01/09/2004

Disadvantaged communities get financial health boost

A £2.1 million initiative aimed at improving the health of Northern Ireland's most deprived communities has been launched today.

The Active Lifestyles Programme, which is being aided by the Big Lottery Fund, will enable local communities to apply for small, medium or large lottery grants to fund a range of activities such as walking history clubs for older people, dance sessions, wheelchair based activities and cycling clubs.

Dr Sam Burnside, one of the Big Lottery Fund’s Northern Ireland Board Members, welcomed the launch of the new grant programme. He said: “I am delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has developed the Active Lifestyles programme as I believe it will make a significant difference to the health and well-being of many people across Northern Ireland.

“This programme has adopted an innovative and holistic view of active lifestyles and I hope that it stimulates new and creative approaches to increasing the quality of life of people living in the most disadvantaged communities. We are particularly keen to attract imaginative proposals that will address the physical and emotional well-being of local people.”

Active Lifestyles is part of the Community Sport programme. The first strand, valued at £2.4million, is an extension of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland’s Community Sport programme which will be used to appoint Community Sport Development Officers to work with local people in a bid to promote healthier lifestyles through innovative sports activities.

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