For over 45 years, Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground (SWAPA), an independently run registered charity offers unaccompanied 6-16 year olds a free safe space to experience outdoor physical play including healthy risk taking, and free childcare for their parents and carers. We won Best Adventure Playground in London 2023!
SWAPA sits between one of the wealthiest and most deprived neighbourhoods in Hackney, which attracts hard to reach socio-economic backgrounds and neurodiverse needs. In 2023 we had 588 unique young people, 3700 visits total and served free hot lunches over the school holidays - 60% to young people on free school meals.
We're doing amazing work around improving young people's health and wellbeing - our massive wooden play sculptures provide peak swinging and climbing experiences, we have a mini skateboard ramp, a full music studio in a half shipping container and regularly cook and have bonfires, etc.
We see ourselves as community builders and work with local schools, youth clubs, young offenders via community payback scheme and work closely with the East London Business Alliance.
We rely extensively on fundraising to support the playground - we hire the playground to local schools and home education groups, host corporate team building days, throw 'Playground Jam' parties with local DJs and raise money through grants organisations such as Discover Young Hackney and the Arts Council.
