Play Areas
North Dorset is benefiting from the Department of Children, Schools and Families Play Builder programme, which is a £235 million programme developed to improve the quality and availability of play equipment for children aged 8-13 throughout England. 6 play areas in North Dorset have been selected to benefit from this programme as part of a wider portfolio of play areas throughout Dorset, which was awarded £1.1 million through the programme. The successful bid was led by Dorset Country Council, which is leading the programme in collaboration with Parish Councils.
The six play areas selected to benefit from this programme are as follows: Child Okeford (£22,000), Durweston (£16,000), Shillingstone (£21,000), Bourton (£33,000) and Stalbridge (£50,000). The projects in Bourton and Stalbridge will be completed by end March 2011, with the other 4 play areas being completed one year earlier – end March 2010.
For further information please contact Mark Brownbridge or call 01258 484025.
Photos of Department of Children, Schools and Families funded play areas, prior to improvements:
Child Okeford
Durweston
Bourton
Stalbridge
Milborne St Andrew
Shillingstone
Big Lottery Fund grant for North Dorset Strategic Play Programme
The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) provided North Dorset District Council with a grant of £200,000 to fund the North Dorset Strategic Play programme for 2007 - 2010 and supports the delivery of the wider Dorset Play Strategy. In particular, the funds have improved play facilities in 9 play areas in North Dorset. The play areas that have benefited are as follows: Rixon Estate, Sturminster Newton, Blandford St. Mary (Ball Court), Stourpaine, Farnham, Marnhull, Stourpaine, Winterborne Stickland and 3 play areas in Gillingham - The Gillings, Lodbourne Road and Hyde Road.
In addition to the £200,000 provided by The Big Lottery Fund, a further £95,000 was secured through match funding in the towns and parishes where the play facilities are located.
The nine play areas were selected following detailed consideration of existing play facility provision throughout the district and the demands for facilities in all communities. The need for new and improved play facilities was identified in both the district council’s Open Spaces Audit (2006), Parish and Community Plans and in consultations with children and young people across the district.
The opinions of children and young people were central to all the decisions that were made for the design and delivery of the play equipment in each of the play areas. Using carefully developed participatory approaches it was the children and young people who chose the range and types of equipment that were to be selected as well as the play equipment manufactures that were contracted. The programme also engages the users of the facilities to help by ensuring that all litter is safely disposed of in the litter bins that are provided in each area and the areas are well cared for and treated with respect.
The maintenance of all play areas have been adopted by the respected town/parish councils. Parish precepts finance an annual safety inspection at each site which is carried out by a RoSPA certified safety inspector. The parish councils also ensure that regular visual inspections are carried out throughout the year. The councils are also responsible for cutting the grass in the play areas, that the areas remain litter free and the bins are regularly emptied.
All the play areas have been operational since March 2008. They are well used and appreciated by the children and young people that use them, their parents and the wider communities.
Photos of Big Lottery Play Areas afterimprovement works were carried out:
Gillingham
Farnham
Stourpaine
Marnhull
Rixon Estate (1), Rixon Estate (2)
Blandford St Mary
For further information on the programme and its implementation please contact Regeneration Officer, Mark Brownbridge on 01258-484025.
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