A Trafford play centre has become one of the first of its kind in the UK to offer free entry. The Hideaway, a charitable educational family play centre in Partington Shopping Centre, is replacing the standard entrance fee with a ‘pay what you can’ option from today (Monday, January 16) 'to help support local families', say council bosses.
The Hideaway is part of a charity which also opened one of six community hubs across the borough in 2020 with the help and support of Trafford council, Trafford Housing Trust and other partners, in response to the covid 19 pandemic and now provides food and support to struggling families. During the week, the centre will give visitors the opportunity to pay what they can to visit, play, and enjoy all the facilities and interactive sessions and, on Saturdays, a low minimum donation will apply.
The move to make the Hideaway free to enter coincides with the launch of a new second role-play village which includes a doctors’, vets’, and large playhouse. The Hideaway café is available for all visitors, serving hot and cold meals in a Noah’s Ark themed family restaurant. Ruth Lancey, chief executive of the charity, said: “Making the Hideaway a place for every family to access and enjoy has always been a priority, but the introduction of a ‘pay what you can’ policy will truly make it available for everyone.
