My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Nitasha
Last Name
Kapoor
Pronouns
She/Her
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
1
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground
Lead Organisation Name
Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
1980
Initiative Title
Active Adventures 2.0: Building the Future of Inclusive Physical Activity
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
www.swapa.org.uk ; https://www.instagram.com/swapa_n16/ ; https://www.facebook.com/swapa.nsixteen ;
Initiative Stage
Established (You’ve successfully passed early phases and have a plan for the future. Your venture has been in existence for 6 years and above)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Building on SWAPA’s Go! London funded Active Adventures programme, this initiative reimagines the adventure playground as an open-access sports space by recognising everyday play as legitimate physical activity, introducing inclusive Pop-Up Movement Labs, and co-designing movement-friendly environments with young people (YP), unlocking free, voluntary and socially safe access to sport for those excluded from traditional provision while creating a scalable blueprint for inclusive physical activity infrastructure.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
YP in Hackney are facing a growing crisis of physical inactivity and exclusion from sport. Traditional sports spaces eg. leisure centres, clubs and school-based provision, remain inaccessible to many due to cost, competition, rigid structures, sensory overload and a lack of relevance to their lived experience. This disproportionately affects girls, neurodivergent YP, and those excluded from school or disengaged from formal education. For these YP, sport is not a neutral offer; it is often associated with failure, surveillance or exclusion. At the same time, many urban spaces capable of supporting movement remain underused or narrowly defined as “play” rather than recognised as vital physical activity infrastructure. Adventure playgrounds are rarely included in sport and physical activity strategies, despite offering free, inclusive, high-intensity movement every day. SWAPA is embedded at the heart of this challenge. For almost 50 years, we have worked daily with unaccompanied 6–16 year olds in one of Hackney’s most deprived wards, championing play as a human right. Our staff see first-hand how young people who avoid sport elsewhere willingly climb, build, lift, balance, dance and test themselves when movement is offered through choice, autonomy and trust. This project responds to that reality by reimagining the adventure playground as an open-access sports space, extending inclusive movement opportunities to those most excluded, while creating a model that can inform practice nationally.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
Our approach is rooted in a powerful insight and 'aha' moment: YP who refuse PE lessons, clubs or leisure centres will spend hours at SWAPA climbing, building, carrying, balancing, dancing and testing themselves when movement is offered through choice rather than instruction. Building on this insight, our vision repositions the adventure playground as an inclusive, open-access model for sport and physical activity. The programme brings together three interconnected strands that remove structural barriers, adapt non-traditional spaces, and place YP at the centre of design and delivery. 1: The Playground as an Open-Access Sports Space reframes SWAPA as a daily, free movement-centric environment. An adventure playground not designed for sport becomes a meanwhile sports facility, where climbing structures, loose parts, jumping and digging support strength, balance and endurance — with no booking, kit, teams or competition. Movement is voluntary, self-paced and socially safe. 2: Pop-Up Movement Labs introduces temporary, rotating invitations to move through a youth-led programme of activities including non-traditional but popular sports such as parkour, dance, climbing, acrobatics and strength-through-building. These labs blend into free play, offering watch-first, join-later entry points and supporting YP who avoid instruction-led sport. 3: Inclusive Sports Spaces From the Inside Out supports YP to co-design and adapt the physical environment itself. Underused or intimidating areas are transformed into softer entry zones, graduated challenges and low-visibility spaces spaces using temporary, modular structures built from reclaimed materials. Bartlett School of Architecture students are currently designing a new play structure at SWAPA to this brief (early 2026).
