We don’t need to tell you that finding funding can be exhausting. That’s why we say we can offer you the whole package, which includes advice and guidance to help you get the funding that you need for your dream play space!
And, given it’s our 20th birthday this year we want to make sure we use the opportunity to get as many children playing as possible… not least because we’re offering 20% of your order value (excl. VAT) back in vouchers, if you order before the end of March.*
So, how can you get the funding in place? Here are just some of the routes you can go down in order to turn your great ideas into reality.
1. The Aviva Community Fund
The Aviva Community Fund offers the chance for community projects to win funding for an important cause in the local area. The fund is open to everyone - Aviva customers, employees, insurance brokers or financial advisers and the general public. They ask you to enter a project for your community and to tell them what a difference the much-needed funds could make.
2. The Football Foundation
A partnership funded by The F.A. Premier League, The FA and the Government. Provides grants of between £100 and £1 million to revitalise grass roots sport, investing in schools and harnessing the power of the game within local communities to promote education and social inclusion.
3. Sport England
An oldie but a goodie Sport England offers a range of grant programmes designed to raise participation in sport.
4. Wooden Spoon Charity
This charity has been set up to support projects that help disadvantaged children and young people, including outdoor projects that support healthy lives.
5. Awards for All
Another well-known (but under-used) grant, Awards for All supports community-based projects and has a long track record of contributing to sport and play projects. Schools can apply directly without charitable status and offers a simple application form and quick turnaround with no deadlines, and a decision should be given within 8 weeks. Grant range from: England £300 – £10,000, Scotland & N. Ireland £300 – £10,000 Wales: £500 – £5,000.
6. Veolia Trust
This trust awards funding for outdoor spaces, play and recreation within community and environmental projects.
7. London Marathon Charitable Trust
Small and large grants are available for projects that increase people's physical activity levels and access to sports. There are geographical restrictions for this one though - London, Surrey, South Northamptonshire and Aylesbury Vale only.
8. British Ecological Society
A bit of a niche subject but these nice people provide outreach grants for school promoting interaction with ecology.
9. Ernest Cook Trust
This trust is perfect for schools that want to spark interest in the countryside. Supports educational and research projects. Many of the schemes it supports relate to environmental and architectural conservation, and are all educational in emphasis. Grants range from: £100 – £3,000 in the small grants category and £3,000 – £10,000 in the main grants category.
10. REN Community Action
This grant is ideal for projects that involve developing land near landfills.
11. Greggs Foundation
The Local Community Projects Fund, run as part of the Greggs Foundation, makes grants of up to £2,000 to support local organisations in projects that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.
12. People’s Health Trust
This trust is set up to support getting communities active in areas affected by health inequalities.
13. St. James’s Place Foundation (Cherishing the children)
Aimed to improve quality of life for people as a result of disability or disadvantage.
14. Foyle Foundation
An independent grant-making trust that distributes grants to UK charities. Main Grants Scheme (supporting charities whose core work covers Arts and Learning) a Small Grants Scheme (covering small charities in all fields).
15. Garfield Weston Foundation
Includes grants to community and education projects as well as welfare - £30m grant making budget.
16. Co-operative Community Fund
The programme uses the money raised to support a range of community projects.
17. ASDA Foundation
Makes grants throughout the UK. They aim to ‘transform communities’ improving lives for people and communities in the UK.
18. Groundwork
Groundwork works across the UK helping communities find practical solutions to the challenges they face.
19. Reaching Communities England (National Lottery)
Funding projects that help people and communities most in need. Reopens again in April.
20. Tesco Community Champions
One-off donations of between £500 and £4,000 to registered charities and not for profit organisations who are working on local projects that support children and their education and welfare, elderly people and adults and children with disabilities.
We have loads more ideas on our blog, so click here and get planning your new playground!
*This offer is available for purchases of £1,000 or more and applies to full-priced items only. It is calculated as 20% of the total value before VAT. This offer is not available in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and applies only to purchases of Ready to Play range items for delivery only. The offer does not apply should you choose our assembly or installation service.