Finding Funding for Outdoor Play & Learning Projects

Securing funding for outdoor play, wellbeing, and learning projects can feel like a daunting task — but there are plenty of organisations and grants out there that schools and community groups have successfully used to bring their ideas to life. Below is a roundup of some of the most commonly accessed funds, along with a few helpful tips for finding new opportunities.

Popular Grants for Outdoor Play Spaces

Many schools we’ve worked with have been able to enhance their outdoor areas using support from national funding programmes such as:

• The National Lottery Community Fund – “Improving Outdoor Play Spaces”
  A well-established fund that supports community-led projects, including outdoor play and learning environments.

• Learning Through Landscapes – “Local School Nature Grants”
  Offers practical outdoor resources and staff training to help schools enrich their outdoor learning provision.

• Aviva Community Fund
  Supports a wide range of community projects, often including wellbeing, outdoor activity, and environmental improvements.

• People’s Postcode Trust
  Provides grants to initiatives that improve life for local communities, which can often include outdoor or physical activity projects.

• Bupa Foundation – “Green Community Grants”
  Focuses on projects that support community wellbeing through nature and outdoor spaces.

• The Ernest Cook Trust – “Outdoor Essentials Grant”
  Offers funding for schools and educational groups to improve access to outdoor learning. Availability can vary year-to-year, so it’s worth checking back regularly for updates.

Using SEN or Inclusion Funding

Several schools have also mentioned that they were able to use special educational needs (SEN) or inclusion-based funding for outdoor projects — particularly when the equipment improves accessibility, supports sensory regulation, or enhances provision for pupils with additional needs. If your project will benefit a wide range of learners, it may be worth exploring whether this type of funding could be applicable.

Where to Look for Wider Funding Opportunities

Even if grants aren’t specifically advertised for play equipment, many organisations fund projects linked to education, community wellbeing, outdoor learning, physical activity, and environmental engagement. These broader themes often align well with playground developments.

You may want to check the following organisations or websites periodically for new funding calls:

• PTA UK
  Parent-teacher associations often share funding opportunities relevant to schools nationwide.

• Country Trust
  Supports food, farming, and outdoor education initiatives, sometimes including nature-based outdoor projects.

• Local Community Foundations
  (e.g., regional branches similar to the London Community Foundation)
  These often run multiple grant programmes throughout the year, supporting education, community cohesion, and outdoor wellbeing.

• Youth or Community Foundations in Your Area
  Regional youth foundations — similar to the Young Ealing Foundation model — sometimes run grant schemes supporting physical activity, outdoor engagement, and community projects.

Search Tips for Better Results

When browsing funding sites, it can help to use slightly broader search terms. Grant programmes rarely mention “playground equipment” directly, but they do support wider aims that your project may align with. Try searching using phrases like:

• school outdoor learning

• community wellbeing

• physical activity

• environmental education

• nature and outdoor spaces

Framing your project around outcomes such as wellbeing, inclusion, learning enrichment, and community benefit often opens up more avenues for support.