Image: The new fund aims to increase participation

Sport England has joined forces with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson for the unveiling of a new £8m fund designed to increase participation among disabled people

The Inclusive Sport initiative has been launched to coincide with the 100-day countdown to the 2012 Paralympic Games and will enable groups to bid for grants worth at least £10,000.

According to the agency's Active People Survey 5, just 17.6 per cent adults aged 16 and over with a limiting disability or illness play sport once a week for at least 30 minutes.

It is hoped Inclusive Sport will increase the number of disabled people participating in sport, as well as removing barriers such as a lack of specialist equipment or transport issues.

Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said: "It is an uncomfortable truth that disabled people enjoy fewer opportunities to get involved in sport. Sport England is committed to changing that, and making it easier for disabled people to fit sport into their daily lives."

Baroness Grey-Thompson added: "I am delighted that this new allocation of funding is available and is specifically targeted at improving access to grassroots sport to more disabled people."

Applications to the Inclusive Sport fund - part of Sport England's wider Places People Play legacy programme - will be accepted until 5pm on 13 August.

Details: www.sportengland.org