COMMUNITY and volunteer groups are being urged to bid for a share of £400,000 to promote better health in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.

NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has launched a £200,000 Community Innovations Fund (CIF) and a £200,000 Mental Health Innovations Fund to enable local groups and organisations to promote health and wellbeing and make a positive difference to the lives of local people.

Dr Henry Waters, chairman of NHS South Tees CCG, said, “Last year we had a great response with over 60 applications. We hope that once again local community organisations will embrace what we are trying to achieve and come up with more fantastic innovative ideas which will have a positive impact on the health of local people.”

The funding applications must ensure that the proposals meet and support the CCG’s Clear and Credible Plan and the Corporate Objectives which set out the health and wellbeing challenges facing local people of Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.

Organisations can submit an application for either up to £20,000 or up to £40,000.

For further details and to find the two application forms visit the CCG website southteesccg.nhs.uk Closing date for application submissions is October 3.

For further information contact STCCG.enquiries@nhs.net or call 01642-511868.