In partnership with Southampton City Primary Care Trust, Southampton's New Deal for Communities programme, Thornhill Plus You, has developed a new way of giving local people control over how funding is spent on health projects.

As part of an agreement for a contribution from Thornhill Plus You to build a new community health clinic (The Thornhill Centre for Healthy Living) in the area, Southampton City Primary Care Trust has committed to set up a stream of funding to be distributed to projects in the area that will have health benefits for Thornhill residents. The Community Health Group was set up to oversee the allocation of this funding and is made up of representatives from the community, Southampton City Primary Care Trust, Southampton City Council, Thornhill Plus You and Thornhill Health and Wellbeing Network (THAWN), a resident community group concerned with health promotion.

The third round of bidding for the Thornhill Community Health Fund is now open and has over £40,000 to allocate to charities, statutory organisations and community groups that have an idea for a health focused project, which could benefit the Thornhill community. The deadline for all applications is Friday 2nd November 2007 (click here for guidelines).

In the last round of funding eight projects were awarded funding, to a total of nearly £56,000 to a mixture of community groups, agencies and statutory organisations. In total, over £100,000 has been allocated to a diverse range of projects to benefit Thornhill residents.

The funding itself will be made available every year until health inequalities in Thornhill have reduced. The group also hope to pilot a participatory budgeting approach to allocating funding next year, which will engage more local residents in deciding how funds are spent.

For more information on the Community Health Group please contact Paula Windebank on 023 8091 5402 or email pwindebank@thornhillplusyou.co.uk.