DOES your grassroots project help improve the health and wellbeing of people in Dorset?

Then there could be money with your group's name on it - courtesy of Healthwatch Dorset which has launched its £10,000 Community Investment Fund

The Dorset patient champion is offering the cash to local community groups to help people across the county have their say and get the best out of health and social care services.

Spokesman Louise Bate said: “There is no need for the group to be a registered charity or an official group and applying is easy. We want this money to make a difference to local people, so we'll be judging applications on how well we think they could contribute to improving people’s health and wellbeing.”

Projects do not have to be expensive or complicated, she said.“It could just be enough to cover the cost of materials so that a group can produce some artwork representing their experiences of health or care services, or the cost of setting up an event or regular group so people can meet or take an exercise class.”

Last year Healthwatch Dorset supported 13 projects across the county, including support for dance classes for people living with Parkinson’s Disease, and setting up a Radio Club in a school for children with profound learning disabilities.

Interested groups or individuals just need to send in a short description of their project idea and the amount of funding they're asking for to louise.bate@healthwatchdorset.co.uk or call 0300 111 0102.