Salford communities are to benefit from a £1 million cash boost to deliver health and wellbeing activities across the city.
NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is once again working in partnership with Salford Community and Voluntary Services (CVS) to identify projects to fund which meet the priorities of Salford’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The £1million fund will be divided between a wide range of initiatives, delivered by voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises and schools, which will encourage people to live healthier lifestyles and improve access to services.
Last year more than 100 voluntary organisations, community groups, social enterprises and schools benefitted from the Third Sector Fund. These included the Incredible Edible’s Tindall St Project who used a grant to appeal to reach out to more volunteers, and the Lower Kersal Young People’s Group who, thanks to a £10,000 Improvement Fund grant, were able to work with a number of young families to help them grow their own fruit and vegetables on a nearby allotment, which they could then use to make their own healthy meals.
Dr Hamish Stedman, GP at the Lakes Medical Centre in Swinton and chair of Salford CCG, said: “We are delighted to once again be working with Salford CVS to enable our local community and volunteer groups to flourish within the city.”
“Supporting our residents to develop and grow the groups and services which enable them to take care of themselves not only helps to build confidence and independence, but also eases pressure on NHS services in the city.”
Alison Page, chief executive of Salford CVS, added: “We are pleased to be working in partnership to deliver this Third Sector Fund with Salford CCG, who have once again recognised the value of investing in community and grass roots activity in order to help meet the wellbeing and health needs of Salford citizens.”
City Mayor Ian Stewart, who chairs the Salford Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Our priorities range from helping children stay at a healthy weight, increasing breastfeeding and reducing teenage pregnancies to reducing the harmful effects of domestic violence and alcohol and substance abuse.
“We’re also aiming to increase the uptake of free NHS Health Checks and support people with long-term conditions and carers. This funding will be very valuable to a wide range of grass roots projects which support those priorities.”
