A new grassroots football initiative in Leicester is set to benefit from a funding package worth more than £11m in a bid to increase participation and improve facilities across the city.

The funding includes a £5m grant from the Football Foundation, which is the largest single grant ever made by the sports charity, along with contributions from Leicester City Council (LCC), NHS Leicester City, Sport England, local partner clubs and the UEFA Jubilee Fund. It is hoped that Leicester's new football investment strategy will result in 11 upgraded facilities, more than 28 new teams, around 3,000 new regular players and coaching fore more than 5,000 youngsters.

As well as upgrading facilities, the £11.2m funding package will be used to introduce a range of initiatives aimed at improving the city's health and encouraging more people to get fit and active. Seven grass sites have already been identified as areas for football development following consultation with the local community, while four ball courts in the centre of Leicester will also be upgraded.

Work to improve the city's facilities will get underway in June, with a scheduled completion date of August 2010. All sites will receive better playing surfaces or improved changing facilities, and will also be used to promote public health campaigns. Andy Connelly, LCC cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: "Whether people want to hone their football skills or simply adopt a more active lifestyle, there's something for everyone in this initiative.

"Thanks to the new investment, we can begin to make a real difference to the way that football is played and promoted in Leicester – and we'll also continue to work closely with the network of local clubs that do so much to develop football at grassroots level."