Asian and black women in Oxford are being urged to sign up for new training schemes offering them the chance to take up sports.

Project co-ordinator Deborah McIlveen at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre with basketball coach Sophie Williams

A £30,000 Sport England grant is to be used to set up activities including lifeguard training, basketball teams, general fitness workshops and swimming lessons.

The schemes are being set up by Afya, a joint project between Oxford City Council, the African Caribbean Youth Project, Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Leys Linx, and other community groups, to investigate ways to get more ethnic minority women into competitive sports and fitness activities.

All the projects are geared towards providing a safe, culturally sensitive environment for more women of all backgrounds to get involved.

Deborah McIlveen, project co-ordinator, said such initiatives targeting ethnic minority women were needed in Oxford because there was an under-representation of women in sport, and Asian and black women in particular faced cultural barriers.

She said: "Afya is a Ki-Swahili word meaning 'healthy in body and spirit'.

"For cultural reasons, some women don't want to get involved in mixed sports. For example, there's a whole issue around swimming in public baths and the lack of women lifeguards.

"Because it was Leys Linx that identified this, the projects are focusing on east Oxford, but we are not excluding anyone.

"There's room for people who want to be competitive, but the project also looks at healthy eating and confidence-building.

"There are communities coming forward now. A group of Bangladeshi women want to participate when things get going."

Since the scheme was announced in March, organisers have set up the Small Changes group, which runs a fitness workshop for women at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre each week. A taster session takes place on June 6.

A youth dance group has also been established.

Schemes are also being considered to train more Asian and black female lifeguards, and coaches for sports such as football and basketball. It is hoped that by providing more women as role models, other will be encouraged to get involved.

Anyone wanting to find out more can call 01865 252812.