Sport Northern Ireland has launched a new £4m funding programme aimed at increasing membership numbers at the country's sports clubs.

Sports clubs, organisations and governing bodies will be able to apply for grants from the National Lottery-funded Active Clubs initiative, which will run for the next four years (until 2018).

The scheme will provide support, development courses and capacity building to sports clubs and assist them with developing new and innovative initiatives aimed at increasing membership numbers - as well ass help with the development of the coaching and volunteer base within clubs.

By creating a network of Active Clubs Coordinators, the programme will also aim to provide an economic boost by creating employment for up to 20 new posts.

Increasing club membership, especially among underrepresented groups, is one of the main aims of the programme, as well as delivering social change by promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion.

Launching the Active Clubs programme, Sport Northern Ireland CEO, Antoinette McKeown, said: "Sport Northern Ireland has enjoyed huge success from its Active Communities programme, with almost 1 million people engaged in sport.

"Active Clubs will sustain and build participation through linking people to sporting clubs."