New funding to fight the obesity epidemic

New funding to fight the obesity epidemic

Community projects focused on improving nutrition or increasing physical activity are eligible for a new $200,000 funding round, just announced by the Nelson Marlborough Nutrition and Physical Activity Programme.

The programme aims to see the region take a lead in Œturning around the obesity epidemic¹ and is a District Health Board initiative that will run for the next five years, with input from councils, government agencies and community groups.

NPA Programme spokesman Peter Burton said the programme had already funded projects in schools and early childhood centres, but the new funding round was open to community groups.

³Improving nutrition and physical activity across the region is a big task and there is scope for some really innovative projects,² he said. ³In this funding round we have a pool for $1000 grants for initiatives such as helping schools to achieve at least 30 minutes of physical activity for all students every day and helping Maori to develop their own responses to improving whanau nutrition.²

Mr Burton said applications were also sought for larger grants of $5,000, which he described as more like Œmini-contracts¹. ³Our strategic plan has identified priorities for groups where we can help to make the most positive changes in lifestyle,² she said. ³With these contracts we are hoping to attract applications for nutrition initiatives that will really make a difference to Maori communities and to vulnerable people and families.²

Full information about the projects is available on the Nutrition and Physical Activity programme website. Applications for the funding round close on November 2, 2007.

The NPA Programme¹s strategic plan and an Operational Plan for 2007-08 are also available at www.nutritionandphysicalactivity.org.nz

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