SPORT England has given a £221,000 'Community Sport Activation Fund Award' to Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership for a three-year project aimed at improving the health of people in the area.

The Activate Coast and Countryside project builds upon the successful Activate 1000 East Dorset project and will encourage regular participation in informal sport through a range of taster and beginner opportunities.

Activities will be delivered from three sites - Moors Valley Country Park, Highcliffe Castle and Kingston Lacy National Trust - as well as community locations.

Activities for adults and families will be based around cycling, running, golf, petanque, angling, rounders, canoeing, surfing, orienteering and health walks and will incorporate a number of community games to promote opportunities.

The project aims to engage with approximately 1,800 new people each year.

A host of new partners and contacts have been developed including clubs, organisations and national governing bodies of sport.

Jim Barrett from Sport England said: “We are delighted to be able to support this exciting project and hope this will result in many more local people taking part in sport and active recreation.”