Calderdale service runner-up in National Lottery Awards

A programme which helps people in Calderdale lead healthier lives is celebrating being named a runner-up in the Best Health Project category of the National Lottery Awards 2011.

The Yorkshire-based Altogether Better was one of just three projects to make it through to the final stage in the ‘Best Health Project’ category after being shortlisted from more than 800 applicants across the country.

The Altogether Better programme is made up of 16 local projects that recruit, train and support community and workplace ‘Community Health Champions’ across Yorkshire and the Humber.

One of these local projects is the Calderdale Community Health Champions, which is provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The project recruits volunteers aged 16 and over from North Halifax and Park Wards, and provides them with training and practical skills in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity and mental wellbeing.

The Health Champions use their knowledge and skills to encourage and support their peers, friends and families to make changes to lead healthier lifestyles.

This grass roots approach ensures that people in the deprived areas of Calderdale are receiving support and advice on how to eat healthily and become more active.

Marie Conway, who manages the project in Calderdale, said: "It was an honour to make it through to the final round and that the hard work of everyone involved was recognised. Despite not scooping the top prize it was a great achievement to be a runner-up out of hundreds of projects that entered nationwide. Our team works hard to benefit the community and our health champions have been doing a great job of spreading positive messages about health. This achievement is going to spur us on to help even more people across the region."

The results of the National Lottery Awards were revealed live on BBC1 on Saturday 5th November 2011.

For more information about Altogether Better visit www.altogetherbetter.org.uk