Funding injection to target health of vulnerable adults in the South East

A Big Lottery Fund cash boost has been confirmed to help local councils in the South East reach out to the most vulnerable members of the community.

A total £1.8m funding will be drawn upon over two years, targeting help for isolated adults who might be in a poor state of physical or mental health to achieve a more active lifestyle and healthier diet.

Councillor and leader of East Sussex County Council is among those to welcome the chance to make a positive impact upon marginalized people’s lives, saying, “We are delighted to have secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

“As well as tackling health issues among our most vulnerable residents, the money will encourage communities to work together and support one another to lead healthy lifestyles.”

Director of public health in East Sussex, Dr Diana Grice, also comments: “This funding will enable us to recognise and support the skills, qualities and resources in our local communities and make the best use of these to help people improve their own and their communities' health.”

Projects to benefit from the cash boost include sports clubs, community centres, church halls and pubs, if they can demonstrate ways in which they can reach out to community members with care needs. Communities to receive a portion of the funding include Portsmouth, Southampton, Slough, Brighton & Hove, Hastings, Eastbourne and Medway.

Sacha Rose-Smith, Big Lottery Fund spokesperson, said: “This funding will build on Big Lottery Fund research that shows that community-based projects like this can have a significant impact on people’s health and well-being: reducing depression, increasing self esteem and improving nutrition and levels of physical activity. In addition, these new projects will target health issues affecting the region specifically, such as drugs and alcohol misuse and obesity.

“This funding will extend a range of initiatives that we have previously funded across the South East region and help thousands of people to lead a healthier lifestyle and become more active.”