Sport England has presented an award to five organisations that are excelling at getting more youngsters involved in sport, including Clubmark accredited North Dorset Rugby Football Club. The five grassroots gongs were presented as part of the inaugural Sport England Young People Best Practice Awards in Telford.

North Dorset Rugby Club and Gillingham School were awarded "Best ‘cutting edge' school club link by a club/school" because they make their pitches and facilities available for school matches; regularly host tournaments; and mentor new youth coaches. 10% of pupils at the school now regularly play rugby for the club.

Mike Diaper, Sport England Executive Director for Children and Young People, said:

"I congratulate the winners for their impressive work engaging young people and getting them doing more sport. Connecting with young people in ways they like is essential if we are going to be successful in offering all young people five hours of sport and activity each week.

"We are very pleased to see that school-club links and sports volunteering are on the increase. Improving the ties between schools and community sports clubs is one of the best routes to keep young people involved in sport when they leave school."

Recent statistics, part of the Government's School Sport Survey, show that on average, schools were each linked to at least seven different sports clubs in 2007/08 - a 50% increase on 2003/04. The number of youngsters taking advantage of these links has increased at an even faster rate. The most common links were with football, cricket, rugby union, swimming and athletics.

Over the next four years, Sport England will be working with its partners to make a major contribution to the delivery of the five hour sports offer for children and young people and to get one million people doing more sport.