Play Streets Enablement Grant (Incredible Edible)

Play Streets have been established in Leeds since 2015, with around 100 active applications in place by 2019. In 2018, Leeds won a national Play award in recognition of its support for Play Streets. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the success of Play Streets in Leeds. In addition, it was evident by 2021 that few active applications were made from areas in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the UK. The benefits of Play Streets were identified as likely to be greater in these areas, especially in terms of mitigating the impact of the pandemic, when access to green space and spaces to play and be active was identified as a significant issue for families living in poverty, in comparison to more affluent families. Concomitantly, the need for support to enable Play Streets to be developed in areas experiencing deprivation was seen as likely to be greater. As a result, a Play Streets Enablement project was launched in 2021. Since then, at least 25 Play Streets have been established in the 10% most deprived areas, when there were none prior to 2021. Many of these Play Streets are organised on a regular basis. The project has received external funding from the Holiday Activities Fund (HAF/Healthy Holidays) and also from the Better Care Fund. Two models of support have been trialled, and processes have been evaluated as the model has developed. Local partnerships are now well established, and awareness of Play Streets is growing in communities facing multiple challenges.