GROUPS in Ludlow and south Shropshire with ideas about how to get people more active are being invited to apply for funding.

Shropshire Council’s public health team are inviting residents, community groups and organisations across Shropshire to be part of the “Everybody Active” project.

The project provides grants of between £500 and £5,000 for communities to provide new opportunities for those who are less active to increase their activity levels.

The offer follows a pilot carried out in a number of towns including Craven Arms, exploring how a ‘social movement’ approach can get everyone involved in helping their community to become more active.

Its aim is to help motivate communities to come up with ideas and sustainable projects to improve physical activity within their locality.

“Lack of physical activity is now a national epidemic and poses serious health risks to our local communities,” said Karen Calder who is Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being and chair of Shropshire Health and Well-being Board.

“Without action, the burden on health and social care will destabilise services and reduce the quality of life for individuals, their families and communities.

“Physical inactivity can pose serious health risks to the individual, and is now one of the key health issues in the UK, responsible for one in six deaths and costing the country an estimated £7.4 billion a year. Those who aren’t active enough risk developing a series of conditions – depression, dementia, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer and more.”

Information about the criteria is available from Shropshire Council and the Healthy Shropshire website.

The deadline for applications is Monday, January 16.