THURROCK MP Jen Craft accompanied a group of children from the borough to 10 Downing Street today (Tuesday, 16 December) to deliver a letter calling for accessibility to be at the heart of the Government's plans to upgrade playgrounds across the country.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, co-signed by local children, the Labour MP asked that inclusion is prioritised in the delivery of £18mn of investment in playgrounds.

The funding was announced at last month's Budget, earmarked for improving more than 200 sites in England as part of the Government's commitment to restoring pride in local communities.

From the steps of 10 Downing Street today, accompanied by parents and children, Mrs Craft called for a consultation process to be established as part of the programme. This would see local disabled children and their families asked about their needs, to ensure upgrades are accessible to as many children as possible.

As the parent of a disabled daughter, Mrs Craft said families like hers are often "completely overlooked" when it comes to the design of play areas.

A study conducted by Scope, a leading disability charity, found that half of playgrounds are not accessible to disabled children. Of the sites they surveyed, their research found only one in ten offered high quality facilities for disabled people.

This leads to disabled children losing out on key benefits. Research has suggested that play is critical for child development and wellbeing, supporting mental health and helping to build confidence, critical thinking skills and resilience.

Mrs Craft's letter was signed by nearly 50 local parents and children with SEND, including Belinda MacDonald, Teresea Laviniere and their respective sons Mikey and Jacob, who hand-delivered the document to Number 10 this morning. 

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Mrs Craft said: "As the mother of a disabled daughter, I know how hard it is for families to find a playground that is safe and accessible for their child.

"Currently, disabled children might be missing out on vital benefits from play because of facilities that aren't inclusive, denying them chances to make friends, get outside, and have fun with their peers.

"This funding from the government is a fantastic commitment, but we cannot miss this opportunity to ensure that disabled children and their families share in the benefits."

Local parent Belinda MacDonald, added: "When my son was young, it was so hard for him to play safely at any of our local parks, particularly when he was using a wheelchair.

"He saw other children enjoying themselves, and was heartbroken that he couldn't join in.

"We need to see a change in the way playgrounds are designed, so every child is included."

Another Thurrock mum, Teresa Laviniere, said: "My son deserves the chance to play and have fun at his local park, like every other child."

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"A few simple changes can make a big difference, so it's really important for Government to listen to the parents of disabled children."

Local people who signed the letter included: Leanne & Freddie Winship, Julie Bright, Amanda Bradley, Sue Hand, Mei Slater, Nikki Balcombe, Ylmete Mulaj, Kasha Sandu, Tutu, Kehinde, Olivia & Peter Popoola, Sarah, Janette & George James, Jerome & Elozino Okogbe, Steph Friend, Jane, Stuart & Emily Warner, Teresa Laviniere, Sarah Thomas-Kallie Tara, David & Joshua Haroon, Tristan & Sidney Bailey, Rachel & Charlotte Mowforth, Kerry Phillips, Hammad Hassan, Lita Nicholls, Charley-Anne Semple, Jacob McMillan, Belinda & Mikey MacDonald, Theo & Kirsty Chambers, Asma Shafi, Mirha Anwar and students from Tree Tops Free School including Faisal, Brooke, Sid, Blake, Keiran, Olly, Ruby, Abigail and Jake.