Cumbria-based sportswear firm has launched a new fund aimed at promoting health and wellbeing through sports.

The New Balance Foundation (NBF) Get Active Fund will provide grants to community groups and charitable organisations encouraging physical activity in under-represented sectors of the community.

The fund will be managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, with grants ranging from £1,000 to £5,000.

Caroline Adams, development manager for Cumbria Community Foundation, said: "Research by Sport England shows that one in four adults and one in three children in Cumbria are identified as being ‘inactive’ – which means that they are completing less than 30 minutes per week of moderate physical activity.

"Participation rates are significantly lower among certain sections of society, including women and girls, and Black and Asian children and young people.

"Every year, leading an active lifestyle prevents 900,000 cases of diabetes and 93,000 cases of dementia – a combined saving of £7.1 billion to the UK economy."

She added that the community foundation is grateful to NBF for choosing to create this fund and looks forward to supporting groups across Cumbria that keep communities active.

Paola Bethmage, global grants manager at New Balance Foundation, said: "We’re excited to work alongside Cumbria Community Foundation to invest in community-led initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of families and neighbourhoods close to our Flimby factory.

"To date, NBF has provided more than $300,000 (£228,644) in grants to organisations in the region.

"New Balance Foundation is laser-focused on changing a generation through our grants to outcomes-oriented programmes and we look forward to embarking on this collaboration with the hopes of making a lasting positive impact in Cumbria."

The deadline for applications to the New Balance Foundation Get Active Fund is November 1, 2024.