Fifty-four universities across the country have received a share of the £10 million National Lottery investment from Sport England’s University Sport Activation Fund today (Monday), with Bedfordshire’s award being the largest of all the successful applicants.

The funding from Sport England – the Government Agency responsible for promoting sport in England – will provide every Bedfordshire student with access to a range of free professionally coached sports and activities throughout the year, for the next three years.

The original Get into Sport programme has been running since 2011 and has seen more than 5,000 students and staff across Luton and Bedford take part in a range of sports.

This additional funding will now enable Bedfordshire to provide longer programmes and further flexibility for participants, whilst it will also be open to those at the University’s new UCMK campus.

Each programme will now also include tournaments introducing a fun, but relaxed opportunity for competition. As well as providing 55 students with the opportunity to gain career-enhancing coaching qualifications.

Professor John Brewer, the Director of Sport and Sports Enterprise at the University, said he was delighted with the announcement.

“We are extremely grateful to Sport England for awarding us this grant, which will greatly enhance the experience and employability of our students, and shows that there are so many ways in which this university can transform lives. It is wonderful that the University of Bedfordshire has been recognised with this £402,000 award, the largest amount given to any university in England. It is a credit to the fantastic work that we did during our initial Get into Sport programme, and this new funding means that many thousands of students will be able to take part in sport and gain benefits to their health, lifestyle and social cohesion.

“The money we receive will be used to thoroughly enhance every single student’s experience while at the University. It will provide every one of our 25,000 students with the opportunity to participate in organised sport, delivered by qualified experts; and further enhance the opportunities to obtain invaluable coaching qualifications and enhance the career prospects of our students.”

Nationally, the aim of Sport England’s funding is to get nearly 180,000 new students playing sport regularly.

And Sport England Director of Community Sport, Mike Diaper, said: “We know universities play a vital role in maintaining and growing a student’s love of sport. They can encourage them to continue playing once they’ve left school or help those less sporty discover a new sport. By investing in the 54 universities we’re helping students develop a lifelong sporting habit while they study.”