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
Collaboration with YP is not an add-on to this initiative, it is the foundation of how SWAPA operates. As an unaccompanied, drop-in Adventure Playground, YP choose how and whether they participate each day. This principle of autonomy directly shapes the solutions we deliver. Our YP are actively involved in co-creating all three strands of this project. Through our Youth Council, they identify what types of movement, spaces and experiences feel welcoming, challenging and relevant. This includes shaping Pop-Up Movement Labs by deciding which activities to invite in, how they are delivered, and how spaces should be adapted to feel safe and inclusive. For example, YP have asked for movement spaces that allow observation before participation, low-visibility areas for beginners, and progression routes that feel self-directed rather than assessed. Parents and carers are engaged through our “Parenting Through Play” programme, helping us understand how play and movement support wellbeing across generations and advocating for play as a lifelong benefit, not just a childhood activity. Local volunteers and community partners support delivery and contribute skills, while long-standing relationships with Hackney Council and Young Hackney ensure learning from the site informs wider local decision-making. By placing YP and their community at the centre of design, delivery and reflection, this initiative builds spaces for sport and physical activity that are shaped by those most excluded from them.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
In 2025, 470 unique young people accessed the playground through over 3000 visits, with 51% identifying as girls and 52% of hot meals provided to children eligible for free school meals. Young people disengaged from school sport routinely choose to spend multiple hours physically active at SWAPA, returning week after week. Building on this proven foundation, the first round of Go! London investment enabled SWAPA to expand delivery from four to five days per week, immediately increasing access to free, inclusive movement opportunities for local young people. Feedback from participants and staff shows increased confidence, longer periods of voluntary physical activity, and clear progression from observing activities to active participation, particularly among girls and neurodivergent young people. Monitoring data collected during this initial Go! London-funded period demonstrates the depth of this impact. 81% of participants reported that, without SWAPA, they would otherwise be engaging in non-physical activities. In our first year of funding, we delivered 21 specialist movement workshops, with 179 total attendances, 64% of which were by girls, highlighting strong demand for inclusive, adapted physical activity opportunities that sit outside traditional sports provision. This initiative deepens and accelerates that impact by formally recognising adventure playgrounds as open-access sports spaces, introducing Pop-Up Movement Labs, and co-designing inclusive movement environments with young people. Over the next two years, we expect to increase regular participation, extend engagement per visit, and reach new cohort previously excluded from physical activity.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
This initiative is innovative because it challenges a core assumption in sport and physical activity provision: that participation must take place in specialist facilities, through structured sessions, and under instructional control. Instead, SWAPA recognises adventure play as legitimate physical activity infrastructure, reframing non-sport spaces as open-access environments for movement. Rather than focusing on individual behaviour change, the initiative tackles root structural barriers that exclude many young people from sport, including cost, gatekeeping, visibility, competition and rigid behavioural norms. By removing these barriers, YP engage in high levels of physical activity voluntarily, through choice rather than compliance. Innovation is also evident in how space is reimagined. Through Arts Council funding, SWAPA is transforming the challenge of rebuilding an ageing perimeter fence into a co-designed, playable structure. Developed with YP, architects and engineers, the “PlayFence” integrates climbing, parkour, build, performance and creative elements, turning necessary infrastructure into inclusive movement space and demonstrating how everyday urban assets can be repurposed to unlock physical activity. The initiative is further distinguished by its collaborative model. SWAPA acts as a bridge between YP, local authorities, designers, engineers, schools, physical activity providers and universities. Partners include Stoke Newington Secondary School and local primaries; ARUP and Jan Kattein Architects; Sadler’s Wells East, Mimbre Acrobatics, Martial Arts Place and parkour practitioners; and academic partners at the Bartlett School of Architecture and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, redesigning our data collection systems.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
