A CAMPAIGN has been launched to recruit almost 400 “Sport Makers” to encourage grassroots physical activity and exercise across the region.

The Sport Makers campaign, run by Sport England and County Durham Sport, aims to inspire at least 397 people in the region to get involved and make sport happen for their friends, neighbours and colleagues, with each spending at least ten hours organising or leading sporting activities.

It is part of the national Sport Makers campaign, funded by the National Lottery, to recruit 40,000 volunteers by September 2013 and create a lasting legacy for the London 2012 Olympics, under the Places People Play initiative.

The County Durham launch took place at Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre, in Durham City, yesterday, when 45 teenage girls from six schools and sixth forms in Durham and Chester-le-Street tried out Zumba, basketball, boxercise, football, tennis and fencing.

They also got advice on organising sporting activities and listened to a motivational talk by Alyson Dixon, a North-East-based marathon runner who recently competed in the World Athletics Championships.

Rachel Burgess, 16, a keen trampolinist and former gymnast from The Hermitage Academy, in Chester-le- Street, said: “I want to get more girls involved in sport. With the lads around, they don’t have the confidence.”

Rachel now hopes to start girls-only boxercise classes.

Lindsey Robinson, a Sport Makers facilitator and football referee, said: “I think Sport Makers is going to make a massive difference.

“It’s not just young people – it could be mums, dads or grandparents getting back into sport. And it could be in administration or organising.

“The girls have really engaged with the programme.

They’ve got ideas about doing school assemblies, presentations and questionnaires to find out what people want.”

Every Sport Maker is invited to a free training workshop and introduced to organisations which need their help.

For more information or to register as a Sport Maker, visit sportmakers.co.uk