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Play Pathfinders Swings Into Action

Sandwell MBC are looking for help from the voluntary and community sector to develop their Play Pathfinders Programme. Play Pathfinders is the name of the government programme for transforming play services and play spaces for children, young people and their families.

Sandwell MBC welcome expressions of interest in experimental projects meeting the needs of Sandwell’s free play provision for children and young people aged 5 – 13.

Expressions could fall into any of the following categories:

a. supporting safer use of play spaces and facilities for children and young people
b. maximising the number of free play opportunities for children and young people
c. supporting accessibility and inclusive free play services for all children and young people
d. involving communities in supporting free play opportunities for children and young people
e. development of children and young peoples involvement in wider community initiatives
f. play ranger projects
g. volunteer programmes
h. training initiatives to promote free play and playing outside
i. free weekend schemes
j. free school holiday schemes.

Target groups include:

1. children and young people with a disability
2. children and young people from bme backgrounds
3. children and young people within the ages of 8 – 13yrs
4. females within the ages 5- 13yrs
5. children and young people from marginalised groups e.g. traveller, refugee and asylum seeker families.

The above lists are not exhaustive and Sandwell MBC are interested in hearing about projects which link to free play opportunities not listed above.  However, they will not fund day trips or residential activities.

To apply your organisation must have a proven track record in delivering within the service area(s) of your intended project and possess the following :

  •  Appropriate registrations and standards which are relevant to the services areas your project wishes to work within, e.g. ofsted registration, csci registration
  • The capacity and infrastructure to provide the necessary range of management and professional support for the relevant service areas.

Funding will be limited to a maximum of £10,000 per organisation and activities must take place before 30th June 2010.  If you wish to work collaboratively with another organisation please check with the funder how much a single project can receive in total before expressing an interest.

Interested organisations should submit the following:

  •  Details of their organisation and information evidencing their experience in relation to the criteria
  • Identify which service areas (a – j) they are interested in and indicate an interest in any of the target groups (1 – 5)
  • A project outline (max 4 sides of A4) that includes: a) nature of the project and activity, b) how the project will help Sandwell increase its offer of the services listed above,  c) indicate costings (including how Play Pathfinders funding could link to other funding streams), d) project timescales and e) details of the project beneficaries.

Expressions of interest must be submitted by midday on 23 November 2009 to:

Joint Commissioning and Partnership Directorate
Sandwell Children and Young People’s Trust Partnership
69 St Vincent’s Crescent
Harvills Hawthorn
West Bromwich
B70 0LG

Enquiries via e-mail to joint_commissioning@sandwell.gov.uk or call Mandip Chahal, Joint Procurement and Performance Manager, Tel:
0121 5571577

To view the full opportunity visit finditinsandwell and register to receive news of further funding opportunities.

To discuss any aspects of collaborative working, contact Martin Drayton, 3Cs Project Officer, SCVO on 0121 558 7434 or email: martind@scvo.info