Crowdfunding for play
Schools have resorted to crowdfunding and corporate sponsorship to build and restore playgrounds because public funding doesn’t stretch far enough, principals say.
Playgrounds are the responsibility of a school’s board of trustees which uses the Government’s operational funding grants for the work.
But there’s ‘‘so much pressure’’ on this funding that playgrounds often don’t make the cut, Berhampore School principal Mark Potter said.
The school set up a Givealittle page in 2016 to help replace its playground flooring. It’s one of 17 schools across the country still visible on the online platform for help to fund playground works.
Schools that have recently set up crowd-funds include Wellington’s Cardinal McKeefry School, Karaka Playcentre, Auckland’s Waitakere Primary School has asked for $7000 and Sanson School, near Palmerston North, needs $16,000. The other two schools have ‘‘open goals’’.
Potter said schools also faced increased costs for playground materials and contract work, some of which came down to health and safety regulation changes. Reliance on school gala days didn’t stack up like it once did and some schools needed help from corporate sponsors.
‘‘It would be nice,’’ but there were many other things the Government should fund directly before playgrounds, he said.
New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF) president Whetu Cormick said while he was slightly surprised schools were using Givealittle and similar fundraising platforms, schools having to seek out funding for playgrounds was nothing new.
‘‘I remember when I was a principal in 1996 and we were given money by [breakfast cereal company] Hubbards . . . so it doesn’t surprise me that schools are fundraising and seeking out corporate funding.’’
Cormick said with many New Zealand schools financially stretched, figuring out what to prioritise was always a challenge.
The Ministry of Education said schools were not required to have a playground. For those that chose to include one, the design, build, upgrades and equipment were up to the school – so long as it met regulations.
However, Lisette Burrows, a professor in community health within the University of Waikato’s Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance, said playgrounds were ‘‘more vital than ever’’ to help children build a sense of community as well as foster friendships.
‘‘It’s about building connected, confident learners who can engage with their environment and each other. Children need a place to gather and conduct their ‘leisure lives’. It’s somewhere they can flex their physical and mental muscles,’’ she said.
In the South Island, Marlborough District Council agreed last year to give schools money for playgrounds on the condition the community could use the facilities after hours.
Schools under the new policy were expected to meet at least
‘‘Children need a place to gather and conduct their ‘leisure lives’. It’s somewhere they can flex their physical and mental muscles.’’ Lisette Burrows
half the playground cost and had not received playground funding from the council within a 15-year period.
Marlborough Primary Schools Association president and Seddon School principal Tania Pringle said at the time the playground was the one thing the ministry did not fund, ‘‘and something schools have to fundraise for’’.
However, Ministry of Education infrastructure service leader Kim Shannon said there were some circumstances when the Government provided direct funds towards those projects.
That included new school builds and the odd relocation of playgrounds, shifted because of other construction needs.
‘‘We fund boards of trustees to maintain and upgrade their schools, which they can use to purchase and set up playgrounds,’’ Shannon said.
‘‘Schools are free to determine how to best use their spaces to support learning outcomes and playgrounds are just one option.’’
Many schools instead chose to use outdoor space for gardens, bike tracks and sporting activities, she said.
Wellington City Council cofunds school playgrounds on a ‘‘case-by-case basis’’ and has in the last decade given money to three schools, including Amesbury School.
Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons said a gap in facilities and services for the community was a factor when it considered schools. ‘‘[Playgrounds] are really important, public, recreation facilities. We used to upgrade playgrounds every 20 to 25 years. Now we upgrade every 12 to 15 years.’’
She said that decision came down to the importance of play and recreation for people, particularly children.