This initiative is designed for long-term viability by strengthening SWAPA’s organisational capacity while embedding sustainability into delivery. Over the two-year programme, investment will support a dedicated member of staff to lead strategic development, establish robust data and monitoring systems, and embed learning across practice. This ensures the work is not reliant on short-term project funding or individual champions. Operational sustainability is underpinned by SWAPA’s nearly 50-year track record, strong governance, and trusted partnerships with Hackney Council and Young Hackney. Recent Go! London funding has already demonstrated our ability to scale delivery from four to five days per week while maintaining quality and inclusion. Additional investment in playwork capacity ensures consistent access to movement opportunities without increasing cost or barriers for young people. Scalability is built into the model. Adventure playgrounds already exist across the UK but lack a shared framework for positioning play as physical activity. With renewed national investment in youth provision, the time is right to mobilise this existing infrastructure and workforce. Through partnerships with universities, designers and engineers, we are developing transferable tools including a playwork and movement training pathway, improved data frameworks to capture informal physical activity, and published case studies and annual reports. Our ambition is to establish a national network of adventure playgrounds using shared principles and evidence to reimagine access to sport and physical activity locally, while influencing policy and investment decisions at scale.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
Delivery of this initiative is shared across SWAPA’s staff team, trustees, YP and strategic partners, with clear lines of responsibility and accountability. SWAPA Staff and Playworkers A dedicated member of staff will lead the initiative, coordinating delivery, partnerships, monitoring and learning. Trained playworkers are responsible for daily delivery, creating inclusive, safe environments that enable voluntary physical activity through play. They facilitate co-design processes with YP, support Pop-Up Movement Labs, and embed playwork principles across all activity. YP and Youth Council YP are active contributors, not beneficiaries. Through the Youth Council and informal daily decision-making, they shape the design of movement spaces, influence programming choices, and provide feedback that informs ongoing development. Trustees SWAPA’s Board provides strategic oversight, governance and financial accountability, drawing on expertise across youth work, education, architecture, community development and fundraising to support sustainability and scale. Partners Hackney Council and Young Hackney support site stewardship, alignment with local priorities and knowledge sharing. Jan Kattein Architects, ARUP, UCL/Bartlett and Worcester Polytechnic Institute contribute specialist design, research and data expertise, supporting co-design, evaluation and the development of scalable models.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
Months 1–3: Foundations and Mobilisation Recruit and onboard a dedicated staff lead to coordinate strategy, partnerships and delivery Confirm governance arrangements and trustee oversight for the initiative Establish baseline data and monitoring systems with academic partners Formalise delivery plans for open-access sports space framing and Pop-Up Movement Labs Months 4–9: Pilot and Test Launch enhanced open-access physical activity delivery across five days per week Deliver initial Pop-Up Movement Labs, adapting specialist movement practices to the playground environment Begin youth-led co-design of movement spaces, including testing temporary adaptations Collect early participation data and qualitative feedback Months 10–15: Embed and Refine Refine delivery models based on learning and evaluation Develop playwork and movement training framework and draft qualification pathway Strengthen partnerships with local authorities, designers and academic institutions Publish interim case studies capturing learning and impact Months 16–24: Scale and Share Finalise training resources and data tools for wider use Produce annual report and sector-facing learning materials Convene peer adventure playgrounds to explore networked delivery Engage policymakers and funders to support replication and long-term sustainability
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
Participation in the 8-week capacity-building programme would be highly valuable to SWAPA at this critical stage of organisational development. However, as a small charity delivering free, open-access provision five days per week, staff capacity and associated costs present a barrier to full participation without additional support. If awarded capacity-building participation funding, and depending on the time needed to participate, we would use this support to potentially cover the following costs: Staff time backfill: Partial backfill for a senior staff member leading strategy, partnerships and learning, enabling them to participate fully in workshops, mentoring and programme activities without reducing frontline provision. Additional playwork cover: Sessional playworker support to maintain safe staffing levels during programme participation. Travel and subsistence: Travel costs for attending in-person sessions, meetings or events linked to the programme. Access and participation costs: Where relevant, support for access needs, flexible working arrangements or additional childcare costs that enable participation. Learning and development materials: Modest costs associated with tools, resources or facilitation required to embed learning from the programme within the organisation. This support would ensure SWAPA can engage meaningfully in the programme, apply learning in real time, and maximise the long-term impact of both the funding and the capacity-building offer.
