The £235 Playbuilder / Pathfinder funding was a 3 year programme from 2008 to 2010-11 which was allocated to enhance the quality of children's play and to help build communities.

The 1st 20 Play Pathfiinders were selected in April 2008 and the final 10 Pathfinders selected in December 2008 to deliver play areas from April 2009.

The first 43 Playbuilder Playbuilder authorities were selected in April 2008 and the remaining 79 authorities offered Playbuilder funding from April 2009.

The Playbuilder / Pathfinder funding has encouraged local communities to work together in designing and creating their new play areas.

By using community consultation, local authorities have been working with the local communities through schools, youth clubs, cubs and scouts groups etc. to ensure that the children themselves, parents, grandparents and all members of the community are involved.

The announcement by the Education Secretary Michael Gove implicates that grants for 122 councils for up to 1,300 schemes are to be frozen.

Councils have been told not to incur any further costs for play which has meant that schemes which have been promised may be scrapped - many of these schemes have been designed by the children themselves through community consultation..

Maldon District Council: Previously, this area was an unused open flat space and thanks to Playbuilder / Pathfinder funding, now offers children well balanced opportunities to have fun, get active and play. Designed by an SMP Play Architect (specially appointed playground designer), this exciting playground, adhering to the Play England 10 principles of play, contains a mixture of natural features and innovative play items.

All ages and abilities are welcomed at Springfield open space - items of play equipment include SMP's mirage swing and basket swing, which is an inclusive item meaning that all children including those with disabilities can play on the equipment together.

The announcement that government spend on the Playbuilder/Pathfinder funding for children's play is to be frozen has resulted in many Local Authorities and Parish Councils having to search for different funding strategies to raise money for their planned play areas.

If you need help or advice on where to find funding, look no further - SMP Save My Playground campaign can help! For our FREE Funding Guide, please call 0845 260 1655 or contact enquiries@smp.co.uk

SMP's funding guide provides a list of funders and step by step advice from finding the right funder, filling out the application properly and to providing all of the necessary information.