CYP Now - Outdoor play under threat from local facilities and funding cull

CYP Now investigation shows the extent of cuts to local play facilities, budgets and staff, as local authorities and campaigners blame a massive drop in government support over the past three years.

GRAPHIC PDF DOWNLOAD: THE OVERALL PICTURE OF PLAY FUNDING CUTS

A huge cut in spending on play facilities by councils over the past four years has led to scores of playgrounds closing and many staff losing their jobs, a CYP Now investigation can reveal.

Responses to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted to all local authorities reveals nearly one in three have removed some staffed and unstaffed play provision since 2010. While councils that responded have been able to limit the number of unstaffed playground closures to 145, staffed facilities - often the most stimulating and popular for children and young people - have been decimated in many parts of the country.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included