Delivered in partnership between Sport England and Sporta, the Make Your Move programme is getting much needed funding into the trusts.

Sport England Property Director, Charles Johnston, said: “Leisure trusts play a central role in delivering high quality sports projects in towns and cities across the country. The investment in the 13 projects will have a real impact on getting people more active by giving them the chance to take part in ways that best suits them.”

Brian Leonard, Sporta’s CEO said:  “This Round 1 award of £627,000 from Sport England for the Make Your Move programme, demonstrates the level of enthusiasm from trusts to deliver community based projects to engage with inactive populations, and to sustain their participation. These projects will contribute valuable insight and learning to the programme over the coming years”

Among the leisure trusts to receive funding is SIV (Sheffield International Venues), part of the Sheffield City Trust, which has been awarded £92,279 for their Sheffield Outreach Project. The project will carry out research at local shopping centres to identify those not taking part in sport.  Following this each of those identified will be contacted with a bespoke offer of activity sessions based on their individual preferences and needs.

Rob Womack, Sheffield City Trust Funding and Grants Manager, said: “We are looking forward to working with key partners across the city, including major retail outlets, to make a significant impact on the sport and physical activity levels of some of the most inactive people in Sheffield. Utilising our fantastic range of venues, programmes and motivational staff we will engage and retain people over long periods of time, with the aim of getting them active for life. We are delighted to be working in close partnership with Sporta and Sport England on such an innovative and exciting project, which is all part of our aim to make Sheffield the most active city in England.”

Another project to benefit is Mines a Swim/Gym being delivered by Tempus Leisure. It have been awarded £39,828 to target inactive people aged 50 and over, in rurally deprived communities in Cornwall. The project aims to address barriers associated with taking part in sport including cost, transport and self-confidence. It will offer a variety of water based activities, including swimming and surfing, alongside gym activities to get the target group more active.

James Clarke, Tempus Leisure Senior Community Leisure Officer, said: “The award from Sport England and Sporta's Make Your Move for the ‘Mines a Swim/Gym’ project is fantastic news for the people of East Cornwall. The project will help break down barriers that older people living in the area experience in accessing swimming plus other leisure and fitness activities.

“We are hopeful the project will improve community cohesion by addressing the transport issues associated with living in rural areas, and improve participants’ health and wellbeing through physical activity, whilst heightening confidence and self-esteem."

Sport England is investing £2 million of National Lottery funding into the Make Your Move programme for leisure and cultural trusts to deliver innovative projects that will help to engage inactive people in sport. The next round of funding opens on 28 May 2014 and closes 7 July 2014. For more information, visit www.makeyourmoveuk.org.