New play activities for children are coming to Sandwell. A £330,000 grant will deliver free play and leisure sessions after school and during the holidays for six to 12-year-olds and children with special needs up to the age of 16. The council has recently awarded the cash to four voluntary groups who will run the free activities across Sandwell’s six towns. Murray Hall Community Trust will run sessions in Rowley Regis, The Albion Foundation in Smethwick, West Bromwich activities will be run by Creative Academies and Groundwork West Midlands will run sessions in Tipton, Oldbury and Wednesbury.

Leader of Sandwell Council Councillor Steve Eling said: “We are absolutely committed to funding good quality, well-organised, free play sessions for children and we’re now finalising arrangements with the successful groups to start their new clubs and groups at the beginning of April.

“There has been some misinformation in the press regarding our play services which are currently supported by SAPA – the Sandwell Adventure Play Association.

“The council’s funding of children’s play services, contrary to newspaper headlines, has not been axed. We have an active council run play service called “Out to Play” that is supported by the voluntary sector through grant funding to deliver a range of activities.

“The grant agreement for our current play service expires in March this year. We gave all voluntary organisations, including SAPA, the chance to bid for funding to run these services for the next three years – like we would with any grant agreement that was coming to a close.

“Unfortunately SAPA was not successful in securing this funding.

“The council has to act in the best interests of our children and invest this money in the best possible way. That meant going with the strongest bids with organisations who will provide the best services for local families.

“These sessions will now be run in all of our towns and will be accessible to more children.”