Sport at Essex has received a welcome £360,000 funding boost through Sport England.

University of Essex is receiving the funding for a three year period, thanks to £10 million of National Lottery investment through Sport England’s University Sport Activation Fund.

Sport England Director of Community Sport Mike Diaper said: “We know universities play a vital role in maintaining and growing a student’s love of sport. They can encourage them to continue playing once they’ve left school or help those less sporty discover a new sport.”

Currently just over half (52 per cent) of higher education students take part in sport at least once a week. This project aims to increase this figure and encourage people who are thinking of giving up.

As part of the University’s commitment to students and staff it had already been agreed that from 1 August students and staff can enjoy without charge a wide range of sport activities and Just Play drop in sessions as well as most sports club subscriptions and training sessions as part of their membership of the University.

This additional funding will help pay for an expansion of the Just Play programme across all campuses and help with the development of employability skills amongst students.

Essex Students’ Union Sports Development Manager Dominic King said: “We are absolutely delighted that our bid was successful, receiving the second highest amount in the country! We put together an ambitious plan, benefitting around 4,000 students and staff over the three years of the project, who aren’t currently involved in sport; creating more opportunities such as weekly sessions and varied sports such as swimming and ice skating.”

“As part of the expansion there will be some job opportunities for students which will be advertised shortly. The programme will be launched in the autumn so we are now working hard to make sure everything is in place.”

You can find out more about the improved sport offer at www.essex.ac.uk/sport. You can find out more about individual sports clubs at essex.su/freesport.