Up to 4,000 people across the Bath area are to be encouraged to improve their fitness in a new sport initiative being launched this week.
The Council’s TRY Active Bath and North East Somerset have received £209,445 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund.
It is among 88 projects across the country to receive a share of £15 million of funding to support grassroots sport activity.
Bath & North East Somerset Council and Bath Rugby Foundation have provided over £100,000 worth of matched funding, and Bath News and Media, publisher of the Bath Chronicle, is providing in-kind support in the form of a campaign package that includes advice, advertising in print and on-line, editorial, design and social media.
With the generous help of the Medlock Trust, the funding will allow the partners to develop a new programme using rugby, cycling, running and outdoor fitness to deliver an increase in participation within Twerton; Odd Down; Southdown; Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Keynsham.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), the Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is a really exciting project which will open up opportunities for more people to benefit from getting active.
“This summer, a team of specially-recruited sport activators will deliver a community programme using parks and open spaces with the aim of encouraging 1,200 people a year to improve their fitness.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council is proud to be part of this partnership project which will deliver key health and activity outcomes and get more people playing sport.”
Designed in response to local demand, the Community Sport Activation Fund allows local authorities, charities and other organisations to apply for funding for innovative projects to encourage more people to play sport.
Mike Diaper, Sport England’s Director of Community Sport, said: “It’s great to be working with innovative projects, like TRY Active Bath and North East Somerset to offer people the chance to get into sport in a way that best suits them.
“The investment being made through the Community Sport Activation Fund is making a real difference at a very local level. I’m particularly pleased that more than half the funding is going into projects in areas of most need, helping more people develop a lifelong sporting habit.”
Halena Coury, Bath Rugby Foundation’s Head of Fundraising, said: “I am delighted that Bath Rugby Foundation has received this endorsement from Sport England.
“We look forward to working with the Council and making a positive impact through our rugby and multi-sports sessions. Bath Rugby Foundation is an award-winning charity which uses sport to enhance the lives of children and young people in the local community.”
