Sport England has announced a £6.5m boost for Commonwealth sports to innovate and drive participation from under-represented groups - with support targeted to areas most in need.
Sports bodies who want to use non-traditional or digital ideas to improve participation rates in areas of England where activity levels are the lowest will benefit from the cash injection.
The new National Lottery funding is part of Sport England's overall £35m package of investment to make the Commonwealth Games a success and create a lasting national impact.
Although archery is not part of this year's Games, Archery GB was invited to apply for a share of the funds with 20 sports' governing bodies set to benefit.
Projects must focus on creating innovative and accessible opportunities to engage with disadvantaged communities, enabling people from all kinds of backgrounds to take part in sport and activity.
Affluence and activity levels are closely linked, as evidenced by Sport England's latest Active Lives Survey.
The survey also revealed that where you live has a huge impact on how active you are, demonstrating why investment into targeted areas is vital for breaking down barriers to getting active.
The fund is aimed at reaching communities in Birmingham, the West Midlands and a number of other areas that the sports' bodies have identified as needing the most support.
[caption id="attachment_31751" align="alignnone" width="300"] The funding will help Archery GB to expand Project Rimaya across the West Midlands[/caption]
Arran Coggan, Director of Participation, said: "Although disappointed that archery was not include within the sporting line up, we are delighted to have the chance to deliver an exciting community legacy off the back of the B2022 Commonwealth Games.
"We will work hard with the Birmingham and West Midlands communities to tackle inequality and extend our inclusion and diversity ambitions through archery. We see this as an opportunity to deliver our mission of enriching lives through archery."
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said: "One mission for the Commonwealth Games is creating new ways to include those who face the most barriers to playing sport and getting active.
"Lasting impact from the Games will depend on the creation of long-term, inclusive and local opportunities for people to get active, and tackling the inequalities that make it harder for some groups now. Today's funding is an opportunity for us to work innovatively with sports to target the people and areas who need support the most."
Today's funding builds upon Sport England's announcement earlier in the week of a further £360m investment into major new partnerships in the health, charity and sports sector, including £1.6m awarded to Archery GB, to level up access to sport and activity.
