New Park Equipment - Make Space York

Aim

Help us raise £2,200 to unlock funding for new park equipment teenage girls asked for, creating a space where they feel welcome and belong.

Make Space York: Creating a Park Where Teenage Girls Belong

Help us raise £2,200 to unlock funding for new equipment asked for by local girls. 

We can get £22k for pieces of equipment that girls have asked for IF we manage to get £2,200 in Match Funding secured.

The new pieces of equipment are for teenage 'play', movement and socialisation to go in the area of Rowntree Park we have been co creating with teenage girls.

Why is this needed?

For many people, parks are places to relax, play and spend time with friends. But for teenage girls, that often isn’t the case. Research shows that as girls enter their teenage years, their use of parks drops significantly. Spaces that once felt welcoming can start to feel intimidating, dominated by others, or simply “not for them”.

Make Space York is a grassroots project changing that. Since 2021, we’ve been working directly with girls in York to understand what would make parks feel more welcoming, and then turning those ideas into reality.

New area in Rowntree Park with equipment girls have asked for:

In May 2024, we installed the first equipment in a new area at Rowntree Park, co-created with local teenage girls. This included:

• A basket swing
• A climbing and seating structure
• A picnic bench

This was funded through a patchwork of small grants, and the response has been incredible. Girls are using the space, spending time there and report feeling more confident in the park.  It's not a 'girl only space', but a space where teenagers can 'play' and hang out. 

We now have the opportunity to expand this space with more equipment that girls have directly asked for, including:

• A more challenging climbing structure
• Agility bars for movement and strength
• Communal swings or hammocks for socialising
• Additional seating to create a space to hang out

They are about creating a space where girls feel:

• Comfortable staying, not just passing through
• Confident trying new things
• Able to meet friends and feel a sense of belonging

Why we need your help. 

We’ve secured further funding to make this happen, but to unlock the full £22k, we need to raise £2,200 in match funding.

Every amount donated brings us closer to:

• Completing this co-created space
• Supporting girls’ confidence, wellbeing and independence
• Creating a model that can be replicated in other parks

Why this matters

When parks are designed with teenage girls in mind, they work better for everyone. This project isn’t just about equipment.
It’s about:

• Challenging who public spaces are for
• Creating safer, more inclusive environments
• Giving girls a voice in shaping their city

York is already becoming a leading example of this work across the UK.

With your help, we can take the next step.

How you can help

• Donate whatever you can
• Share this with others who care about young people, community and public space
• Be part of creating lasting change in York

Thank you

This project has always been built on community support. Every contribution, big or small, helps create a park where teenage girls feel they belong.

If you’re a UK taxpayer, your donation can be increased through Gift Aid at no extra cost to you.

More info on the project - https://rowntreepark.org.uk/make-space-for-girls-older-girls-and-rowntree-park/

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made