Sport Northern Ireland has earmarked £250,000 worth of funding to improve after-school sport across the Province.

The small grants programme aims to increase participation in sport and help develop schools' links with local clubs.

The focus of the programme is to support projects that provide opportunities for children and young people to take part in extra-curricular sport and physical recreation, especially in areas of high social need.

Acting CEO of Sport Northern Ireland, Nick Harkness, said: "Many schools are doing fantastic work in providing extra-curricular sport and physical recreation for their pupils and we want to support them.

"We hope that this programme will have a positive impact on young people from schools based in areas of high social deprivation and those schools who have a high percentage of students from Neighbourhood Renewal areas.

"These after-school activities give thousands of children and young people the chance to take up sports they may never have played before; helping them to discover that sport really does offer something for everyone. Getting involved in after-school sport and physical recreation is an important step towards developing a healthy lifestyle and continuing participation into adulthood."