The Sports and Recreation Trust Association (sporta) has been accepted as a national partner for the Department of Health's Change4Life campaign.

The agreement will see the group, which represents more than 100 cultural and leisure trusts across the UK, creating a standalone campaign for its members that will run next autumn.

Spearheading the campaign, sporta's representative for London and the South East, Phil Rumbelow said: "The agreement was well received by members at our quarterly meeting.

"About 80 per cent signed up to support a sporta campaign on the spot, which equates to more than 100 centres. We are now approaching the rest of the membership for their 'buy in' before contacting potential sponsors."

The campaign, which will take place from September to December 2010, will include a combination of sporting and fitness activities backed up with educational messages around activity and diet.

It will be exclusive to sporta members and easy for trusts to implement, monitor and evaluate.

Craig McAteer, chair of sporta said: "While this is a short term campaign, it's important that it reaps medium term benefits and longevity for our members and their local communities, as well as ticking boxes for national and local government, Primary Care Trusts and other stakeholders and partners."