GOODYEAR IN SEARCH OF ‘TYRED’ PLAYGROUNDS

Leading tyre manufacturer and safety expert, Goodyear, has announced the launch of its 2008 Playground Appeal – an annual campaign which aims to raise awareness of the need for safe play in the UK.

According to a recent survey initiated by the tyre giant, 8 out of 10 people think that the equipment at their local play area is too old, and even more alarmingly, over 90% of people believe that there are not enough safe play areas for children in the UK.

Now, to help families raise awareness of the need for investment in safe play areas, Goodyear is ridding the UK of its worst playground by offering one needy play area a £10,000 makeover.

Goodyear’s spokesperson Anna Stanley said: “For children, playgrounds are all about having fun and enjoying themselves. Our appeal is focused upon providing children with not just a fun playground, but a safe one too and so we are appealing for nominations of playgrounds that currently don’t meet either criterion.”

The company is hoping its safety expertise will help to transform a worn-out playground into a fabulous new fun zone, making use of recycled old tyres.

Anna continues: “Every year Goodyear recycles thousands of tyres for use in sports and recreational surfaces, and this project will ensure that these old tyres are put to good use, revamping Britain’s worst playground.”

This is the third consecutive year for Goodyear’s popular Playground Appeal and adds further support to the company’s commitment to family safety.

Anna adds: “This year we are also proud to announce that as part of our on-going relationship with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, our employees have chosen to support the development of a much needed play area for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health service at the Hospital; one of the best children’s hospitals in the UK.

“Physical play is important to the development of all children, but this is especially true for children with mental health issues, and so we are delighted to financially support the development of a play area at the Hospital.

“We are confident that both the new play area at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and our £10,000 playground makeover will give many children a safe and fun place to play.”

To nominate your local playground to win a £10,000 makeover please visit www.mygoodyear.co.uk.

Nominations are being taken online until 30th April 2008, whereby any online voting poll will determine the playground most in need of the £10,000 makeover. The winning playground will be announced during Goodyear’s Playground Safety Week (26th – 30th May 2008).

The images above are of Cuckoo Meadow playground in North Waltham, Hampshire. This playground was Goodyear's playground appeal winner in 2006. The pictures are of the transformed playground that was built with the £10,000 prize money.