Using Awards for All to fund playground markings

Author: Jess Sparks
Updated on: May 7, 2024

If you’re here, you likely share a common aspiration: to rejuvenate your school’s playground into a vibrant, engaging space for pupils. Yet, the challenge lies in securing the necessary funds to turn this vision into reality.

This predicament is not unique to your school. Many educational institutions find themselves in a similar position, striving to enhance their outdoor areas without straining budgets. With recent changes in the criteria for Sports Premium funding, it’s left some uncertainty. However, as long as your project benefits and involves the communities around the school, Awards for All can act as a viable alternative, offering an opportunity to realise your playground renovation aspirations.

In this blog post, we delve into more information on Awards for All funding, exploring how it can facilitate the implementation of captivating playground markings. From explaining the application process to outlining eligibility criteria, we aim to equip you with the knowledge needed to leverage this funding opportunity effectively. Additionally, you’ll be able to see some notable playground projects that have been successfully funded by Awards for All, serving as inspiration for your own endeavours.

So, join us as we navigate the landscape of playground funding, leveraging Awards for All to unlock the full potential of your school’s outdoor space.

What is Awards for All?

Awards for All is a funding scheme provided by the UK National Lottery. Its aim is to support people and communities in improving the places they live in and the wellbeing of those most in need. Funding provided for projects for up to two years can range from £300 to £20,000 and is available for voluntary or community organisations in England only.

Awards for All is used to fund projects that:

• bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
• help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
• support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis

What can the funding be used for?

Awards for All funding can be spent on a range of items so long as they contribute to the overall goal of improving communities. Examples of what the funding can be used on includes but is not limited to:

• your organisation’s running costs
• equipment
• one-off events
• staff costs
• training costs
• transport
• utilities
• volunteer expenses
• small land or refurbishment projects

To see what the funding cannot be used for or if you’re not sure, visit the National Lottery Community Fund programme for further guidance.

Who can apply?

A number of different organisation types can apply for Awards for All funding including:

• school (as long as your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• constituted voluntary or community organisation
• constituted group or club
• registered charity
• charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
• not-for-profit company
• community interest company (CIC)
• statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish and community council)
• community benefit society

There are further restrictions on who can apply and unfortunately you are less likely to be granted the funding if your project does not aim to benefit the wider community outside of the school.

What the funding does not cover as a school:

• activities that improve school facilities or equipment
• activities that help with staff training
• activities that are part of the school curriculum
• activities the school should already be doing (like teaching reading during school hours)
• activities that take place during teaching times (lunch breaks, or before and after school may be acceptable however)

Playground Projects successfully funded by Awards for All

Since the initiative began around 20 years ago, over 3000 playground projects have been funded by the National Lottery Awards for All scheme, totalling over a huge £61 million!

More recently, schools and councils in England have used the scheme to secure funding to renovate outdoor fitness areas, develop adventure playgrounds, purchase outdoor equipment for children, resurface and repair outdoor playgrounds, as well as other play area refurbishments.

See all playground projects funded by Awards for All

How to apply

Applications for Awards for All funding are to be completed online and since it could take around 16 weeks for the National Lottery to confirm if you have been successful, it’s best to submit your application at least 16 weeks before you would like your project to begin.

Do your research

Before you apply, it’s best to make sure you have all the information to give your application the best chance of being successful. This includes doing your research. Think about how your project is going to positively impact your wider community. How does it bring people together? How does it help young people thrive or live healthier lives?

The application itself is very in depth and before starting, we recommend taking a look through the full list of questions in the application form to make sure you have the answers from all the necessary stakeholders.

After application

You should hear back from the National Lottery within around 16 weeks. Whilst you’re waiting, they will carry out checks on the information you submitted and may even get in touch with you for further information if required.

See what types of checks are carried out

After checks are completed and if successful, you’ll receive an email to confirm the funding which will then be paid into your bank account within 14 days. Once you get the confirmation email, your project can begin, and you can start spending the funding as planned and outlined in your application.

Top Tip

The National Lottery Community Fund are keen on projects that can reduce your environmental impact so be sure to look into sustainable solutions when planning your playground project to tick that extra box!

See what makes our thermoplastic playground markings more sustainable

For more information about the grants available through Awards for All see the National Lottery Community Fund. Don’t forget you can request a free quote and playground plan from us so you can share this as part of your application. Just contact our friendly team and we’ll be more than happy to assist.