Sandra White MSP has welcomed the news that the Scottish Government is to provide funding of £2.5 million to provide support for Healthy Living Centres, some of which  may face a funding shortfall due to Big Lottery funding coming to an end.

Funding will be provided to centres which can show that they are sustainable in the long term and that they are meeting the needs of the local community.

Commenting on the announcement Ms White said: "This is excellent news for those centres who were uncertain of their future, these centres are often invaluable to the local community providing services such as money advice, English and Maths classes, counselling services and promoting better health within the community among others.
 

"At my local centre in Partick in Glasgow we have been fighting to secure funding for a number of months and this will come as a great relief to all the dedicated staff. It is now time for the Local Health Boards to act and to ensure that these centres continue be at the heart of the local community.

"I know that Health Boards have been advised of the need to retain and develop these initiatives in order to reduce health inequalities in some of the most deprived areas and they must now come out and publicly support these initiatives by explaining what actions they are going to take to support them in the future."