Families in Bolton will benefit from a new project which aims to increase sport and physical activity.

The Sports Reunited project worth 213k received a grant of 109k from Sport England and will be delivered in partnership with Bolton Council, Bolton at Home and Bolton Wanderers Community Trust.

Sports Reunited is amongst 36 projects to receive a share of £5.9 million of funding from Sports England to support grassroots sport activity across the country. Sport Reunited will work with families who have never or currently do not do a sport, living in Tonge, New Bury, Breightmet and Washacre. Activities will be for the whole family creating a fun session for everyone to get involved in.

The aim is to show that sport is fun as well as encouraging people to return and play sport in informal community settings and providing pathways into local clubs.

As well as the obvious benefits of keeping fit the project also aims to help reduce anti-social behaviour, increase school attendance and improve the health and wellbeing of local residents.

Those who take part will also be able to attend training courses aimed at increasing motivation and skills and will be offered volunteering opportunities, aimed at ultimately overcoming barriers to work and worklessness. They can also become community activators, encouraging others in their community to take part in sport.

Councillor Anthony Connell, Bolton Council's Cabinet Member for Sport said: "Taking part in sport and physical activity can help improve young people's health and wellbeing, as well as boosting their skills and ultimately can even serve as a pathway to a job. We hope that the families and young people who are introduced to sport as part of this project will have fun, learn new skills and be motivated to succeed, both at sport and also in getting jobs and progressing into work."

Mike Diaper, Sport England Director of Community Sport, said: "It's great to be working with innovative projects, like Sports Reunited to offer people the chance to get into sport in a way that best suits them.

"The investment being made through the Community Sport Activation Fund is making a real difference at a very local level. To help extend this work and reach some of the most deprived areas in the country, we're investing an additional £7.5 million through the latest round of funding, taking the total amount available to £15 million."

If you want to be involved please contact Sport and Active living team on 01204 332323 or e mail sportandactiveliving@bolton.gov.uk