MEN in Boscombe are likely to die 10 years earlier than those in other areas of Bournemouth.

A pioneering new project, with the backing of Sport England, that will aim to help Boscombe residents become more active is set to launch next month.

BH Live will deliver low-cost, or free, community-based weekly activity sessions for up to 100 people who are currently inactive.

A variety of sport and activities will be offered to residents, which could include 5-a-side football, basketball, dodgeball, circuit training and health walks.

Regular participants will be encouraged to support and recruit newcomers and will also receive training opportunities.

Boscombe residents are invited to attend a free launch event at Churchill Gardens on Friday, April 13, between 2pm and 6pm where they will be asked which activities they would like to see included in the scheme.

In addition to the physical health benefits, the project aims to address issues of social isolation.

The scheme, which will also involve neighbourhood workers, community groups, the council and Live Well Dorset, has been awarded £5,750 funding as part of Sport England’s strategy to improve people’s health and physical, mental and emotional wellbeing through sport and activity.

A third of people on low incomes are inactive, meaning they do less than 30 minutes of exercise that gets them slightly out of breath each week.

Inactivity in people on a low income is twice that of people on a high income.

Mike Lyons, BH Live’s Director for Sport and Leisure, said: “Working with organisations including Sport England, health partners and community contacts, we hope to inspire more people to get active.

“As well as the physical benefits, the mental and social advantages are also well reported. If we can run more schemes like this we have a much better chance of improving the health and wellbeing of our local community.”

Mike Diaper, Sport England executive director, said: “BH Live has a strong track record of working with their local community and we’re very excited by how their project could make such a positive difference to people’s lives.

“We know that people on a low income can face many pressures that make it difficult for them to be as active as they would like to be. So we’re working with community-focused organisations across the country to find ways to help people fit physical activity into their lives in ways that work for them.

“The lessons we learn from this local project will really help to shape our work with similar groups across the country.”