Fields in Trust

Fields in Trust (FIT), previously known as the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA), until rebranding in 2007, is a British charity which aims to protect and promote open spaces for sports and recreation in British cities and towns.

As well as campaigning to protect playing fields and open space, the FiT is the owner of the King George's Fields, 471 public recreation grounds set up as a memorial to King George V.

The charity was set up in 1925 by Brigadier-General Reginald Kentish and was founded by the Duke of York, later King George V, who was the first President. This royal link continues today with The Queen as Patron since 1952 and The Duke of Edinburgh as President from 1947 until he stepped down in 2013 to be succeeded by his grandson The Duke of Cambridge.

Fields in Trust is a charity incorporated by Royal Charter in 1932. The Charity’s affairs are conducted through its Council which meets quarterly to set the policy of the Association and to oversee its work. It is also linked to many bodies and membership of the organisation includes local authorities, individuals, playing field associations, schools and sports clubs. In 1972, Fields in Trust (then the NFPA) supported the Bishop of Stepney, Trevor Huddleston in denouncing the lack of play provision which had led to the deaths by drowning of 2 boys who lived in his diocese. This gave the impetus to the Fair Play for Children campaign.

Fields in Trust set standards for playground provision in the UK through The 6 Acre Standard which is widely used by local authorities as a basis, when stipulating play area provision for new housing development, and in local play policies.

Recommendations on Outdoor Playing Space were first formulated in 1925, soon after the Association’s formation. This was with the intention of ensuring "every man, woman and child in Great Britain should have the opportunity of participating in outdoor recreational activity within a reasonable distance of home during leisure hours". The charity urged all local authorities to adopt a minimum standard of provision of 5 acres (2.0 ha) of public open space for every 1,000 people, of which at least 4 acres (1.6 ha) "should be set aside for team games, tennis, bowls and children’s playgrounds".

...
Wikipedia