Sportivate Programme

Young people in Surrey urged to get out and give sport a go in Olympic legacy push

• A legacy programme to get 5,539 young people across Surrey playing sport
• Chance to win London 2012 tickets for those who remain regular participants

Thousands of teenagers and young adults across Surrey are to benefit from a new sports programme that aims to fulfil the legacy promise made by Seb Coe in Singapore in 2005 to 'inspire young people to choose sport'.

Sportivate will give 14- to 25-year-olds the chance to receive six to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice. Launched in Surrey today, the National Lottery-funded project will help those who aren't currently playing sport in their own time to get out and give sport a go.

At least 5,539 local people will be able to take part in activities such as: wakeboarding, rowing, canoeing, cheerleading, dance or rugby.

Andrew Liney from Sport England recently attended a Sportivate session ran by JB Ski in Chertsey to meet some of the young people already involved. He commented:

"Sportivate will offer teenagers and young adults across Surrey the chance to discover a sport that they enjoy. There are lots of young people who don't believe that sport is for them, so Sportivate offers the chance to give something new a go and take part in high quality coaching in a sport of their choice - with the goal of inspiring them to keep taking part in the future"

Active Surrey will work with local providers and sports clubs to help 14 to 25 year-olds in Surrey to continue playing sport long after they have completed the course. Sportivate is an inclusive programme that will create opportunities for disabled and non-disabled participants.

Round 2 of Surrey funding applications is running from July 4 to September 5 2011. If you are a club in Surrey hoping to increase membership, this funding can help you provide facilities and equipment to attract young people into your sport. Visit www.activesurrey.com Opens in a new window for details.

To help inspire and motivate the participants, our Sporting Champions - a team of current and retired elite athletes - will visit Sportivate sessions to share their experiences and enthusiasm for sport.

As an additional incentive, teenagers and young adults who stick with sport will have the chance to enter a ballot for free London 2012 tickets. Sport England has hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic tickets available for Sportivate participants via the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative.

In order to be eligible for London 2012 Ticketshare, participants will need to complete the sports course, missing no more than one session, and then continue to participate in sport for at least three months.