Devon Playing Field Association Information
The Devon Playing Fields Association is an independent charitable body, incorporating the Devon Sports Council, affiliated to Fields in Trust (FIT) Formerly the National Playing Fields Association.
Services
DPFA offers information, advice, support, a quarterly publication ‘The Playing Field’, a subsidised insurance scheme and small grants to its members.
DPFA lobbies in a variety of arenas for improved outdoor sport, play and recreational facilities across rural Devon. It is also undertaking research into the overall provision of outdoor sport and recreation across rural Devon [ link to research update ].
Advice and Information
The Association provides an advice and information service for its members. Individual requests for advice, support and information vary from youth provision to insurance issues to maintenance and inspection. You can email [ charlotte2@devonrcc.org.uk] or call us or send us your request for advice in writing. Information sheets are also available on our website and you can view the index here [ link to index of info sheets ].
Grants
Sport and Play small grants are available from bi-annual competitive bidding rounds. The deadline for applications is 31st December and 30th July each year. £6000 per year is available at a maximum grant size of £500 per single-use outdoor facility and £1000 per multi-use outdoor facility. Decisions are made within 8 weeks of the bidding round deadline. The grant must not exceed a third of the overall project costs. Only projects costing not more than £10,000 will be considered. You can download an application pack on our Funding pages of this website [ link to Sport and Play funding application ].
Insurance Scheme
The public liability insurance scheme is increasingly popular with members. Over 30 members currently take advantage of the scheme. It is only available to playing field associations whose primary business is the provision of a community playground or playing field and associated recreational activities.
The scheme is not open to parish councils, parish meetings or to organisations such as sports clubs who undertake activities above and beyond running a playing field.
To participate in the scheme you must also be a member of Devon Playing Fields Association and have paid your annual subscription fees. View more information on our insurance scheme information sheet [ Link to Insurance Scheme ] and contact Jennie Lane at Community First Wiltshire Tel: 01380 722475 or [ jlane@communityfirst.org.uk ] if you wish to join the scheme.
Sport and Play Research Project
Partly in response to the challenges posed by Jim Clarke at the Annual Meeting in 2002/03, DPFA developed a project to research the extent of sport and play provision across rural Devon. The project aimed to provide a comprehensive county-wide picture, drawing on existing research undertaken at district level, and undertaking original research at parish level. DPFA committed £4,850 of its own reserves towards this project, along with a further £2,000 from Devon Play Association, £500 from the Viscount Amory Trust and £250 from the Northcott Devon Foundation. This research was undertaken during 2004. A comprehensive review of outdoor provision across Devon is available [ link to Update DPFA research page ].
How is DPFA Supported/Funded?
The Association would like to thank the following for their help and support:
Community Council of Devon
Fields in Trust (FIT) fomerly the National Playing Fields Association
Devon County Council
Members of DPFA
Aims of DFPA
Our aims are to:
- help provide playing fields for all sections of the community, and in particular properly equipped playgrounds for children
- protect existing recreational land
- provide advice to individuals, voluntary organisations and local authorities on the acquisition, layout and use of playing fields
- encourage the fullest use of all recreational facilities
- encourage local authorities to make adequate provision for play space when preparing new housing schemes
- encourage participation in physical recreation and education.
Community Council of Devon
DPFA operates an agency agreement with the Community Council of Devon (CCD). CCD provides the Secretariat to the Association, together with the members’ advice and information service, administration of the public liability insurance scheme, and all financial support.
Devon Playing Field Annual Report
[ Download Annual Report 2005 - 2006 ]
[ Download Annual Report 2004 - 2005 ]
Link open in a new window and requires Adobe Acrobat [ Download Acrobat Here ]
DPFA Registered Office is:
Community Council of Devon,
County Hall, Topsham Road
Exeter, EX2 4QB
TEL: 01392 383 345
Email: [ charlotte2@devonrcc.org.uk ]
