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Community Play

Picture shows two young children splashing on a wet play table at a childcare setting with Newlife charity

Community Play grants

Community Play grants provide up to £1000 to organisations that work with disabled children and those with additional needs. 

Grants can be used to purchase toys and provide inclusive play training to help staff understand the power of play.

Learn about what Community Play grants are, whether you’re eligible, how you can apply, and what you can spend it on in our guide.

What are Community Play grants?

Thanks to further funding from Dorothy Pamela Smith we’re supporting organisations by offering grants of up to £1000 for toys and essential training.

Through the Newlife Community Play Pilot we created opportunities for over 4,000 children to access sensory-rich, engaging, and inclusive play. 

A core part of the pilot was specialist training delivered to staff and volunteers, with 66 team members benefiting from practical guidance and support.

Based on the success of the Community Play Pilot, we’re rolling out the same approach across the Midlands with our grants initially, however if you are an organisation or charity from outside of the Midlands we would still like to consider your application.

What can we apply for?

You can use a grant  to purchase up to £1000 worth of toys for disabled children from one of our preferred suppliers. If you need some guidance, our Community Play Specialist can support you in selecting suitable toys.

As well as toys, you will benefit from staff training that provides a deeper understanding of the power of play, including its benefits, challenges, myths, and underlying theories. You’ll also learn how to effectively incorporate the toys you have ordered into play.

Are we eligible for a grant?

Your organisation can apply for a grant if you:

  • Are a grassroots organisation/charity
  • Offer programmes that support disabled children and young people up to the age of 18 (We understand that some services may also support individuals over 18, but you must provide services for those aged 18 and under to be eligible)
  • Have not previously applied for a toy grant from Newlife
  • Can fully participate in the programme, including training, surveys, and impact reporting
  • Toys will be used to support children under the age of 18

We’re only able to accept applications from grassroots settings and registered charities. If you’re not eligible for a grant, visit our Support Hub, where you’ll find details on how we may be able to support the children and families you work with.

How to apply?

To apply, please complete our application form, which includes all the questions we need to assess your application.

The form is simple and straightforward. We recommend nominating one person as the main contact to help keep the process easier and more efficient.

APPLY FOR A COMMUNITY PLAY GRANT TODAY (opens in new tab)

What happens after I apply?

After you submit your application, our administration team will review it to check eligibility. If you are eligible, a Community Play Specialist will contact you directly.

If you are successful, you will then be invited to create a wishlist of up to £1,000. This wishlist will be reviewed and approved by your Community Play Specialist before the order is placed.

The supplier will then deliver and install the equipment where needed. Once delivery is complete, our Community Play Specialist will visit your setting to provide training on the toys and how to use them safely and effectively.

Find out more about our Community Play scheme on this short video:

FAQs

We aim to keep time commitments to a minimum, but any participation in surveys makes a real difference. The more engagement we receive, the stronger and more meaningful your impact data will be.

We will require at least five conversations, visits, or sessions throughout the programme, so please ensure you have the capacity to commit to this. We also ask that a designated contact is nominated to help ensure smooth communication.

We also ask that all photos, videos, and testimonials are shared directly with Newlife with correct sharing permissions before sending. This is essential for us in reporting on the impact of our Community Play Service.

We work with trusted suppliers who will always aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible. In the unlikely event that a problem does occur, we kindly ask that you contact the supplier directly. Their contact details will be provided by your Community Play Specialist and will also be included on your delivery paperwork.

You’re responsible for carrying out risk assessments and ongoing maintenance of any toys, or equipment funded through the grant.

We accept one grant application per setting per year. We aim to fund different geographical areas each year, so please check eligibility if you choose to reapply. 

We consider all applications, but we can’t guarantee funding.