Spending donations for play

Managers Tool 6 Spending donations for play

From time to time, we may be asked to spend money that has been donated, secured through fundraising or allocated from a large organisation or government department. Here are some suggestions of useful purchases.

Shopping list for play • Rucksacks/back packs for staff to carry play resources • Small carts for staff or children to transport play resources and as a play item • Storage crates or bags • Water bottles and carriers • Balls of various sizes • First aid kits • A portable tent or stretch sail shade • Waterproof clothing (staff/children) • Play parachute (available from specialist suppliers) • An ‘earth ball’ (available from specialist suppliers) • Selection of fabric pieces • Tarpaulins, large sheets of plastic, rugs • Ropes • Matches • Towels • Chalk • Art and craft materials – paper, crayons, paint, sequins, glue, paint brushes • Air-drying clay • Ingredients for play dough – simple dough made from flour, salt and water

•Buckets, bowls, baskets of various sizes • Hand tools for building, such as hammers, nails, poles • Extra materials to help with building and making – rope, duct tape, pegs, string, sticks • Sand and sand toys, sieves, buckets, shovels • Balloons • Face paints and brushes • Building blocks • Checkers/draughts • Simple picture card games • Cricket bats, hoops, bean bags • Play boxes – full of low cost items (such as pencils, crayons, small loose parts, paper, small figurines) • Resources for small world play – large shallow trays, mini figures (people, animals, vehicles) • Play training for staff and volunteers • Stationery: stapler, erasers, hole punch, sticky tape • Printing – International Play Association article 31 posters and other promotional items • T-shirts for staff/volunteers.