ST HELENS & Knowsley Health are celebrating the success of a unique project that helps community groups help themselves to better health.

The Small Grants Scheme has been operating for five years and aims to support community health initiatives by providing small amounts of money (up to £500) to groups working to improve the health of local residents.

All recipients of grants in St Helens over the last year are being invited along to a special lunch at St Helens Town Hall on Wednesday, June 24 to toast their success.

Community Health Development Co-ordinator Diane Coysh said: "St Helens & Knowsley Health is committed to improving the health of its residents. However, we recognise that improving health is not simply a matter of providing hospital and GP services but involves a much wider agenda that includes the environment, jobs, housing and education. We are therefore looking to the community to work with us to examine different ways of bettering health."

One such successful grant recipient is the Women and Girls' Resource Centre in St Helens. Their Assertion Group received a grant of £500 to organise an 'Introduction to Alternative Therapies Day' at the Hollywood Bowl.

Centre manager Marie Appleton said: "The day offered women the opportunity to learn more about alternative therapies that can help them manage stress in their lives. More than 40 women participated in a number of activities including aromatherapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, colour and sound therapy. We hope they learnt some valuable techniques that they can adopt to help them to feel and stay healthy.

"We are also delighted to announce that our self-help group has just been awarded a grant to organise a 'Be Kind to Yourself' course to advise women on how they can take up a healthier lifestyle."

Any community groups interested in learning more about the Small Grant Scheme should contact Diane Coysh on 01744 457225 or go along to St Helens Town Hall at noon on Wednesday, June 24 to learn more.

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