PENDLE people are set to benefit from a cash injection aimed at promoting health in the community.

Pendle's Healthy Communities project has been given gym equipment worth £11,000 to be based at Nelson's Silverman Hall.

The equipment has been provided through grants of £10,000 from Pendle Partnership and £1,000 from Pendle Community Network.

New equipment will support the project, which aims to persuade people in Pendle's least affluent wards to take more exercise and eat a balanced diet.

The project provides exercise on prescription, consultations and exercise sessions in community locations for people who would not normally exercise.

Stop smoking classes, dietary advice, drug awareness and first aid courses are also provided.

Project manager Carol Harvey: "The need for the Healthy Communities project is most acute among people living in Pendle's least affluent communities who face barriers such as a lack of confidence, poor transport and cultural influences.

"These barriers often stop them using health information and healthy living activities.

"The project has begun to overcome these barriers by taking exercise into the heart of local communities in places like halls, churches and youth clubs, rather than expecting people to come to traditional sports centres and gyms."

The Healthy Communities project has been successful in attracting more than 400 women from the ethnic minority community through women only exercise sessions.

Anne Taylor from Pendle Partnership added: "Good health is a key priorities and this project is making healthy living available to people who most need it."

For more information about the Healthy Communities project contact Carol Harvey on 01282 661226.