YOUNGSTERS in some of Wrexham’s most deprived areas are to benefit from a £178,000 Welsh Government boost for play facilities.

The cash windfall comes as the result of a successful bid to the government’s Communities First Outcomes Fund.

It will be spent on supporting the development of a network of adventure playgrounds across the four Communities First areas of Wrexham with the aim of helping children to develop their own resilience to cope with the potentially damaging effects of living in poverty.

Funding will be used to:
l Enhance existing staff teams at the Venture and Gwenfro Valley adventure playgrounds in the Wynnstay and Queensway wards of Caia Park.

l Increase the capacity of Brynteg Playschemes in the Gwenfro ward so they can work towards the development of an adventure playground site.

l Set up a year-round team of playworkers in Plas Madoc where capital funding has already been confirmed for the development of an adventure playground.

l Provide weekly play sessions on the Brynycabanau play area in Hightown.

All four of Wrexham’s Communities First partnerships worked together on the bid, which was coordinated by the council’s play development team.

A council spokeswoman said: “Due to increasing restrictions on children’s free time and space for playing, there is a need to compensate them by providing them with opportunities to experience everyday, playful adventures similar to those taken for granted by previous generations.

“Although only available for 12 months, the funding will be used to enhance year-round staffed play provision in each of the Communities First areas with the aim of developing a network of play providers capable of supporting their own and each others sustainability.

“In time this network will be able to encourage and support other communities to provide for children’s play.”

Cllr Arfon Jones, lead member for children and young people, said: “Play is a significant part of growing up and it is important that children and young people have access to and are able to participate in play of all kinds.

“This funding is welcomed to allow this to happen across the Community First areas in Wrexham and I know many will see huge benefits from it.”