More funding for health centres

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Healthy Living Centres across Scotland have been awarded more funding to save them from closure.

The Scottish Government has extended a transitional scheme providing cash while they seek long-term solutions.

The centres, which help people adopt healthier lifestyles, may apply for grants of up to £70,000 each in 2009-10.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison made the announcement when she visited a centre at Kirkcaldy in Fife.

The Healthy Living Centre (HLC) network provides services such as healthy eating advice, help to stop smoking and information about alcohol abuse and sexual health. Many of these centres faced uncertainty over their future following the end of their Big Lottery Funding but now have robust plans under way to secure long-term support Shona RobisonPublic Health Minister

They were established using lottery grants designed to keep them going for five years while they sought long-term funding arrangements.

Last year the Scottish Government set up a "transition fund" which has awarded almost £2m to 23 centres struggling to find alternative sources of finance.

Visiting the Fife Healthy Living and Sensory Awareness Project in Kirkcaldy, Ms Robison said the network had a "valuable role" in improving health in some of the most deprived areas.

"Many of these centres faced uncertainty over their future following the end of their Big Lottery Funding but now have robust plans under way to secure long-term support," she said.

"This is why we have put in place transitional funding for another year. It is vital that centres who have a healthy long-term future are supported through this transition period and are saved from unnecessary closure."

Good prospect

Funding will be distributed through NHS boards and will be provided only to those centres which have a good prospect of achieving sustainability once the transitional funding ends.

Susan Manion, general manager of Dunfermline and West Fife community health partnership, said: "The continuation of funding will allow us to establish the Sensory Awareness Service as a new charitable organisation."

Brendan Rooney, spokesman for the Scottish Healthy Living Centre Alliance, welcomed the extension of government support.

He added: "This is clear recognition of the important work of HLCs and the increasingly important role that community-led health plays in reducing health inequalities in Scotland."