Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) would like to congratulate the three local authorities it supported in their successful applications for funding from the Big Lottery Fund's Children's Play Programme.

Knowsley Council has been awarded £598k to deliver its play strategy, which focuses on ensuring physical, intellectual and cultural accessibility. Executive Director for Children's Services and Play Champion, Cllr Eddie Connor, fully endorses the aspirations of the Knowsley Play Strategy and is looking forward to working with partners in ensuring its successful delivery.

KKP also developed a play strategy for Wyre Borough Council (for which it secured an award of approximately £220,000), the core aims of which are to:

• Develop a highly skilled and trained play workforce.
• Utilise play to raise the self-esteem, aspirations and achievements of young people.
• Support development of safe communities developing a network of safe, high quality accessible play opportunities and facilities.
• Promote use of play in work to improve the health of children and young people in Wyre by providing a network of high quality, accessible play opportunities.
• Increase capacity and develop a network of high quality accessible, inclusive and safe play opportunities for residents.
• Ensure that play contributes to making Wyre an attractive place in which to live and work

Derwentside Play Partnership was also awarded more than £220,000 to increase the number of opportunities for young people and their families to get out and about. The funding will be used to employ two part-time play rangers and eight natural play leaders to, make use of the district's natural environment and resources. They will support delivery of free, exciting, challenging and adventurous play opportunities for children and young people.

KKP is continuing to work with Derwentside Play Partnership, providing support and guidance for its Play Strategy Launch Campaign.

Commenting on these recent awards, Victoria Taylor, KKP's lead consultant on children's play, said, "We are proud to have played a part in the development of these inspirational strategies to develop opportunities for play. The BIG funding awards will drive implementation of associated action plans. These will ensure that children and young people can "follow their own ideas and interests in their own way for their own reasons"

For further details, please contact Victoria Taylor, Consultant.
Email: victoria.taylor@kkp.co.uk