A COLLEGE has been given a near £90,000 lottery funding boost as part of a national initiative to get students to do more exercise.

The money awarded to Wigan and Leigh College from Sport England will be used to reduce the number of students completing less than 30 minutes of physical activity every week.

As part of its Towards an Active Nation strategy, Sport England is investing £5 million of National Lottery funding in projects in colleges that will support their inactive students into regular activity.

Wigan and Leigh College principal Anna Dawe said: “This funding will enable us to carry out a Move for Life campaign and the college has appointed a project leader and is appointing a level three apprentice to plan and deliver activities which focus on small but lifelong lifestyle changes.

"Our students will benefit from all of the advantages that physical exercise brings, including improvements to confidence, resilience, communication and team work.

"We are also looking to extend this campaign so staff can take part and make this a whole college ethos in tackling inactivity.”

Research has shown that around one in five college students are inactive.

Sport England's Mike Diaper, executive director of community sport, said: “We are delighted to offer Wigan and Leigh College National Lottery funding to help get students active.

"College is a crucial time in a young person’s development. It is often the first time that activity is not a compulsory part of their study programme and therefore all too many young people become inactive.

"This funding will allow colleges to be innovative in addressing the needs and desires of their students to help embed activity in their lifestyle in college and for years to come."