This project seeks to help and integrate not only RAF Service children who face a number of challenges due to the innate mobility of their parents jobs and could have a parent who maybe an operational duty overseas but also the local community who are new to the area (at the newly built private estate Princess Mary Gate), by providing an improved and extended two children’s play areas and a multi use games area (MUGA). Currently there is limited or no equipment available at these sites, as older equipment has been removed as unsafe; an unsightly derelict car park dominates and separates military families and their civilian neighbours.

What we'll deliver:

• As our priority we will be regenerating the play parks for all ages and mixed abilities and building a new MUGA.

Why it's a great idea:

Older children and young people are often hard to reach when it comes to social inclusion the introduction of a MUGA, and play parks will provide much needed facilities for them to use and meet new friends. The multi use games area will be located in the unsightly derelict car park that separates Military families and the local community and both play parks will engender a ‘sharing culture’ between both communities.
If this funding is not available then some of the equipment proposed will not be made available reducing the effectiveness of the play areas. In particular it may increase the need for children to walk through unsafe secluded woodland areas and walk considerable distances in order to use other facilities. If participants were also not playing in the park, they would be playing on the roads. The development of these play areas will enable families to build social cohesion and closer communities both within the service family community and the wider local community.

Steps to get it done:

• We will get this project done by employing a firm that has sprung up from the closure of the British steel industry.

A successful outcome would be to provide an outdoor multi use games area that fits all ages but in particular for older children’s usage and two state of the art play parks that are stimulating for all ages.
Measuring success would be to see an increase in usage, less children playing in the streets, less likelihood of Road traffic accidents
Lower levels of anti-social behaviours, less destructive behaviours,
Improve the relationship between all the residents in the local community by encouraging a sense of sharing/community identity.
A better quality of life for those who access the facilities.
The provision of the funding will enable the full vision to be realised in terms of the play area equipment. This will satisfy an urgent need to support the families based at RAF Halton and the surrounding areas.