Written question WQ98182

The Welsh Government continues to support local authorities, including Denbighshire, in developing high‑quality community play and recreation opportunities for children in their early years.

Local authorities hold statutory responsibility for planning and delivery of play and recreation spaces in line with the findings of their Play Sufficiency Assessments (PSAs) and Play Action Plans. In 2025-26 we have awarded each local authority grant funding of £10k to assist in taking forward actions arising from their PSAs.

Denbighshire submitted their most recent PSA in June 2025, highlighting strong cross-departmental collaboration to support the development of play with a focus on developing services for disabled children, as well as plans to expand its existing Play Ranger service to further develop play opportunities in schools.

We are investing £5m in 2025-26 to support children’s play opportunities in improving the quality of play spaces and playgrounds.

Denbighshire’s proposals for this funding include purchasing a play van, establishing play pods of resources to support more playful breaks for children in school and equipment to improve the accessibility of playgrounds.

We also continue to fund the Playworks Holiday Project, allocating £1m per year to local authorities via the Children and Communities Grant. This enables holiday play schemes to offer free healthy food at play schemes during the holiday periods.

Denbighshire plan to use this funding in 2026-28 to continue to offer the Let’s Play Out programme at 10 locations across Denbighshire during the school holidays. The programme will be delivered in the heart of communities and will provide children with snacks to help reduce holiday hunger whilst accessing meaningful play opportunities and socialising with peers.