Efforts to support a two-year action plan designed to increase the number of people participating in sport in South Somerset have been handed a £42,500 funding boost by Sport England.

South Somerset's Community Sport and Physical Activity Network will use the cash injection to help local sports clubs increase the number of opportunities available and to encourage the development of coaches and volunteers. The network was established in January 2007 to encourage stakeholders to work together on improving sport and physical activity in the district, including South Somerset District Council (SSDC), Somerset Primary Care Trust and Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership.

SSDC's senior sports development officer, Jake Hannis, said: "The funding will support the delivery of a two-year action plan that will aim to get more people involved in sport and physical activity. "This money will help develop schemes that introduce sports to those who may not otherwise have had access sport."