Community groups or public bodies who want to transform underused sports centres or fields can apply for a slice of Sport England’s £7.5m (US$9.3m, €8.7m) facilities fund.

The grassroots sports quango will release details about the Community Asset Fund application programme in January, and will make a range of awards from £5,000 up to £150,000.

Money will go towards creating facilities and spaces which can be used to get people more active. As well as empty or underused facilities, Sport England is keen to invest in repairs, expansions or improvements in community sports facilities.

The idea, according to the organisations, is to “help local clubs and groups to create high-quality, welcoming and financially sustainable facilities”.

Those who have been encouraged to apply are clubs and community organisations that: own or lease and existing facility; are considering taking over an existing facility; want to create spaces for people to be active.

Sport England will make its first awards in April 2017 and will increase the pot of funding after the initial phase.

The fund was first unveiled in the publication of Sport England’s Towards an Active Nation strategy earlier this year.