https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... prospectus
Guidance
Installing chess tables in parks and public spaces: prospectus
Published 1 September 2023
Applies to England
Some interesting details there, which I don't think I saw reported elsewhere, at least not properly (I was probably not paying attention at the time).1. Overview and introduction
We are inviting the local authorities (LAs) who received funding under the Levelling Up Parks Fund (LUPF), to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to receive an additional £2,500 of funding for the purchase and installation of a chess table and accompanying seats or benches in their local parks and/or green spaces.
The provision of new chess tables in parks and public spaces is part of a cross-government strategy to deliver on three key objectives:
increase participation in chess among primary school-age children
support elite level chess competition and
increase the visibility and public presence of chess
2. Funding
Purpose: To install chess tables and seats/benches in parks and public spaces
Type of fund: Allocative
Eligibility: Local Authorities who received funding under the Levelling Up Parks Fund (LUPF)
Funding available: £2,500 to the installation of 1 chess table and seats. We are not expecting LAs to provide chess sets but they may choose to do so.
Key dates to note:
22 August 2022 – formal public launch of proposals to increase access to and provision of chess facilities
4 September 2023 – EOI submission window for chess tables in parks and public spaces opens
25 September 2023 – EOI submission for chess tables in parks and public spaces deadline
2 October 2023 to 5 February 2024 – distribution of funds to LAs, and LAs to begin work to install chess tables in parks and public spaces
Source of funding: For the LAs who opt in, we will update the existing Levelling Up Parks Fund Memorandum of Understanding to include the chess table funding, and use section 31(1) of the Local Government Act 2003 to provide this funding.
Location of the chess boards: While it is desirable that the chess table is located in the park that received LUPF funding, the exact location of the chess board is ultimately at the LA’s discretion. When deciding where to locate the chess board, we encourage you to consider the following objectives:
to create new opportunities and locations which help to strengthen relationships and build local social cohesion
to address loneliness by providing opportunities for people to come together in a joint activity
Therefore, high footfall areas that attract diverse demographics would be ideal locations for the chess tables.
If you consider there to be more than one location in your LA that could successfully accommodate a chess table, please do flag this to in the relevant section on the EOI form. There may be scope for you to receive additional funding for the installation of another board.
3. Further information and how to apply
To apply to receive additional, dedicated funding for the installation of a chess table and chairs, please complete the expression of interest (EOI) form accompanying this prospectus and send it to [email protected] by 25 September 2023.
If you have any questions or queries which aren’t answered in this document, then please do email [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
4. Funding expectations
Over a 4-month period, DLUHC expect LAs to procure and install at least 1 chess table and accompanying seats or benches in a park or green space. We do not expect LAs to provide the chess sets.
It would be desirable if LAs could use their existing marketing/promotional channels to promote chess and use of the chess tables. Any underspend could be spent on promotion.
- It was the Levelling Up Parks Fund
- I saw a figure of 100 chess tables mentioned somewhere
- Do the ECF or the government know exactly how many were installed and where (i.e. does a list exist somewhere)?
- "high footfall areas that attract diverse demographics would be ideal locations for the chess tables" - Hmm. That sounds a bit hopeful. Did that actually happen in practice?
- The key bit (obviously!) is the promotion and publicity and follow-up (to avoid them being white elephants). Integrating such structures into existing local chess = good. Not doing that = bad. Some of this is painfully obvious. But you cannot lead a horse to water. Anyway.
Looking back, it strikes me that identifying 4-5 key cities around the country with an existing (or potential) outdoor chess scene, would have been a better way to go and to concentrate the funding where it may have done most good. i.e. aim to create Washington Square (New York)-type locations and create synergy with other local initiatives. In my area of London, they are developing Brentford Waterside with mostly luxury flats (sadly) but also some community initiatives, and chess tables might have found a place there (maybe even get Brentford footballers who play chess to promote them).
Except that would not fit the 'Levelling Up Parks Fund' bit. And London probably doesn't qualify for Levelling Up funding. So more flexibility needed in funding routes.
To not end on a negative note, are there any cities/towns where there is an actually bona fide outdoor chess scene? Most people prefer to play chess indoors... (the target audience may have always been the casual passer-by, but then it does not work when no chess sets are provided with the tables).
Sorry, that was another negative note! There are some success stories (hopefully more than two). So learning from those ones is the obvious next step.
EDIT: I may have been slightly biased by reading the negative coverage (which does exist). There is plenty of positive coverage as well. It is actually an interesting case study in how both types of coverage are valid (depending on the location) and an overall assessment is difficult to make.
