More than three quarters of a million pounds of lottery good causes money is being invested in the health of local people in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Primary Care Trust is to receive £752,645 from the New Opportunities Fund for its Healthy Boscombe programme, which aims to encourage active lifestyles and healthy eating in the Bournemouth area.

The New Opportunities Fund distributes money for health, education and environment projects and this is one of a number of projects which are being supported.

Elderly people and children are set to benefit from quality assured active lifestyle exercise, sport and dance activities, to be run in partnership with Bournemouth Leisure Services. The Bournemouth Virtual Health Centre will create an online database of these activities so that local people can be aware of the wide range of activities open to them to improve their health and fitness.

In addition, Healthy Boscombe will be promoting outreach fitness classes in local community centres, exercise classes in retirement homes and exercise and weight management classes for children. The project will also increase awareness of the importance of healthy eating. Schemes such as a community food growing co-operative, a bulk purchase scheme and healthy eating clubs where people can eat healthily and cheaply will ensure a healthy diet for local people.

Jo Reynolds, Director of planning at Bournemouth Primary Care trust said:

“We are grateful to the New Opportunities Fund for making it possible for us and our partners to take forward our plans to improve access to exercise and health eating programmes. Our bid grew out of the local people’s ideas and we will be looking for more local residents to get involved in running this project.”

The Healthy Living Team is holding regular sessions at Boscombe and Springbourne libraries.

Boscombe Library every fourth Thursday of the month between 10am and 12 noon.

Springbourne Library every third Friday of the month between 10am and 12 noon.

For more information contact Judy Lynas, project manager on 01202 720310, or Janette Arenas, project administrator 01202 729751

Visit the

Bournemouth Primary Care Trust website

or contact:

Anne Harrison
Planning and Implementation Manager
Bournemouth Primary Care Trust
11, Shelley Road
Boscombe
BH1 4JQ
Tel: 01202 443739