A charities coalition, set up to improve support for people with long term health and care needs, has been awarded £520,095 in funding to boost sport and physical activity among their beneficiaries.

The funding has been handed to the Richmond Group, a coalition of 12 charities including Age UK, British Heart Foundation and the Stroke Association.

The three-year investment from the government and National Lottery has been awarded by Sport England and is being managed by Age UK on behalf of the coalition.

The money will be used to encourage groups of people with long term health conditions, who are typically less active, to take up sport.

Other charities involved are Alzheimer’s Society, Versus Arthritis, Asthma UK-British Lung Foundation Partnership, Breast Cancer Now, British Red Cross, Diabetes UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Rethink Mental Illness, Royal Voluntary Service.

“Through our work with people living with long term conditions we know just how important it is to help people stay active throughout their lives,” said Richmond Group interim director Ruthe Isden.

“With the right opportunities, support and encouragement everyone can reap the benefits of being active in a way that works for them.”

The finding award is the first made by Sport England as part of its new approach to funding involving greater collaboration with partnerships to encourage sporting activity.

Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth added: “Sport England’s goal is to get everyone active– no matter who they are, where they live, or what their background is. But we know that certain groups – like people with long term health conditions– are more likely to be inactive.

“We can only innovate and tackle inequalities effectively by thinking about long-term change.

“Changes to our funding model will help us achieve our goal, by making it easier for our partners to do what they need to do to level up and deliver.”

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