THOUSANDS of pounds of National Lottery cash is helping workers in Castle Point get fit.

Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund has earmarked £82,000 over the next three years for an Active Colleagues project. The money will be split between Castle Point and Rochford District councils.

Themoney will help businesses offer free sports sessions for staff.

In the first year, sessions will be offered to staff at Seevic College, Sainsbury’s Canvey, Castle Point Council, and Makro and Great Wakering Primary School in Rochford District. More companies will be included over the duration of the programme.

Councillor Tom Skipp, Castle Point councillor responsible for leisure, said: “The Active Colleagues programme aims to encourage employees to get involved in regular exercise in order to improve the overall health of the workforce.

“Exercise sessions include swimming, football, cricket, group exercise classes, archery, fencing, netball, running and group fitness suite sessions. At the end of the project a corporate games event will take place for participating workforces.

“We are very pleased to be part of this new initiative which encourages everybody to get involved in sporting activities.”