CHILDREN in Blackbird Leys are literally jumping for joy on the estate’s new trampoline.

The Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground (BLAP) installed its newest piece of play equipment on Wednesday. ((11/2)) The ground-level trampoline was chosen by staff after children begged for a bouncy break-time activity.

Secretary Sue Price said: “We have feedback sessions and a suggestion box and so many children said they wanted a trampoline.

“We put it on our wishlist for funding and found this ground-level one.

“It has to be robust enough to put up with the children.

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“You see the ones in people’s gardens with netting around it and that wouldn’t last five minutes with this many kids.

“Also this way they can’t fall off.”

Trampoline coach Elsbeth ((COR)) Priestley said: "The trampoline is going to help children get better balance, strength and flexibility, and it's a load of fun.

"By timing a child performing a sequence of jumps we can monitor their improvement."

Keyarno Alan, 10, said: "It's really good, we can get some exercise and we've got a coach to show us the right steps."

Alfie Raven, also 10, said when the trampoline opened: "It's really cool. I'm coming back tomorrow."

Oxfordshire County Council’s Chill Out Fund agreed to pay for the trampoline itself, but the playground needed to go elsewhere for the cash to keep it safe.

The toy needs a wide strip of soft safety surface around it, in case children jump too high and miss the trampoline.

BLAP applied to Blackbird Leys Parish Council for £1,224 in funding last month, but came away empty handed after the council was overwhelmed with applications.

But county councillor Steve Curran agreed to foot the bill from his budget.

He said: “I am delighted to be able to support BLAP with this financial contribution.

“With limited space available to them the trampoline will provide an excellent facility to enable children to gain healthy exercise as well as having great fun.

“This organisation has been supporting children and young people on the estate for decades and is firmly part of the Blackbird Leys community.

“BLAP continues to offer a great service to the estate.”

The playground runs after-school clubs every weekday during school terms and looks after more than 20 children at a time.

On the corner of Blackbird Leys Road and Cuddesdon Way, it had to be closed in 2008 because of lack of resources.

It was brought back to life in 2011 thanks to a £6,590 grant from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company.

Since then the estate’s children have benefited from year-round play groups and courses, which are funded by charitable donations and grants.