Community groups encouraged to avail of health funds

A conference aimed at informing voluntary and community groups about the £2.5 million ‘Investing for Healthier Communities’ Grant Programme, has heard how their active participation is vital to the success of the initiative.

The conference was organised to provide advice and information about the application process and the selection criteria that will be applied in allocating grant funds from the ‘Investing for Healthier Communities’ scheme, which has been financed over a two and a half year period by the Executive Programme Fund for Social Inclusion and Community Regeneration.

Applications will be therefore invited from community based organisations and community-led partnerships working towards specific measurable health improvement objectives. Actions most likely to qualify for assistance will be directed at factors known to influence health improvement such as literacy, personal skills development, diet, physical activity and mental well-being.

Describing the aims of the Grant Programme, Health Minister Bairbre de Brún said: " It will allow people in their own communities to have greater part in setting priorities and for improvements to the many factors affecting their health and well-being at a local level.

"With funds and support in place, it is now over to groups within the community to submit proposals and ideas for actions which will make a real difference to the health and well-being of the people they represent," the Minister concluded. (CL)