BIRKENHEAD Primary Care Group (PCG) is offering £20,000 to local charities and voluntary organisations.

The group, based at St Catherine's Hospital, has decided to set the money aside in an attempt to improve the health, physical and mental well-being of people in Wirral.

Lin Danher, Chief Officer at St Catherine's, said: "As a health authority we are usually helping sick people, but in this project we are doing something new. We are encouraging people to maintain a healthy lifestyle and are backing this up by investing money in plans which help them to do so."

Registered organisations within the PCG area (Bidston, Birkenhead, Claughton, Egerton, Leasowe, Moreton, Oxton, Prenton, Tranmere and Upton) can make bids between £1,000 and £3,000. The grant should be a starting point for a project which can continue beyond the funding.

Successful applicants will receive a visit from PCG lay board member and project leader, Eddy Shallcross. They will also be expected to report back with details of project progress and how the funding has been spent.

For further details and an application form contact Lin Danher, Birkenhead Primary Care Group, Admin. Block, St Catherine's Hospital, Church Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead, CH42 OLQ on 651-0011. The closing date is September 30.

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