Driving into the small car-park just off Riseholme Road I was feeling unsure of what to expect. All I knew of GAPA was that they deal with kids and that they’d had a Foundation grant. Their purpose-built, one story building, brightly painted, is surrounded by various bits of adventure playground - a wooden train, a zip line, a climbing wall.

We were greeted at the door by a curious toddler, her mum following close behind. Across a room filled with children she pointed us in the direction of Lisa Pinkney who runs the group. Lisa, wearing mud covered wellies and carrying a spade, came and told us a bit about the centre.

Set up over 37 years ago (then on the other side of the estate) GAPA has 12 mainly sessional staff and dozens of volunteers. They run a variety of different programmes, including a playgroup, parenting courses and, in the school holidays, “Fun Days” where as many as 300 locals turn up to use the adventure facilities and mingle.

We moved outside at this point so as not to disturb the face painting, computer games and other activities going on inside. There were groups of people all over the place doing various jobs, some gardening, some looking after the open fire they would use to cook lunch, others getting excited by the pecking hens! Over Lisa’s shoulder I could see a school. She explained that GAPA had been gifted local authority land in 1983. Lisa had come to the adventure playground as a child herself and, 18 years ago, enrolled as a volunteer, on her mother’s orders!

It’s clear to see just how passionate she is about her work but she has some very real concerns for the future. Though national government demands more playgrounds, more playgroups, more community cohesion* and though GAPA ticks all the boxes, the local Council will not commit to long-term support.  Organised protests and pickets outside council buildings have made them compromise:  their grant has been halved for next year, but withdrawn from April 2011.  So, the future is uncertain, bid writing a constant preoccupation.