part of creating an inclusive playground.
We understand that every project has different requirements, including:
- Available space
- Existing equipment and infrastructure
- Community needs
- Target age groups
- Accessibility requirements
- Budget
- Site conditions
- Procurement arrangements
- Installation requirements
Our team can work with councils and project partners to understand these requirements and identify equipment that could contribute to their wider playground plans.
Where a council is working with a playground designer, contractor or installer, we can also supply freestanding equipment as part of a wider project.
Why work with an API member?
The Government’s supplementary best practice guidance for the Playground Fund specifically references the Association of Play Industries (API) and notes that membership of recognised trade bodies may provide useful assurance when councils undertake procurement due diligence.
Inclusive Play is proud to be an API member.
Our membership reflects our commitment to the playground industry and to maintaining high standards across our products and services. Further supported by our membership with Made in Britain and other accreditations.
For councils considering suppliers for their Playground Fund projects, we believe choosing experienced, specialist partners is an important part of delivering successful play spaces.
20 years of inclusive play expertise
Inclusive Play was founded in Scotland in 2006 with a clear purpose: to challenge tokenistic approaches to inclusion within the play industry.
For 20 years, we have developed and supplied specialist inclusive play equipment to customers across the UK and internationally.
Today, our range includes more than 65 products, from spinning and rocking equipment to sensory and musical play experiences.
We are also proud to be a Scottish manufacturer, based in Loanhead, Midlothian. Our experience gives us a detailed understanding of the practical considerations involved in creating play opportunities for people with different abilities
Planning a Playground Fund project?
If your council has received funding through the Government’s Playground Fund, our team would be happy to discuss your plans.
Whether you are at the early planning stage, considering equipment options or already working with a playground designer or installer, we can help you explore how inclusive play equipment could contribute to your project.
Let’s make the most of this opportunity to create playgrounds that more children can enjoy.