The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in London and Sport England (London) have awarded £250,000 to SkillsActive to help subsidise sports coaching qualifications.

All qualifications will be endorsed by the new UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) and accredited by the QCA and the national qualifications framework.

Harvey Redgrave, the LSC’s economic director for the Olympics, said: “This scheme will provide hundreds of future coaches with bursaries to pay up to two thirds of the cost of their training.

“The development of grass-roots sports coaching is national priority for the LSC and will be crucial in the run-up to the 2012 Games and beyond to ensure that the sporting talents of Londoners are realized.”

SkillsActive will identify coaches looking to obtain their level 2 or 3 qualifications and those most in need of their first level 1 certificate, by working in partnership with the five ProActive Partnerships in London.

Pat Duffy, group CEO at Sports Coach UK, said: “The UK Coaching Certificate is giving coaching a recognised professional structure and helps to raise the profile of the role of the sports coach. This will play a key part in the success of the UK Action Plan for Coaching which aims to ensure that by 2016 the UK Coaching system is number one in the world.”

SkillsActive’s chief executive, Stephen Studd, added: “This exciting opportunity for aspiring coaches in the region is based on a similar programme introduced in the South West earlier this year, with great success, and we hope it will be replicated across the rest of the LSC regions in the future.”