Play Experts Urge Communities Across England to Put Play at the Heart of Pride in Place Funding

The government’s Pride in Place programme is set to direct billions of pounds into hundreds of England’s most left behind communities. In response, Barry Leahey MBE, active supporter of children’s charity NSPCC, Play Expert and President of Playdale — one of the UK’s leading playground manufacturers — is calling on residents and local decision-makers across the country to ensure outdoor play is central to how that investment is spent.

Across England, more than 200 neighbourhoods have been confirmed as Pride in Place areas, with another 40 announced in March 2026, each eligible for up to £20 million over 10 years. Neighbourhood Boards are now being established in communities across the UK, with spending plans being drawn up that will shape those areas for a generation.

Playdale has been designing and manufacturing play equipment — including accessible outdoor play equipment for disabled children — countrywide for 40+ years, and they’re well placed to argue that few investments deliver the programme’s stated objectives more directly than dedicated spaces for all children to socialise, exercise and play.

A well-designed playground improves public spaces, strengthens communities, encourages healthier lifestyles and creates the kind of visible neighbourhood improvement that builds lasting local pride — ticking every box the programme is designed to address.

The need is well-documented. Data shows that 793 play parks have closed across the UK in the last 10 years, with budgets for parks and open spaces falling by more than £350 million over the same period. The North and the Midlands have been hit hardest, with some areas seeing cuts of up to 80%. The consequences are measurable: nearly half of UK children now never or rarely visit a playground, and childhood obesity rates have worsened as access to outdoor play has declined.

Playdale is encouraging residents in Pride in Place areas to engage with their local Neighbourhood Board and make the case for play. Local authorities can use the funding to install or refurbish play areas in parks, housing estates and town centres — and Playdale is ready to work with councils and communities across the country to help.

Barry Leahey MBE, President of Playdale, said:

“Pride in Place funding gives communities across England a direct route to reverse the nationwide trend in play decline — and an opportunity to invest in something that will be used and loved for decades. Playgrounds are not an afterthought in community regeneration; they are often the most visible sign that a neighbourhood is loved and well looked after.

“We would encourage every local authority with a Pride in Place designation to look closely at what a new or refurbished play space could do for their community — and we would encourage residents to demand it. We hope this programme marks the start of a nationwide rebirth in communities that put children and young families first.”