A much-loved playground in Battersea is in need of new bikes and toys for disabled children.

Run by charity KIDS, Lady Allen Adventure Playground has entertained children with learning difficulties and their siblings in south west London for over 50 years.

But after “years of love and use” the charity is fundraising to buy new scooters, tricycles and bikes to replace previous donations.

Annual funding for the playground has already been spent on vandalism-related repairs and new safety measures, so a group of fundraisers have taken matters into own hands.

The ‘playwork’ team have organised a sponsored walk to raise money for the “desperately” needed equipment.

They will cover 50km in one day—a distance which represents the number of years the playground in Wandsworth Common has been open.

Walkers will start from Lady Allen, following the river Thames to Teddington before walking back to the playground, in the hopes of raising £2500.

Part-time worker at KIDS, Marcus Roberts Rajoo, said:

“An essential part of day-to-day life at the playground are bikes. Whether it be teaching non-verbal children how to ride them, letting them discover and tinker with their mechanics or racing them at top speed.

“Bikes often act as a common ground between staff and children with the most challenging of learning difficulties.”

You can find out more about the fundraiser here.