Funding

If you go looking for money earmarked “playgrounds”, you won’t find it as many former funding sources are now closed. Since a playground meets more than just a child’s immediate play needs, look more broadly at how play provision can fit into the wider funding picture.

Many new playgrounds are being built by community groups, usually through the local development association which seeks tenders and puts the work out to a playground supplier and installer. It may be possible for a community to build a playground themselves using locally available skills and resources.

Even if you are given a site, the landscape works and purchase of the equipment and safety surfacing is expensive. If you are working to a budget, half the cost will be taken up by impact absorbing surfacing under the equipment and possibly drainage and fencing if you need it. What financial help can the local authority provide in the way of grants?

Be creative – if you are in a tourist area, then a playground is also a tourist facility. Find out what money is available locally for tourism projects and see if the playground can be part of that.

Are you in an economically deprived area? See what funding is available for projects dealing with urban and village renewal, drug prevention programmes etc.

• Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

  Funding for rural playgrounds may be currently available through the (Revised) Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013, from the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine.

  Funds are available through the RDF under several headings:

  Encouragement of Tourism Activities –

  (provision of infrastructural needs for tourism) and

  countryside recreation;

  amenity and leisure activities;

  village renewal and development, and

  the provision of general and specialised training courses.

  For further information contact the Leader or Partnership Programme in your area.

• Funding for Community Groups

  The organisation KaBoom! works with community groups to fundraise for, design and build their ideal playground, providing them with the knowledge and tools to do so. By allowing the children and families who will benefit from the playground to take ownership of its design, KaBoom! aims to create a unique sense of community around each playground.

  For further information contact:

  Website: www.kaboom.org
  email: Brian Hemeryck

• Crowd Funding

  Crowd funding is another potential source of funds and there are a number of crowd funding websites in Ireland. (What is Crowdfunding)

• Other Funding Options

  The following sources of funding may be worth contacting as grants may be available from time to time –

   National Lottery Fund Dormant Accounts Fund Area Partnership companies

   Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

   LEADER Plus

   Peace II

   Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

  Under that department’s Local and Community Development Programme, grants may be available under three schemes administered by Pobal. These are Early Education and Childcare, the Rural Social Scheme and the Youth Capital Programme – currently limited to Youth Cafes.

  Play facilities may be a part of a larger programme to be eligible for funding.

  Starter funds for local projects – Sports Capital Fund, currently covers multi-use games areas and adult fitness items.

  Organisational support, training to groups concerned with developing playgrounds, play groups or after-school groups.

  Grants to voluntary organisations working with disadvantaged groups;

  Renovation of premises and purchase of equipment;

  Child care and crèche facilities, including running costs and equipment

  Play facilities (e.g.PlayCare) in border counties

  Traffic calming, safe routes to school, cycleways

  Overall environmental improvement work including development of play areas

  Improving the status of children and young people

  For Help with Qualifying for Funding Please Visit Vision2Results – Here YOU can get Help & Support

The above information is believed to be correct at the time of going on line.
(It is liable to change)