A COMMUNITY activator has been appointed by Malvern Hills District Council in a bid to boost young people's access to sport in the area.

Della Price took up the three-year post last week. She will visit schools and community centres in Langland and Poolbrook over the next two months to find out what sports youngsters want to take part in.

She will also work in the Tenbury Wells area.

The three areas are the first of nine chosen because of their relatively high level of crime, as illustrated in last year's Malvern Hills District Council Community Safety Audit.

The other areas to be targeted in future are Malvern Priory, Upton, Ripple, Valley of Teme, Suckley and Kyre Vale.

With the help of £150,000 from the Lottery, Community against Drugs and Rural Transport Partnership, the project aims to offer young people and people on low incomes the chance to start up or become involved in sporting programmes of their choice. A new minibus is also being made available to provide transport to sporting and recreational facilities.

Ms Price said: "We want to give young people something to do which is affordable that they would choose to come to - to encourage traditional non-participators in sport to take part in any physical activity.

"I'll be targeting children and young people who wouldn't necessarily be involved in sport. In this way, we hope to benefit their health and social education to make them into a rounded person.

"I will be working in schools and local communities and try and attract them into anything from martial arts to street dancing."

Her task will also be to recruit people interested in coaching and leading community projects. Anyone interested will receive about 10 hours' training for a Community Sports Leader Award.

"We want to attract people who are new to coaching who can then roll out the initiative in the community," said Ms Price. "The opportunities are huge."

Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a sports leader, should call 01684 862359