Johnny tore open the envelope and let out a squeal of excitement. A cheque for 2,000 had arrived to help the summer play scheme float during the school holidays. We linked arms and danced round the play centre. I worked for a play bus project; we had received a similar amount from the same trust and I had advised him to apply. We were good friends and colleagues and we shared our successes so both organisations could continue to offer play opportunities to children who might otherwise be left to themselves over the summer break.
By the following summer, the situation had changed. The grants were drying up and core funding was unheard of - play was seen as an "extra". Johnny's project had made two staff redundant and the play bus needed replacing.
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