A LEADING figure in grassroots sport visited the Dolphin Centre to see how National Lottery funding of more than £135,000 is being spent.

Mike Diaper OBE, director of community sport at Sport England, heard more about the centre’s Active Darlington project.

Active Darlington is among 36 projects to receive a share of almost £6m in funding to support grassroots sports nationwide.

The three-year project will provide opportunities in a range of sports on an informal pay-and-play basis at an entry level.

The focus of all sessions will be on enjoyment and either coming back to a sport, or trying something for the first time.

The project will be managed by Darlington sports sevelopment team.

Over three years, the project aims to support more than 2,000 individuals to get involved in sport, with an expected 10,000 visits to the project over the same period.

During his visit to the Dolphin Centre, Mr Diaper tried his hand at badminton.

He said: “It’s great to be working with innovative projects, like Active Darlington to offer people the chance to get into sport in a way that best suits them.

“The investment being made through the Community Sport Activation Fund is making a real difference at a very local level.

For more information about the project, or to find out about the activities available, call the Active Darlington team, on 01325-254370, visit darlington.gov.uk/sportsdevelopment or email sdt@darlington.gov.uk