Cash lifeline for health centres

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The Scottish Government has announced £2.5m for a network of healthy living centres set up by the lottery fund.

The future of the centres, which help people adopt a healthier lifestyle, has been in doubt after funding dried up.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the one-year "transition fund" would keep the centres open until they found an alternative source of money.

Campaigners said it was not enough and some centres would have to close, while Labour called it "too little too late".

The centres have used lottery funding for the past five years to provide services such as healthy eating advice, help to stop smoking, and information about alcohol misuse and sexual health.

But the money has run out, and campaigners the Healthy Living Centre Alliance had said £10m was needed to keep them open.

No guarantee

Announcing the government was setting aside a quarter of that, Ms Sturgeon said the cash was aimed at the 25 centres in particular that were experiencing financial problems.

She told BBC Radio Scotland: "That will allow healthy living centres whose Big Lottery Funding has come to an end to continue, to give them more time to find alternative sources of funding."

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government would not guarantee longer term funding.

"It is not the job of central government to fund local organisations," she said.

We are very concerned for a number of centres whose funding runs out at the end of March Brendan RooneyHealthy Living Centres Alliance

"That is what we fund health boards and local authorities to do, but we recognise with healthy living centres there has been a difficult timing issue."

It is understood the funding will only be given to centres deemed to be a good chance of surviving beyond the transition period.

They will also need the support of local partners and be providing services judged appropriate to local needs.

Brendan Rooney, from the Healthy Living Centres Alliance, expressed disappointment at the size of the fund.

"We were asking for more money," he said.

"We are very concerned for a number of centres whose funding runs out at the end of March."

Ms Sturgeon said centres could apply locally for more money

But he added the money may be enough to "stave off any immediate closures" and allow the centres to find more funding.

Labour criticised the announcement as "too little and too late".

Labour health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said: "These centres are providing real services to the poorest, and unhealthiest, people in Scotland helping them live healthier lives.

"It beggars belief that the SNP is willing to stand by and watch as these organisations go under."

Ms Sturgeon called on the centres to apply for extra funding through their local health boards.

The boards would "look favourably" at the applications, she said, adding many of the authorities had already put in place funding packages.