ACTIVE Essex is encouraging groups and clubs to apply for Sportivate Funding. Sportivate is a £56 million Lottery funded London 2012 legacy project that gives young people the chance to discover a sport that they love through six-to-eight weeks free or subsidised coaching.

The funding has already had a huge impact in Essex, having successfully delivered over 600 projects to over 12,500 young people through sports clubs and coaches, national governing bodies of sport, local authority sports development officers, schools, colleges and universities in a variety of alternative and mainstream sports.

Councillor Ann Naylor, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health said: “Don’t miss out on this latest opportunity to inspire our young people to do sport and physical activity. Visit the website and apply before the deadline of 1 September.”

Active Essex Chair Gary Sullivan OBE, said: “Sportivate is a fantastic incentive for young people to get into sport and be more active. At Active Essex, we are committed to delivering a legacy from 2012 by providing more sporting opportunities for young people and we are very proud of the positive impact that Sportivate has already had on our participants. I urge more people to continue to take advantage of this legacy fund. ”

Past success stories include a football project called ‘Achievement Through Football’ providing football coaching to disadvantaged young people in Shoeburyness. The project recently won a visit from 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Trophy tour as part of a campaign run by Coca-Cola and sports charity StreetGames.

Sportivate has also helped to fund new weekly netball classes at Basildon Sporting Village which have been very popular with women looking to get fit, socialise and have fun. The classes are open to people of all ages and abilities and are led by a qualified coach from England Netball.

Applications are now being accepted for projects happening between October 2014 and March 2015, with the latest round of funding for Essex worth £250,000 per annum. The application deadline is 1st September 2014. For projects that require a response before the school summer break, a fast track review process is available. Fast-track application deadline is 13th June 2014.

Visit: www.activeessex.org/sportivate for more information and to apply.