SCHOOL sport in North Yorkshire has received a massive boost thanks to a new charitable foundation set up by York City Knights, backed by Hugh Bayley MP and bolstered by a huge donation from Shepherd Building Group.

There were fears the rugby league club's tag rugby programme - which has become so popular that more than 100 schools and 14,000 children regularly take part - would have to end as Sportsmatch funding runs out in June.

But the club has formed the York City Knights Foundation Ltd, which has now been granted charitable status due to the fact its scheme benefits the community so much.

And such has been the feedback from teachers and parents that Shepherd has donated £30,000 to help kick it off, while the MP for York, Mr Bayley, has agreed to be a Fundation trustee, alongside Knights chairman Roger Dixon and company accountant Steve Wragg.

Knights chief executive John Guildford, who has done much of the work towards setting up the Foundation, said: "We were left with such a successful scheme that we had to continue it.

"We had loads of letters from people in schools saying how beneficial the scheme was so we decided to set up a foundation which helps us to keep it growing.

"It's very difficult, probably impossible, to run the scheme without financial support but with it being a charitable trust, there are other avenues for raising funds.

"The charity is based on helping kids get into sport and healthy living and it's good for the community. Our stats show that 49 per cent of the kids involved are girls so it's a scheme for everyone, and there are things like after-school classes, tournaments, lectures and coaching for teachers to enable them to supervise sport.

"All that is above what a club probably should be doing, but we are committed to it, and we realise there are knock-on benefits for the Knights."

The scheme has the backing of the Knights' main sponsor, Phoenix Software, among other firms, as well as the schools, City of York Council and Mr Bayley.

He said: "The Knights are not just a brilliant team, they do tremendous work around York promoting a healthy lifestyle and creating an interest in sport.

"Rugby league is a fun and exciting game and it's great that, through the commitment of the Knights, children are able to enjoy and take part. Who knows, we may even discover a future Dan Potter or Lee Paterson."

Updated: 10:19 Friday, March 24, 2006