Two more Welsh play schemes benefit from BIG Lottery Fund cash

3 Jun 2010

Two more play schemes in South Wales are benefiting from nearly £2 million in grants from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) to encourage more children to enjoy outdoor activities.

Cardiff City Council and the Rhondda Cynon Taff Play Association are sharing £1,977,628, awarded under the £13 million ‘Child’s Play’ strand of the Big Lottery Fund’s £20 million Healthy Families programme.

This announcement comes after BIG announced that eight other projects in Wales were benefiting from a £7,518,207 cash roll out.

All the projects aim to meet the programme priorities by creating new play initiatives and facilities in each area (full list of projects at the end of the release).

Cardiff City Council received £998,117 for its Cardiff and Vale Play Project. This will deliver play opportunities and raise awareness about its importance for 24 communities in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Jackie Dorrian, Play Development Officer for the local authority, said: "The money is going to have a huge impact. It will increase play provision to give more children the opportunity to socialise and be more physically active as well as engaging the local community."

Some £979,511 was awarded to Rhondda Cynon Taff Play Association’s Branching Out Community Play Project which will provide new play opportunities for 2,900 children aged 8-12 from 20 communities.

Some £3.5 million has already been allocated through the scheme to improve the infrastructure that supports the development of children’s play in Wales.

The Healthy Families Programme was developed in the wake of extensive consultations and was unveiled at a special conference organised by BIG in Cardiff in 2006.

The programme is promoting a holistic approach to dealing with obesity, and initiatives funded under the Child’s Play strand are making this a reality.

Commenting on the positive impact the awards will have on children and their families in communities throughout Wales, Vice Chair of the Healthy Families Committee, Barbara Wilding, said: "All the latest projects benefitting from funding will meet Child Play’s aims by promoting healthy and active lifestyles among children and families.

"Through Child’s Play we are taking positive action to preserve the health of future generations."

For further information on the Healthy Families – Child’s Play programme please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk and use the search facility.