Healthy Living Centres Money to go to the Olympics?

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Mar 2007

A number of Health Living Centres are under threat as lottery funding runs out and the worry is that lottery money will be redirected from, valuable projects such as Healthy Living Centres to the Olympic Games.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson said "Money raised by the National Lottery has benefited a number of causes and organisations in my constituency. Obviously, if large sums of money are being put into the Olympics, there is less to go around for other projects.

"The Healthy Living Centres programme was intended to create a network of centres across the UK to promote good health, over £18 million was invested in 29 centres but what was the point if even the successful ones are now to end.

"Support to sustain funding from other sources was implemented but how this works out in reality remains to be seen. I know for example that a healthy hearts project used by my constituents is under threat."

Ends/diwedd

Contact/cyswllt: Andrew Sherwood - 029 2089 8324

Embargo: Immediate