Plans to increase participation and improve health among Londoners through a £7.5m investment programme in community sports facilities have been unveiled by mayor Boris Johnson.

PlaySport London: Make a Splash is one of the schemes that will be provided by the mayor as part of the funding package, which aims to offer temporary facilities in parts of the capital that do not have any permanent swimming facilities. Delivered in partnership with children's charity The Variety Club, serviced office providers MWBex, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA), Total Swimming and London Swimming, the scheme will see one mobile pool at the Greenwood Primary School in Ealing.

A second temporary pool will be introduced in early 2010 through the PlaySport London: Make a Splash initiative, which will see the mobile facilities provided for 12 weeks in three different locations each in a bid to reach more than 15,000 non-swimmers each year. Johnson said: "We've taken the plunge with Make a Splash and as it streams across the capital thousands more Londoners - whatever their age, novice or otherwise - will be able to practise their strokes."

The swimming initiative forms part of the wider PlaySport London brand, which will be applied to all sports activity funded by £15.5m of London Development Agency (LDA) cash through the Olympic legacy funding. Match funding will also be provided to ensure that more than £30m is invested in London's grassroots sport by 2012, with £7.5m being put towards new facilities for local communities in the capital.

"This is only the start," added Johnson. "We will be confirming further details of our £7.5m investment in community sports facilities over the coming months, which will mean many more Londoners will be able to try out a sport and get more active." ASA chief executive David Sparkes said: "Swimming is a vital life skill and a fun activity. As the governing body involved in every component of swimming the ASA wants everyone to have the opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy swimming both for health and enjoyment."

Image: James O. Jenkins - Mayor Boris Johnson joined by Gladiators Enigma and Doom