Local authorities are bypassing the voluntary sector in the delivery of new play services, play providers have claimed.
A number of play associations - local voluntary organisations that promote children's play - have told CYP Now that councils have not consulted with them sufficiently on how to use millions of pounds of cash allocated by The Children's Plan for new play areas.
In the recently published play strategy, the government stated that supporting community-led projects is a specific condition of the funding, instructing authorities to put play partnerships in place to ensure consultation across all agencies.
However, Luke Kirton, development worker at Hounslow's play association Westplay, said: "We are being bypassed, which is a shame because the knowledge of the community is with the play associations."
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