Play with purpose in Powys

“Can’t you stay till tonight? Can’t you stay all night and be here for us tomorrow? Can’t you just be here all the time?”

“Thanks [to] all the Staff for making it a lovely and enjoyable learning session with cooking as a topic which is invaluable.”

Thanks to multi-year funding from the Stanley Bligh Memorial Fund, Play Radnor has been able to expand its reach and deepen its impact across Powys. From woodland cooking and mud kitchens to inclusive playgroups and healthy cooking classes, the group is giving children and families space to get together and create. 

Children and young people in Powys – especially those with disabilities, from low-income families, or living in rural areas – often face barriers to social and recreational opportunities. Play Radnor exists to address that gap, but funding was needed to maintain and grow their vital programmes and staff capacity. 

The funding supported staff wages and core running costs, enabling three years of reliable play and learning activities. In the first year alone, Play Radnor earned an Investing in Volunteers Award, hired a coordinator, and recruited 15 volunteers. They ran sessions in parks, green spaces and community venues, covering everything from den building and woodcraft to cooking and nature play. 

Children across 24 Powys locations joined in summer play sessions on housing estates, at Brecon Army Camp and the Royal Welsh Spring Fair. Play Radnor’s Play Ranger van became a welcome sight for many children who otherwise have few activities available. So far, 79 children and young people have taken part in healthy cooking sessions, while inclusive events like ‘Mud and Sticks’ and ‘Stay and Play’ continue to bring families together.