An article titled ‘To Play or Not to Play: Mapping Unequal Provision of Children’s Playgrounds‘ from 2025 gives us new and interesting information about playgrounds across England. It is topical because of new funding announced to ‘…buy new or upgrade playgrounds across the country…’ withthe aim of ‘…ensuring children in 66 of the most deprived communities have quality play spaces’.
The research shows that Playgrounds in London have been well positioned to serve children in our most deprived communities (see IMD1 in the chart above). This is evidence of intelligent planning, and should be celebrated.
London have a high proportion of the highest deprivation in England. 14 of London’s boroughs (44%) are in the lowest quartile (lowest 25%) of local authority areas in England in IMD25. We know from our own research that Children in these same boroughs – and there are a LOT of children in these boroughs – have far fewer other sport and physical activity facilities available to them. [*shameless plug: watch this space for a London Sport publication on this coming soon]
Playgrounds in these boroughs are doing a lot of heavy lifting. They buck the trend that otherwise leaves children in the most deprived areas in London with also the fewest facilities.