Health grant scheme opens its doors to new projects

Health projects look set for a kick-start this month as a South Somerset District Council-led Healthy Living fund opens its doors for new grant applications. Over the past year, nine new and exciting healthy living projects were given funding and the Health and Wellbeing Partnership - which involves South Somerset District Council, Somerset Primary Care Trust and Somerset County Council - is now inviting more groups and projects to get in touch.

Alice Knight, Voluntary Sector Officer at South Somerset District Council says, "We are open to any types of group with innovative ideas for healthy living projects. The most important thing is that the project tackles health inequalities in the area – things that might help those who may find it harder to access health facilities, for example.

"It could be a community group or organisation, voluntary groups, schools, children's centres, health centres, sports clubs, or simply a group of people with a great idea for healthy living in the area.

"Projects might target isolated or vulnerable groups, the particularly young or elderly, those who are recovering from an injury or an illness, new parents, people with a special need that may not be widely catered for – we are keen to hear from anyone who is thinking along these lines."

Projects funded in the last round include a 'Fit Man' initiative that provided cooking skills, low budget healthy eating advice, exercise and stop smoking advice to isolated men living locally, plus a breastfeeding advice project and a 'grow your own food' initiative for children.

Grant applications - which can request up grants of up to £2500 each - will be taken up to the deadline on Friday 7 March. Projects will then be looked at by the partnership in a meeting later in the month.

For an application form contact Alice Knight at South Somerset District Council by calling 01963 435061 or emailing

alice.knight@southsomerset.gov.uk

Cllr Angie Singleton, Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership commented, "This is truly a fantastic chance for projects to get off the ground. There is £30,000 in the fund and we are excited to see the range of project ideas that are put forward in this round."

Cllr Sylvia Seal, South Somerset's Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Wellbeing added, "In our rural district it is important that we address health and wellbeing in all of the areas within South Somerset, and target as many groups as possible – the partnership's funding will go towards making a real difference for all sorts of people who will benefit from the new projects."

South Somerset Together (SST) is the Local Strategic Partnership for South Somerset. Members come from the public, private and voluntary sectors, including those organisations that provide major services within the area.

South Somerset Together exists to improve the quality of life for everyone in South Somerset. SST members work together to develop programmes and services that would be not be possible if they were working alone. Programmes supported by SST are time-limited and if successful must be capable of being funded through main stream funding once SST funding comes to an end.