Sport in Surrey has received a £114,000 grant from the DCMS’s Community Sports Coach Scheme (CSCS) to fund the employment of nine new sports coaches.

This first, three-year, grant matches funding raised by several local sporting bodies which are now looking to employ coaches for football, rugby, rowing and kayaking as well as disability football and athletics.

The county hopes to successfully apply for further funding from the CSCS to establish around 60 full- and part-time coaching posts in Surrey over the next 18 months. This would provide an additional 30,000 hours of high quality coaching per year.

The CSCS aims to help fund 3,000 coaches through England to improve coaching opportunities for young people. The scheme is also intended to enhance the recognition of coaching as a profession with accredited qualifications and a career-development structure.

Group chair of Surrey Sports Partnership’s Coaching Development Group, Campbell Livingstone, said: “There is now a great opportunity to develop coaching across the county and help more young people start, stay and succeed in sport.” Details: www.activesurrey.com