THOUSANDS of pounds are up for grabs for disability sports clubs in Cambridgeshire as council chiefs try to build a legacy from the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The nation was inspired by the achievements of our Paralympians this summer as Doddington’s Jonnie Peacock won T44 100m gold and Walpole St Andrew’s Jody Cundy took para-cycling bronze.

Sports groups and projects have since come forward to apply for part of Cambridgeshire County Council’s �15,000 Disability Sport Legacy Fund.

Four organisations have been offered funding worth �6,000 - meaning �9,000 is still up for grabs.

Councillor Martin Curtis, who has led the county council’s push for a Paralympic legacy, said: “The Paralympics were inspirational and the nation has been gripped by the fantastic performances of all the athletes taking part.

“For example, Jonnie Peacock and Jody Cundy are two local athletes whose talents have shone through.

“We believe their exploits will lead to an increase in the demand for sport in the coming months from people with disabilities and we want to help sports clubs across Cambridgeshire meet this demand.

“The Disability Sport Legacy Fund is designed to assist organisations to provide new and exciting opportunities for disabled people to take part in sport.

“So we are looking for new, creative ideas that will engage disabled people and positively change their lives.

“The projects likely to receive support will be long term and not ‘one-offs’ and they must be focused on providing a pathway into regular sporting activity for the individual participants.”

To be considered, projects must demonstrate their sports activity will meet an identified need and encourage participation by individuals who are not presently engaged in sport or do not have the opportunity to get involved.

The county council is offering partnership funding of up to �3,000 per project. This money can equate to 100 per cent of the total funding required or be part of partnership funding.

E-mail Jackie.Marriot@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk for an application form or visit http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/sports/sportfunding.htm for more information.

The application process remains open and projects must start by the end of February 2013 to be considered for funding.