CYP Now - FUNDING WATCH: Who's getting money and who's giving it

Child obesity, lack of exercise and poor sports facilities mean that sport-related projects are often high on the agenda for funders. But according to official figures, Lottery distributor the New Opportunities Fund has been slow to deliver the cash.

Of a 750m fund for school sport announced in 2000, only 8.5m has been spent on 32 projects. And Northern Ireland has spent none of its allocated 33m.

Through the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme, every Local Education Authority across the UK was allocated a share of 750m to improve school sport facilities, from building state-of-the-art centres to upgrading playgrounds or pitches.

A spokeswoman for NOF denied the programme was behind schedule, and pointed to a "lengthy process" before projects are awarded money.

Working with schools, LEAs first have to put together a portfolio of suitable projects for approval by NOF. Once this has been given the green light, individual projects must be assessed and approved by NOF before the funds are released.

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