LIVERPOOL children are saying ‘Thanks a million’ after the Lib Dem Council won a huge cash boost for play projects.

The Big Lottery Fund has announced today that it is awarding Liverpool more than £1.5 million - the biggest award in the North West - to deliver a range of exciting schemes which will benefit thousands of children across the city.

The ‘Play in Liverpool’ project will create new play areas in different parts of the city where there is little or no provision, improve existing play facilities and increase opportunities for children aged five to 13 to get involved play activities.

Work is now set to start on two new adventure playgrounds – in West Derby and Walton - while existing playgrounds in different parts of the city will get a re-vamp.

And young people will be mucking in themselves - getting their hands dirty by working on a unique project to transform local wasteland in North Liverpool into a nature playground. Children will play a significant role in planning and landscaping, and will even create their own sculptures and totem poles which will take pride of place on the site. 

The rest of the money will fund mobile play workers who will work at a range of venues including parks, play areas and community venues across the city to increase children’s participation in play. They will also help to break down barriers for disabled children and 'hard to reach' groups who have traditionally not had access to good play facilities.

The city council’s executive member for leisure, Lib Dem Councillor Colin Eldridge, said: “This is great news for Liverpool. The funding will allow us to press ahead with some fantastic play projects at the heart of our communities.

“We’re committed to providing children in every part of the city with high quality play facilities. Well planned and well supported playgrounds help improve children's well being, promote healthy living and encourage social interaction.

“These projects will transform play facilities in areas of the city which need it most. And they will improve the quality of children’s lives by giving them easy access to leisure activities on their doorstep.”

Through the project, more than half a million pounds will be spent on new play facilities in West Derby and Walton. In West Derby, the Mab Lane Youth Centre will be refurbished to incorporate a children’s play area. A new outdoor adventure playground will be attached to the centre. And a new adventure playground will be created in Walton Park, next to the sports centre.

The new nature play area will be set up on Mill Road, Everton. Transforming a patch of waste land into a play resource for children, the £100,000 project aims to increase young people’s connection with the natural environment.

The two existing parks earmarked for refurbishment are Dingle Recreational Park, L8 and Long Moor Lane play area, L9. More than £150,000 will be spent bringing them up-to-date for local children.

As well as paying for a team of mobile play workers the funding will also pay for two new play practitioner posts. The play practitioners will work with more than 1,000 Liverpool children to increase young people’s participation in play projects.

In total, Liverpool is receiving £1,543,000 from the Big Lottery Fund for the Play project.