Looking to have a new playground installed or your current one revamped but struggling to find money to fund this?
Are you looking to have a new playground installed or your current one revamped but struggling to find money to fund this? No matter the age of the child, playgrounds are an important way for children to develop their physical health. Playgrounds can be expensive and often there is no money left in tight budgets to pay for the equipment and apparatus. Did you know that there are many grants and schemes available for schools who are struggling to fund these projects?
Grants usually come from charities, foundations, or government schemes. You should do your research as many grants come with specific conditions, such as the school’s income being quite low. Others specifically focus on SEND schools and others are more charitable and simply just want to get children moving. Many grants are up to the total cost of £10,000 so they are well worth applying for if you fit the eligibility criteria. A useful tip is to use an eligibility checker that should be on the organisation’s website before you begin an application process. This will ensure you do not waste your time when applying for it.
Some useful places to look into grants and funding are:
ASDA Foundation
BBC Children In Need
Disability Grants
Comic Relief
Grants4schools
Morrisons Foundation
Tesco Community Grants
Bank of Scotland Foundation (Scotland Only)
The most successful funded playgrounds are the one that are the most inventive. Many of the criteria require the project to have some sort of community involvement. This means that the community, such as clubs that run after school or in the holidays, must have access to using the outdoor area. Many also require for other people in the community to be involved in the project itself, for example in the planning process.
The application procedure is usually simple and most organisations tend to follow a similar process. The first step is for the school to come up with their plans then find a grant that you think your school is eligible for and fill out the organisation’s application form. This part you must get right to ensure you have every success in securing the grant.
You will need to:
Ensure you have the plans for your project, ideally a project proposal
You may need to state the price for each item you need for you project
You need to write to the organisations requirements for the grant and write about what they want to hear. E.g. Will this project help tackle obesity in children?
Write clearly and concisely as you may have a word limit to stick to
The organisation will then take time to review this application. In this reviewing phase they may get into contact with you to check some details – so keep an eye on your emails. This step can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months – you will just have to sit tight and be patient. The organisation will then contact you with their final decision. If you are successful, then you will receive the money into the school’s account and can begin your project. If the application does not go your way, they will point out why and, after reshaping your application, you can reapply.
If you have any questions or queries on funding, please do not hesitate to get in contact with a member of our team on <a href=”tel:01164029099″>0116 402 9099</a>
