Play Team
of Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council |
Big
Lottery Fund
Children's Play Initiative Big Lottery
Fund
Early in 2006 Local Authorities
were notified about a new Children's Play Initiative, by the Big
Lottery Fund. The fund allocation for the initiative is £124
million:-
- 80% of this funding is intended for Local Authority Areas
- 10% For innovative projects
- 10% For establishment of Regional Network
Each area was allocated an amount
of funding that they could apply for, Crewe and Nantwich Borough
Area allocation is £246,252.38
What will be funded
In March 2006 guidance was made
available for Local Authorities as to what would be funded &
the priorities, they stated that a broad range of play initiatives
will be funded under the Children's Play initiative, including
capital & revenue projects. Big wanted to encourage partnership
programmes and projects are encouraged to help to achieve maximum
impact.
Priorities
- Areas of greatest need
- Rural areas
- Children who are cared for
- Children who are disadvantaged
- Disabled Children
- Free Open Access
Requirements
Each Local Authority had to
produce a Play Strategy. At Crewe & Nantwich we decided to
engage with providers of children's services within the Borough, to
enable us to produce a Borough Strategy rather than a Borough
Council Strategy.
Once we had set up a Strategy
Group and a Steering Group for the project, we proceeded by
designing a full consultation, which we undertook within the
steering group membership. The results of the consultation have
lead the content of the Strategy.
Due to the many changes in
children's services our Strategy will last for three years. We feel
that this would be an appropriate time to re-write the Strategy,
and address how other services have implemented their changes
within the time scale. Our Strategy and Steering group will
continue to meet and review the work we have initiated. Partnership
development plan for 3 years