We believe that when we work with others, we can achieve so much more
Our success is driven by the powerful partnerships we have developed, from working with local community based organisations right through to securing multi-year bilateral contracts with some of the world’s leading INGOs.
We take a friendly, collaborative, community driven approach to development. Here are just a few examples of our sustainable and impactful work with partners…
FCDO
Play for Brighter Futures
In 2019 we were awarded two multi-year grants, by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, formerly DFID) to give children in the refugee settlements of Uganda a brighter future through play. Working with the people in the region and FCDO, we developed a programme to increase enrolment at pre-primary schools by an average of 20%. The programme is currently bringing play into the pre-primary setting by installing tailor-made playgrounds and enhancing teaching methods through play-based methodology. We have already seen great results in the refugee settlements, with many parents telling us that they enrolled their children at pre-primary because of the exciting resources on offer.
BUACOFE
Working with local NGOs
Our Partnership with BUACOFE is a great example of how international development organisations and local NGOs can work together. Working together we provided a selection of ECD Centres in Eastern Uganda with Child Friendly Playgrounds, enabling over 1000 children to experience the benefits of play. With BUACOFEs support caregivers and community members were also trained in play education and the benefits of play.
SALVE International
“Street connected young people face stigma in the community and can really struggle to find jobs. So, it is wonderful to partner with an organisation with a brilliant ethos… who believe that young people can overcome their difficult pasts if you give them opportunities to develop their potential.” – Nicola Sansom (SALVE International CEO)
Our partnership with SALVE International is a great example of bringing two different organisations together, with different skill sets to create a deeply impactful programme. Working together we provide street connected young people a gateway into working live. Our workshop in Uganda offers a practical welding apprenticeship scheme, providing apprentices with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to pass their national qualifications in welding, whilst helping us to construct our amazing playgrounds. Whilst SALVE International support the young people’s wider needs of welfare, housing, and mentoring as needed. Together the partnership provides a safe gateway into a fulfilling career at a vulnerable time in life.
UNICEF
“It was a great pleasure working with you… the quality of your work and great efficiency with which you delivered on results”
Our partnership with UNICEF began in response to the plight of hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese people seeking refuge in neighbouring Uganda. Working across the refugee settlements we installed tailor-made community playgrounds in Pre-Primary schools, Primary Schools and Child Friendly Spaces and built the capacity of teachers and caregivers through our Educational Play programmes. A child told us “I travelled to this settlement with my two younger brothers, it took us five days. We are pleased to see a place where we can play and meet different children”. A teacher explained ‘‘We have already seen an increase in attendance at the centre in anticipation for the playground opening, it is wonderful that the children have an extra incentive to come to learn, the playground will really add to the teaching abilities of the centre.”
Playground Ideas
Loose parts play for disadvantaged children
Playground Ideas have delivered 2 karts to Uganda that are currently being used in a pilot program with children aged 3-12 years. As the program expands we will be working in primary schools in Jinja, ECDs in refugee settlements and OOSC in Namuwongo slum in Kampala. Due to COVID the program has been delayed so our initial findings have been delayed a few months but we are still hoping to scale this program before the end of 2021.
Our Funding Partners
A huge thank you to our wonderful partners who believe in our vision and make our work possible. Here are just a few of the incredible funders who support us… thank you!
The Queens Commonwealth Trust – Borrows Charitable Trust – DFID UK Aid Direct – DFID UK Aid Match – Didymus – Eleanor Rathbone Trust – Hasluck Charitable Trust – Morel Charitable Trust – Souter Charitable Trust – Stella Symons Charitable Trust – Sterry Family Foundation – The Westcroft Trust -The World We Want Foundation – Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust – Geoff Herrington Foundation – Marr-Munning Trust – Fresh Leaf Charitable Foundation – Ferguson Charitable Trust – Porta Pia 2012 Foundation – Charles Hayward Foundation – Beatrice Laing Trust – The Lorimer Trust – The Generation Trust – CB + HH Taylor 1984 Trust – E Slater Charitable Settlement – R G Hills Charitable Trust – Westcroft Trust – Schroder Charity Trust – Dorfred Trust.
