AN EAST Lancashire college has been given more than £114,000 to help tackle inactivity on campus.

The funding boost will help support hundreds of Nelson and Colne College students become more active over a two-year period.

It will be spent on the Scotland Road college’s extracurricular activity programme as well as helping to embed physical activity within the curriculum.

Funded by the National Lottery, the six-figure sum was awarded as part of Sport England’s £5million project Tackling Inactivity in Colleges with Blackburn College also getting £91,000.

A programme of physical activity, fitness and teambuilding activities will be planned while the funding will also expand on NCC’s lunchtime provision.

As well as improving physical activity levels, the project focuses on the development of transferable skills and qualities to help build self-esteem and confidence.

Alexis Turner, project leader, said: “We are extremely grateful to Sport England for the funding and it means we can widen our sporting provision, meet our student demand and meet the needs of the inactive student population.

“It will also provide an opportunity for new and exciting onsite and offsite activities, which many of our students may never have had the opportunity to experience before, and it will encourage continued participation in physical activity.”

The funding will help 610 students over a two-year period when they will have around 4,000 enrolments.

The number of students found to be inactive is one in 6.5 compared to the Sport England average of one in five.

The college offers table tennis as one of its lunchtime activities

Student Chloe Fitzpatrick said: “I play badminton too but I really enjoy the Table Tennis over lunchtime.

“Sometimes we have competitions but it’s nice to be able to socialise with other students and it’s a fun way to spend an hour.”

Physical inactivity is defined as participating in less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week on a regular basis

Mike Diaper, executive director of community sport at Sport England said: “We are delighted to offer Nelson and Colne College National Lottery funding to help get students active.

“This funding will allow colleges to be innovative in addressing the needs and desires of their students to help embed activity in their lifestyle in college and for years to come.”