Much-loved playground forced to put up prices
Jim Wilks said running the valuable resource had been "tough" because of rising costs
- Published
A much-loved adventure playground used by people with special needs and their families has "reluctantly" put up attendance prices to meet rising costs.
The Thames Valley Adventure Playground (TVAP), near Maidenhead, Berkshire, first opened in 1982 and has been loved by generations.
But Jim Wilks, its chair of trustees, said running the charity had been "tough" because of rising prices, despite the number of people it was helping.
"As soon as you bring someone through the front door, you can see what a difference it's making," he said.
"That is where we need to concentrate, demonstrating what a lifeline we are to the disabled community."
Sylwia Lipska, TVAP's operations manager, and Lucie Grange, its community outreach coordinator, showed BBC Radio Berkshire around the adventure playground
Half of the playground's income is from attendance fees, with the rest being collected through fundraising "from our friends and our business community, supporters and sponsors and things like that," Mr Wilks added.
Visitors to TVAP come from as far afield as Swindon and West London to use the specialist facility.
It last increased its attendance fees during the Covid pandemic.
TVAP was first set up in 1982 and has gradually expanded
But if people cannot afford to attend, there are allowances so they are not turned away.
Samantha Louth, who teaches at Addington School in Reading, said: "The kids look forward to [their visit] so much.
"They can tell you when they're coming. They know they come every month and they like having the chance to run around, to feel independent and they're not restricted in any way."
Sylwia Lipska is TVAP's operations manager.
"The main purpose of the playground is to make sure that everyone can have fun," she told BBC Radio Berkshire.
"We want every user who comes here to be able to experience independence and be able to find their own place and security and fun."
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