Opportunity to apply for the Play Enabling Grant 2024-25

About the grant…

Leeds City Council Children and Families Service is delighted to announce that the opportunity to apply for the 2024/25 Play Enabling Grant (PEG) is now open for applications. We are looking for creative, engaging and enthusiastic organisations who can deliver inclusive, accessible and diverse play opportunities for children and young people in Leeds, aged 0-18 years.  

The grant can be used to fund provision from 1st July 2024 to 30th April 2025. Play provision can now be funded throughout term time and weekends and is not limited to school holidays.

As a Child Friendly City, we recognise and value the importance of Play as a vital experience for children and young people growing up. Play nurtures development (physical, emotional and social) and it is through play that children learn and make sense of the world around them, that they build and maintain relationships and friendships. Play also brings communities together, creates opportunities and helps to overcome barriers. Ultimately Play enables children to thrive and have fun growing up, a fundamental outcome outlined in the Children and Young People’s Plan 2023-2028 (CYPP).

Although it is important to measure the number of people engaging with play projects, it is not the only way to measure success. There are many valid outcomes that come from children playing. These are not limited to, but include:

• Joy, pleasure and fun
• The forming and strengthening of friendships
• Building community spirit
• The enjoyment and use of community spaces
• Adventure, risk-taking and new challenges

The purpose of this grant is to provide high quality, rich and meaningful opportunities to play across the city, within communities, with a particular focus on reaching areas where current access to play opportunities may be limited. The Play Enabling Grant aims to improve the time and space for play. It is informed from local Play Sufficiency research and operates in line with the following Play Sufficiency priorities:

• Priority 5: Enable sufficient time, space, design and attitudes to play for children with protected characteristics.
• Priority 6: Create streets that are safe, welcoming and encourage children’s play.
• Priority 7: Improve the variety of spaces available for play for all age groups within close proximity of children’s homes (including informal and designated spaces).
• Priority 8: Improve access to nature-based play environments.
• Priority 9: Improve the perception of teenagers and improving their opportunities to play and hang out.

You can read more about the themes that emerged from the Play Sufficiency research here:   

The Play Enabling Grant is a significant part of our ambition to be a Child Friendly City and contributes to key outcomes in the CYPP. The grant also links directly to the Child Friendly Leeds 12 wishes, in particular Wish 2, which focuses specifically on play:

Did you see our social media posts in the run-up to applications opening? We touched on some of the core principles of play:

Child-led play

Outdoor provision

Play in the local area

Key Criteria

Child Friendly Leeds is focused on supporting, championing and enabling a varied Play offer in all areas of the city and therefore all applications will be considered. Please note, however, that funding is limited so we will be unable to fund all projects. The grants will be directed to specialist third sector and play organisations, with those aiming to deliver opportunities for play in areas where access to play may be limited.  

The applications will be considered by members of the Child Friendly Leeds team, Children and Families Commissioning, and have representation from valid stakeholders to ensure the process is fair and equitable and meets the needs of children, young people and their local communities.

The maximum grant available per organisation will be £5000. Your organisation must be from the voluntary or community sector.

The following priorities for awarding the grants have been identified and will inform the panel criteria.  

• Play projects that benefit children, young people and families experiencing the impact of poverty;
• Applicants who have evidenced a local need for the play provision and/or where play provision may be limited for certain age ranges or particular groups;
• Providers who have worked with/are familiar with Scope Disability Charity and have gained their ‘Inclusive Activity Award’ or are working towards this;
• Organisations who can creatively demonstrate impact and outcomes for children and young people accessing their provision;

You can read more detail about the criteria and eligibility in the attached PEG supporting guidance document, including information about what the grant is unable to fund.

If you have any specific questions regarding this grant opportunity please contact the Child Friendly Leeds team via childfriendlyleeds@leeds.gov.uk