Bristol play facilities: Charities launch £1m appeal

Playful Bristol and Youth Work Alliance hope to reach their target in 2024

A £1million appeal has been launched to ensure children and young people have better access to play facilities.

Playful Bristol and Youth Work Alliance hope to reach their target in 2024 with the help of business leaders in the city.

They say their aim is to ensure no children are more than a mile away from good play or youth facilities.

The organisations hope this will support the development of Bristol's young people.

Playful Bristol and Youth Work Alliance involve a collaborative group of 45 charities and non-profit bodies, and they have encouraged city businesses to support their campaign.

They are seeking to address gaps in provision for young people across the city and match council investments.

The group aims to ensure no children are more than a mile away from good standard play or youth facilities

Since their initial appeal was launched on 12 October, the group has raised £150,000 in donations from local businesses.

"We've been really encouraged by the initial response to our appeal for help from the city's business community," said Rachel Robinson, one of the co-ordinators of Playful Bristol & Youth Work Alliance.

"Our goal is to raise £1million in money, time or skills in 2024 in order to move closer to the goal of ensuring the city's children and young people are never more than one mile away from play or youth facilities and targeted support seven days a week," she added.

'Ensuring children thrive'

Ms Robinson and fellow co-ordinators Kirsty Wilson and Matt Justice, said they hope that early intervention in child development will contribute to Bristol's long-term prosperity.

They added: "Bristol's children and young people have a right to top-quality play and youth facilities and targeted support within reach of their homes.

"These are essential to physical, mental, and social development. By uniting with Playful Bristol and Youth Work Alliance, and sharing their skills and resources, our business community will ensure children and young people thrive in the here-and-now and into the future."

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