ADULTS from Beechwood, Ballantyne and Bidston are being invited to apply for free Invigor8 leisure passes.

The area has received £1 million in Big Local funding, to be spent before 2024 to support local people to make long term, sustainable improvements to their health.

Part of the funding has been used to purchase 27 Invigor8 Plus leisure memberships, which have been provided by Wirral Council at a reduced price.

They will offer four months free access to a range of leisure activities including swimming, golf, tennis and fitness suites.

The passes will be allocated to local residents aged 18 and over who live in the Big Local Area via the Livewell Team at Wirral Community NHS Trust.

The three areas all have more people with long term illnesses or disability than the average for England, according to Public Health England’s Index of Deprivation.

Cllr Christine Jones, Wirral's cabinet member for adult social care and public health said: “I am pleased to be able to offer my support to this important local initiative. Being active is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

"It can help you control your weight and reduce your risk of developing some diseases including diabetes. It can even help to improve your mood.

“This project will help adults in Wirral to access healthy activities and to make improvements to their lifestyle.”

NHS Community Trust Team Leader Gemma Huckenhall said: “Livewell are really excited to be a part of the Big Local Programme and support the project in helping local people to make positive changes to their health & wellbeing.”

Big Local Programme Manager Karl Rooney said: “This is a unique and exciting opportunity for residents to use fully funded passes as a start to making a healthy lifestyle change. This project is just one of a number of projects for all ages which our Big Local programme will be funding in the coming months.”

Big Local programme is a £200 million investment by the Big Lottery Fund to support 150 neighbourhoods in England to make their area more resilient, confident and a good place to live.

  • If you live in the Beechwood, Ballantyne and Bidston area, are over 18 and are interested in finding out how to apply for a free Invigor8 pass, book an appointment with the NHS Livewell team by calling 0151 630 8383.
     
  • For more information about the Big Local programme, contact Karl Rooney on 0151 606 6280, email karl.rooney@vcawirral.org.uk or visit biglocalwirral.org.uk.