Skip to content

Much-loved playground forced to put up prices

BBC A picture of Jim Wilks, who is standing in front of part of the adventure playground.BBC
Jim Wilks said running the valuable resource had been "tough" because of rising costs

A much-loved adventure playground used by people with special needs and their families has "reluctantly" put up attendance prices to meet rising costs.

The Thames Valley Adventure Playground (TVAP), near Maidenhead, Berkshire, first opened in 1982 and has been loved by generations.

But Jim Wilks, its chair of trustees, said running the charity had been "tough" because of rising prices, despite the number of people it was helping.

"As soon as you bring someone through the front door, you can see what a difference it's making," he said.

"That is where we need to concentrate, demonstrating what a lifeline we are to the disabled community."

Sylwia Lipska is wearing a purple jumper and green collared T-shirt and Lucie Grange is wearing a green waterproof jacket and green scarf as they stand in front of the adventure playground.
Sylwia Lipska, TVAP's operations manager, and Lucie Grange, its community outreach coordinator, showed BBC Radio Berkshire around the adventure playground

Half of the playground's income is from attendance fees, with the rest being collected through fundraising "from our friends and our business community, supporters and sponsors and things like that," Mr Wilks added.

Visitors to TVAP come from as far afield as Swindon and West London to use the specialist facility.

It last increased its attendance fees during the Covid pandemic.

Google/TVAP Part of TVAP, including a playground and a slide on the right side of the picture, along with a seat swing. Google/TVAP
TVAP was first set up in 1982 and has gradually expanded

But if people cannot afford to attend, there are allowances so they are not turned away.

Samantha Louth, who teaches at Addington School in Reading, said: "The kids look forward to [their visit] so much.

"They can tell you when they're coming. They know they come every month and they like having the chance to run around, to feel independent and they're not restricted in any way."

Sylwia Lipska is TVAP's operations manager.

"The main purpose of the playground is to make sure that everyone can have fun," she told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We want every user who comes here to be able to experience independence and be able to find their own place and security and fun."

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.

Related internet links