PLANS to develop sporting opportunities for women and girls in and around Sauchie received a massive funding boost last week.

More than £23,000 has been allocated to a project, which will be delivered by Clackmannanshire Council and Sauchie Community Group.

The money will pay for a co-ordinator who will work to promote activities and tear down the barriers that prevent females of all ages from being active.

Laying down the foundations for a healthy and active life style, the project will look at pushing forward sport, physical activity and active recreation in the area.

It will involve a range of partners with specific projects aimed at mums, the elderly and families with intergenerational sessions.

Current plans are looking at a total of eight activity or sport sessions, delivered on a weekly basis over around two days, targeted at female members of the community.

The local project is one of 15 to receive a share of a £300,000 funding pot from the Scottish Government's Women and Girls Fund.

It was aimed at initiatives that benefit females who had little or no access to sport and physical activity for a variety of reasons.

The broader idea is to energise some of the most marginalised in society who have been targeted for support, such as residents of Scotland's most deprived communities, survivors of sexual abuse and young women with severe physical impairments.

The fund was launched by sports minister Joe Fitzpatrick together with sportscotland.

Mel Young, chair of sportscotland, said: "Sport has the power to change lives and the projects chosen to receive this funding demonstrate that the benefits of participation go way beyond simply improving physical health.

"For some of the women and girls, the impact literally could be life-changing, as they develop the social skills, self-confidence and employability skills they need to progress in life."

He explained the organisation worked with younger girls directly in the past to identify and understand the barriers to participation.

And added: "By working with our partners, we can deliver opportunities to target the least active who would gain the most through a life-long engagement with sport."