Turning corporate energy into community impact
Adopt-a-Playground Case Study: Apollo at Bethwin Road Adventure Playground
How a long-term partnership helped transform Bethwin Road Adventure Playground
Bethwin Road Adventure Playground is a well-loved community space in South London, supporting children and young people aged 5–16 to play, socialise and thrive in an adventurous but supervised environment. For families living nearby — many in social housing and facing economic and health inequalities — the playground offers far more than play, acting as a hub for food, connection, creativity and care.
In 2024, London Play Design partnered with Apollo to pilot our new Adopt-a-Playground programme, working alongside Bethwin staff and children to revitalise the site. Through sustained volunteering, funding and hands-on involvement, Apollo’s adoption of the playground enabled meaningful, long-term improvements that would not have been possible through one-off interventions alone.
Delivery measurable social value
200
Corporate Volunteers
mobilised across multi-team engagement days
1,000
Volunteering Hours
equivalent to six months of skilled labour
£44,340
Direct Social Investment
driven by combined funding and volunteer labour
“We’re particularly grateful to organisations like Apollo because, in a short space of time, they’ve made a massive difference. Our structures are heavily beaten by the young children, and through their kindness, the safety aspect of the playground has been alleviated.”
Steph Bent, Playground Manager
Bethwin Road Adventure Playground
Like many community play spaces, Bethwin Road has faced years of underinvestment and funding challenges alongside increasing demand. Ageing structures, safety concerns and heavy daily use meant that key areas of the playground — including the zipline, swings and access platforms — had become worn, unsafe or closed to independent play.
The Challenge
Staff time was focused on frontline delivery and responding to wider community needs, leaving little capacity to plan and gaps in staff skills in building and maintenance limited ability to carry out major repairs. Without support, sections of this much-needed playground were at risk of becoming unusable for the 150+ children who benefit from the site each week.
“I've known this place for years, and I know that they are more trust, trustable and reliable that my mom even leaves me here with them, because at the same time they have adults keeping guard of you. So what I think is to come here because it's safer.”
Alfred, 9
London Play Design’s Approach
Listening to children
In Spring 2024, London Play Design carried out a child‑centred consultation with the young people who use Bethwin Road. Through creative and playful methods, children shared what they loved about their space, what felt unsafe, and what they wanted to see change.
The consultation highlighted an urgent need for repairs, alongside strong enthusiasm for new spaces to cook, perform, socialise and play together. These insights shaped all subsequent design and delivery decisions.
Adopt‑a‑Playground: Apollo’s role
Bethwin Road became the first site in London Play Design’s Adopt‑a‑Playground programme, with Apollo as the founding partner.
Rather than a single volunteering day, Apollo committed to adopting the playground over eight volunteer sessions between June and October 2024. This sustained approach allowed Apollo employees to see progress build over time, develop relationships with the site, and contribute to deeper, more lasting change.
Turning ideas into action
London Play Design planned, coordinated and supervised all volunteer activity, ensuring work was safe, well‑sequenced and aligned with children’s priorities. Our team provided professional oversight, tools and materials, integrating volunteer labour with specialist play construction and maintenance work.
This model ensured Apollo’s commitment translated into high‑quality, safe and child‑led improvements, rather than short‑term fixes.
“Very committed group of volunteers and some very skilled members of the team that contributed to the effective completion of tasks. Thanks to team Apollo, the children can now safely use the swings!”
Max Mueller, Project Manager/Director & Founder
London Play Design
What Was Achieved
Across eight volunteer days, London Play Design and Apollo volunteers worked together to deliver significant improvements across the playground, including:
Safer play structures
Removal of unsafe and derelict climbing walls and platforms
Reinforcement of zipline concrete anchors and repair of access platforms
Repairs to swing platforms and take‑off areas
Replacement of a hazardous wobbly bridge with new monkey bars
New spaces for creativity and connection
Construction of new decking platforms for gathering, performance and play
Installation of a permanent outdoor kitchen, including a BBQ and pizza oven
Creation of flexible spaces for drama, shared meals and social activities
A more welcoming environment
Clearance of nettles, weeds and hazardous vegetation
Repairs to walkways and landings across the site
Reinstallation of much‑loved features such as the playground rocket/tipi
Bethwin Road Transformation Highlights
Before
After
Impact
The improvements at Bethwin Road have reopened previously unsafe areas, expanded play opportunities and reduced pressure on an already stretched staff team.
Children now describe the playground as safer, more welcoming and more fun:
“Before, no one was allowed around the back without an adult because it was dangerous. Now there’s a patio where we can dance and do drama, and an outdoor kitchen where children can cook and make recipes.”
EJ, 16
“People can now do more sharing, and I like how they built that climbing frame.”
Samuel, 7
Through Apollo’s adoption of the playground, Bethwin Road has been transformed into a space that better supports cooperation, creativity and independent play.
Why This Partnership Matters
Bethwin Road demonstrates what’s possible when long-term corporate commitment is combined with play sector expertise and child-led design.
Apollo’s sustained involvement enabled London Play Design to:
Deliver deeper impact on a single site
Address complex repairs safely and effectively
Support a community organisation with limited capacity
For London Play Design, Bethwin Road represents a strong proof-of-concept for Adopt-a-Playground — a model designed to protect and revitalise community play spaces through meaningful partnership.
Apollo – Founding Adopt-a-Playground Partner
Apollo was the first organisation to adopt a playground through London Play Design’s Adopt-a-Playground programme. By committing to multiple volunteer days over several months, Apollo demonstrated how long-term corporate involvement can deliver greater, more sustainable impact for community play spaces.
200+ employees engaged
1,000+ volunteer hours
Eight sustained volunteering days at one site
Apollo’s partnership helped make Bethwin Road safer, more welcoming and better equipped to meet the needs of local children and families.
Looking Ahead
Following the success at Bethwin Road, London Play Design is working to expand the Adopt-a-Playground programme — supporting more playgrounds to remain safe, inclusive and community-led, with the backing of committed partners like Apollo.
Together, we’ve shown how thoughtful collaboration can transform a playground — and in doing so, strengthen the lives of the children and communities who depend on it.
Want to help adopt a playground?
London Play Design works with organisations, funders and volunteers to deliver child-led, high-impact improvements to community play spaces across London.