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We at Playdale are very aware of the community focal point that a good playground can provide, and what a positive impact they can make. A playground can represent a hugely positive asset to a community or public space.

How to Get Playground Funding

Grants for playground equipment make quality play areas accessible to local communities, something which we are very passionate about at Playdale.

Applying for playground grants can help you secure hard-wearing, sustainable and specialist playground equipment that is accessible for children of varying ages, physical and cognitive abilities.

Playgrounds are essential for the proper development of our children. A quality playground boosts confidence, helps children socialise with others, learn to collaborate and teaches them vital motor skills.

Funding playgrounds may seem like a daunting task, but Playdale have the experience and know how to better your chances of securing a grant.

 

Outline your vision

Successful funding proposals succinctly outline their vision for the grant money, explaining in detail where the money will be spent, why it should be spent in that way, and how it will benefit the local community.

The proposal must answer key questions that the funding body will want to know you have carefully considered:

• What is the end goal of the playground grant?
• How will the community be bettered through your project?
• Could the completed playground inspire future projects?
• Is the grant-giver already funding playground equipment for schools?
• Is your budget carefully planned and fully costed?
• Will you need planning permission to complete the playground?
• Do you have a fully-considered team who will be carrying out the project?

Funding is best acquired when the proposal makes it clear that the project will be informed by and completed for the betterment of the local community. Possibly suggest asking locals for their opinions, needs and requirements in the research phase of your project – this will assure the grant-giver that the playground will be well-received by the community.

Make the relevant body aware that you understand the capabilities of your project within the given budget. For those needing inspiration, we have a range of playground designs organised according to your total budget.

Documenting your journey on social media is another fantastic way of involving the local community, updating them on construction progress and encouraging further investment.

 

Ensure you meet the criteria

Before applying for a grant for playground equipment, it’s crucial to read the criteria outlined by the funding body.

Most funding bodies have rolling requirements that must be met for funding to be considered; these can also change within the year to meet certain cultural, heritage, artistic or community-based goals by the local government or organisation.

Because of this, be sure to double-check what the current criteria are at the time of applying for the grant.

 

Consider alternative funding options

If you are wondering how to raise funding for school playground equipment without going through a grant application, there are plenty of traditional and modern ways money can be raised.

As your playground is intended to better the local community in the long-term, your local community is one of your strongest assets in raising funding.

Consider reaching out to local businesses to be sponsors when hosting yearly charity days or events. If you are looking for a grant to build a playground independently, encourage local schools, including parents of children who will benefit from the playground, to host bake sales, charity auctions and other traditional ways of raising money.

It is also worth setting up a digital fundraiser through an online platform, such as Crowdfunder, GoFundMe or JustGiving. This allows you to share your funding goals with the local community online, with the added benefit of being able to share the fundraising link online through your project’s socials.

 

How to write a successful playground grant proposal

1. To begin, outline your proposal by clarifying your vision, as discussed earlier. What are your goals and aims? Who is the play area intended for? Why is there a need for a play area in this location and how will it benefit the local community? Grants for school playgrounds may have a different reasoning than that of a park, so clarifying this is essential. Answering potential questions clearly will indicate that the proposal is not only well-considered but crucial for the betterment of the local area.
2. Clearly outline the team which will help bring your project vision to life. A diverse board of around 10 members will prove that you have considered the project from a range of perspectives. These members could be school staff, parents of children in the local area, governors, skilled builders and others whose contributions and insights will benefit the project outcome.
3. Carefully proof your funding proposal before it is sent. Proposals written in good, plain English will cut through to funding boards. Avoid overly emotive language and simply state and reiterate the need for quality playgrounds in schools and your local community.
4. Make the funding body aware of the unique needs and challenges of your local area. They may not have the intimate knowledge you possess and making them aware of the challenges ahead will only strengthen your argument for action.
5. Inform the funding body of the journey that has led to applying for funding. Telling a story (whilst not being overly emotive) will emphasise the human interest in your play area.
6. If the funding application does not have a template document to fill in, make sure the document you send is easy to read. A simple document with bold titles that outline each section will make your proposal more professional and easier to read for the recipient.
7. Provide evidence of how your project will benefit the local community. Playgrounds are crucial for the betterment of child socialisation, health and development. Provide links to studies supporting your claims and point to instances in the country where local communities have bettered from new, accessible playgrounds. If needed, reference our case studies to support your claim.
8. Make clear why your project will make a difference and what the local community can expect to benefit from upon completion.

 

Available playground funding and grants

You may find that those looking for playground funding for community groups, playground funding for not-for-profits and playground funding for charities are all bidding for the same pot of funds.

There are multiple organisations that can help fund your projects, many of which change their parameters and priorities yearly or when more funding becomes available.

The deadline for application submission is unique to each organisation, so it’s important to check in with organisations frequently so you don’t miss when application for the next round of funding becomes available.

It’s advisable to sign up to newsletters and mailing lists for these organisations to make sure you never miss a funding update.

Here are a few organisations that regularly help fund playground creation projects:

• The National Lottery Community Fund.
• Asda Foundation.
• Aviva Community Fund.
• BBC Children in Need.
• Biffa Award.
• The Cory Group.
• The Morrisons Foundation.

 

FAQs

How do I fund a new playground?

To fund a new playground, explore funding opportunities or raise the money yourself alongside the local community. Apply for the funding opportunity that best meets your requirements and follow our guide listed above.

For more information, get in touch to request a funding brochure.

 

How much funding can I expect to receive for my playground?

Funding pot sizes vary depending on the grant you have applied for. Smaller grants are easier to secure, typically ranging from £1,000 to £5,000. However, larger grants can be upwards of £50,000 depending on the need and scale of the project.

 

Are grants available across the UK?

There are grants available across the UK, with local council and government grants exclusive to some regions and larger nationwide grants available anywhere in the country.

 

Get in touch

Do you have further questions about playground grants? Reach out to our helpful and friendly team, we’d be happy to help in any way we can.

 

Playdale Funding Guide

Our funding guide document provides a worksheet for you to use, to help all of this become more clear, and to help guide you through the application process. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to get the ball rolling with your ideas or vision, or to discuss anything related to creating your perfect playground.

 

Kick Start Your Funding

Finding funding can be a sticky issue for any project, but we are here to help, and to guide you towards finding exactly what you want and need out of your playground.

 

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