About Us - History of Play in Hammersmith and Fulham
Play Association Hammersmith and Fulham (PAHF) was set up by play activists in 2003 as a branch of the Hammersmith and Fulham Voluntary Sector Resource Agency. Their aim was to establish a membership organisation which could provide focus and support for organisations / individuals wanting to develop play provision in the borough, and to campaign for play facilities for all Hammersmith and Fulham’s children.
PAHF became an independent registered charity (No.1108948), registered company (No. 5345092) in 2005, and established a variety of services for local play providers within independent offices.
From the start, PAHF’s core activities were promoting good quality services, encouraging and supporting partnership working, capacity building, training, promoting inward investment and supporting play providers.
Sectors that PAHF has recognised as being in particular need of support are:
- Adventure Playgrounds (which provide free and open access play opportunities to children)
- Play schemes (which provide activities during school holidays)
- After school clubs (which provide a range of after school/breakfast and holiday schemes)
PAHF planned support programmes and successfully sought funding from a variety of sources including Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, Barnardos, and Children’s Fund to enable this work to progress.
Currently PAHF assists over 50 local organisations and individuals concerned with children’s play, including play and childcare providers, disability organisations, environmental groups and others concerned with children’s welfare and education.