Young people in Freshwater and Totland have been invited  to bid for money from a £20,000 grant for projects that will promote healthy lifestyles for children and young people in the area. 

Its Up2U the youth in West Wight to vote on funding.

The projects have been selected and there will be an awards ceremony on Saturday 6th February, at which young people are now being asked to decide which bids get funding.

The money is being provided by Isle of Wight Council and the Isle of Wight NHS as part of the ‘Up2U’ Fund. The scheme offers local people the chance to design and deliver the local services they want.

Children and young people from the area have been invited to a presentation and award event at West Wight Sports Centre on Saturday 6th February from 10:00 – 16:00. Everyone who comes will see what the projects are about and young people will be able to vote for the ideas that they think will work and be most fun.

Funding will go to the most popular bids.

The Up2U scheme is intended to give children and young people a deciding say in where public money is spent. They know better than anyone what will work and this new approach is aimed at making real spending decisions.

Everyone who attends the day will be provided with a healthy meal thanks to Sainsbury’s, which has joined the organisers in wanting to get young people actively involved in making real decisions and engaging in healthier lifestyles.

Cllr Dawn Cousins, Chair of the Island’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said

“I am delighted to see young people taking such an active role in improving the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends and families. I am also very pleased that colleagues from Health, the Council and Sainsbury’s have been able to come together, to make this happen”

More details are available from the UP2U website: www.eco-island.org.uk/up2u