ENCOURAGING young people from Linden and Tuffley in Gloucester to get up, get outdoors and get active is at the heart of a project being supported through Gloucestershire County Council’s Active Together grant.

Fit for Play aims to get school-aged children out of their houses and into the free green spaces that surround them.

Play Rangers from Play Gloucestershire are also on-hand to initiate outdoor games and activities in a bid to pull the community together.

Activities include the old favourites tag, tug of war and skipping, as well as trips to the park.

For older children there will be den building, waterslides, rope swings, kites and giant bubbles and traditional team sports such as tennis, football and rounders will be encouraged.

The funding comes from GCC’s Active Together grant scheme, where each of the 53 electoral divisions in the county has £40,000 to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for local people.

Successful bids need the backing of the local county councillor, which in this case is Cllr Tracy Millard.

More than £11,000 will pay for after school play sessions and brand new equipment including sports and den building kit.

Some money will also be used to promote the scheme further and get more young people out and about and active.

Councillor Tracy Millard, county councillor for Tuffley and Linden, said: “I am delighted to be able to support Play Gloucestershire and their Fit for Play project.

"It is such a great idea and when I visited some of the children recently I saw for myself how much they benefit from being in the great outdoors.

"I would encourage people to get in touch outlining how their community could gain from the Active Together grant.”

The launch of Fit for Play coincides with the start of Public Health England’s Everybody Active, Every Day initiative.

As part of the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games, more than 1,000 individuals and national and local organisations have joined forces to support a policy that embeds physical activity into every daily life.

Councillor Andrew Gravells, cabinet member for public health, said: “You do not have to go to the gym or join a club to get fit; by introducing physical activity into everyday life you can make a real difference to your health.

"An idea like Fit for Play is so easy to get involved in and makes the most of our beautiful open spaces. If you an idea for your area then we want to hear from you.

"The county council can make it happen through Active Together funding.”

Pip Levett, director of Play at Play Gloucestershire, said: “We are really pleased to have been awarded this Active Together grant.

"This project will mean that more children and families than ever before can get involved in innovative and exciting activities through outdoor play that improves their health and wellbeing".

For further information on the Active Together sport and physical activity grant scheme speak to your local county councillor or visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/activetogether