£20m boost in campaign for fitter nation

UP to £20m is to be spent getting the country's least active children to take part in school sport.

The funding, which was announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley yesterday, will be used to help those children most at risk of becoming overweight or obese to experience sports.

The Government will provide 6.4m for "Change4Life Clubs" in secondary schools and up to 14m to support primary schools to take part in the School Games project.

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Change4Life Clubs were set up to attract young people who might be inspired by London 2012 to take up a range of Olympic and Paralympic Sports such as badminton, fencing, boccia, table tennis, handball, volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

The School Games initiative will see teams take part in local and regional heats for the chance to compete in a national competition at the Olympic Stadium in 2012.

Mr Lansley, said: "We're making 6.4m of new funding available to secure the future of the Change4Life Clubs in secondary schools until March 2013. We will also extend this innovative programme into primary schools next year.

This means many more youngsters will have the chance to get involved with a range of Olympic and Paralympic sport through school.

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"This money will create more exciting opportunities to get the least active children involved in sport and physical activity - with all the important health benefits that come with being more active. Young people are at the heart of these clubs.

"They are particularly aimed at helping less active children, who are more at risk of becoming overweight or obese, to experience sports, as well as learning about healthy eating led by the clubs' young leaders."

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