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We’ve been carrying out improvements to play areas across the area to make them more accessible to all children and young people, and work is progressing well.
Some of these are play areas we own and others are looked after by town and parish councils or community groups, who applied to us for match funding to improve facilities or create new ones.
Play areas are important to communities and are vital for children’s physical, mental and emotional health.
Free, outdoor play can boost resilience, confidence and social skills.
Seven of our own play areas were improved thanks to £300,000 of investment.
We ran a consultation last summer and feedback received gave us a better understanding of what families wanted and what the priorities should be, including having equipment for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
In addition to our own play areas, 23 play areas run by other organisations have been improved thanks to £250,000 from the Improving Play Spaces Fund.
The awards have funding play areas of different sizes, from one piece of equipment to multiple pieces.
For example, in Castle Batch, Weston-super-Mare, a new all-inclusive play area is taking shape, providing opportunities for physical development, sensory simulation and social interaction.
A lot of work has also been happening in villages across North Somerset, with many play areas improved thanks to match-funding by the local parish councils.
Brand new play areas are also being developed, such as a new one at Alexandra Gardens in Clevedon thanks to match funding from Clevedon Business Improvement District and Discover Clevedon.