PHA provide £100,000 for joint council work to tackle health inequalities

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has awarded over £100,000 in funding to 18 community organisations to reduce the impact of deprivation and inequalities in health.

Working in partnership with the south eastern area local councils, the ‘Enhancing Communities’ scheme is one of a range of joint actions between these councils and the PHA. Grants of up to £7,000 have been awarded to the successful groups in Ards, North Down, Down and Lisburn, with a total allocation of £102,774 being made for this work. 

‘Enhancing Communities’ funding will help communities and neighbourhoods deliver environmental regeneration projects to improve the health and wellbeing of their residents. Funded projects include, for example, increasing the use of green spaces, enhancing or restoring existing green spaces, improving play and recreational areas, the regeneration of vacant or derelict sites, outdoor community arts projects and community gardens or allotments. 

Chris Totten, PHA Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (South East), said: “The PHA was set up to promote and enhance the factors that influence good health and wellbeing and to reduce inequalities; we do this by working with our partners in various sectors, including community and neighbourhood organisations.

“These projects will play an important role in improving the health and wellbeing of local people through improving play facilities, encouraging residents to work in the outdoors and to work together on environmental projects. The wide range of exciting applications told us that there is a lot of enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to finding ways of improving individual and community health and wellbeing.”

Organisations were funded through ‘Enhancing Communities’ in four local council areas: Ards, Down, Lisbrun and North Down.