Grants are being awarded to 275 youngsters in two former Olympic ‘host’ boroughs to try out sports they might not have at school.

Grants are going to 150 youngsters from Newham for cycling, kayak, and sailing, while 125 from neighbouring Barking & Dagenham receive grants for athletics, swimming, boccia, football and wheelchair basketball.

The Wheels & Water Stars of Newham programme is getting £2,000. Barking and Dagenham’s Multi-Sport Paragames project is being awarded almost £4,900.

“It’s important we maintain the momentum of London 2012 by making sure youngsters have the chance to take part in competitive sport,” said Olympic and World cycling gold medallist Joanna Rowsell, patron of the 2014 London Youth Games.

“The grants open doors for them to take part in less-traditional sports that they might not be exposed to at school, to discover a new activity and discover something about themselves.”

The cash comes from Balfour Beatty Sports Development Grant with Capital FM’s Help a Capital Child scheme, which has dished out £350,000 in the last eight years to children in 19 London boroughs to provide free taster sessions, professional coaching and buying equipment in 20 sports.