A FUND that has supported Russian dancers is offering cash to other community groups.
The NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group is offering up to £5,000 to voluntary and community groups with ideas on how to make the city a healthier place.
Previous successful applicants have included gardening and boxing clubs and Mexican and Russian dancers.
Valentina Whiting, of The Hull Russian Community, secured funding under the previous scheme to get a Russian dance group up and running in Hull.
She said: "Since 2010, the dance classes have been great for bringing all parts of the community together and building friendships.
"We have young people and older people in the group, all wanting to join to be more active, improve their health and have fun."
The new Healthier Hull Community Project Fund was launched yesterday.
Funding is available for projects aiming to improve the health of their community, get people active, help people look after their own health and develop self-care. Applicants have until August 30 to apply.
A shortlisting panel, made up of clinical commissioning group members, GPs and community representatives, decides which projects will make it through to the second round.
What makes the process different is that shortlisted applicants are invited to present their proposal to an audience made up of people from their area.
They have the final say by voting on projects that should get the go-ahead.
A similar Hull scheme saw between 12 and 15 projects secure funding and the voting sessions were attended by more than 200 people.
Emma Latimer, NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group chief officer, said: "Our aim is to involve local people wherever we can in deciding where money is spent in their own neighbourhood.
"This is an exciting, participatory scheme with a voting process that puts the final decision in the hands of the public, rather than public figures.
"We would love to see some imaginative ideas and projects coming forward from the community to help us in our ultimate goal of creating a healthier Hull."
For more information or to submit an application for the Healthier Hull Project Fund, visit www.hullccg.nhs.uk or call 01482 344700.
