National sports charity StreetGames has been granted £3.38m of National Lottery funding to establish 307 new clubs that aim to bring sport to deprived communities.

Over the next year, the nationwide programme will seek to engage 1.6 million 14 to 25-year-olds from disadvantaged areas in a range of sports at ‘doorstep sport clubs’.

The programme, which was highly commended in the recent Charity Awards, is also supported by Sport England and hopes to develop ‘a sporting habit for life’, following on from the successful pilot testing of 40 doorstep sport clubs in 2012/13 across England.

The affordable clubs offer both traditional and adapted versions of games, such as cardio tennis, instant ping pong, rush hockey and street dance.

Jane Ashworth, CEO of StreetGames, said: “Doorstep sport clubs change the sporting and social landscape in disadvantaged areas. This is not just about sport; it’s also about improving young peoples’ lives as they grow and develop as members of healthier, safer, stronger communities.

“Over the last seven years we and our local network of partners have already brought sport close to the home in more than 200 disadvantaged UK communities at the right time, for the right price and in the right style. Now our ambition is to have a positive impact on even more young peoples’ lives and we’re delighted Sport England has backed the expansion of our work.”

The launch of the StreetGames Doorstep Sports Club programme took place at Stratford Old Town Hall, London, and was supported by 2012 Olympic gold medal boxer Luke Campbell.

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