A £50,000 scheme has been launched in Teesside to encourage community groups to run projects aimed at getting people more active.

A Community Initiatives Fund has been set up for voluntary and community groups in Middlesbrough to bid for a share of the money.

Groups are being encouraged to apply for part of the £50,000 pot for any project designed to get people eating healthy and active.

Ideas for projects could include a voluntary group organising healthy lunches or neighbourhood walks for specific groups of people, a sports club or mother and toddler group buying equipment, or a community association establishing a local cycling scheme or a sport which people can get involved in.

The money has come from the Department of Health to help Middlesbrough Council work with community partners to reduce health inequalities, and the scheme will run in parallel with Middlesbrough’s Healthy Towns initiative that is seeing £9million of investment ploughed into improving the town’s health.

Councillor Brenda Thompson, executive member for public health and sport said: "Community and voluntary groups are a major partner in our work to make Middlesbrough a more healthy town.

"I’m delighted that we have this money available to help groups get involved in this work.

"We look forward to receiving lots of grant applications for schemes that will get more local people more active and help them to make healthier diet choices."

The council’s Healthy Living Team will administer the grant application process and the Healthy Town Management Team will be responsible for awarding grants.

Application forms are now available for the first round of grants. For more details contact Rayees Rashid at Vancouver House, Gurney Street Middlesbrough TS1 1QP, call 01642 728247 or email food&safety@middlesbrough.gov.uk This is the latest in a string of schemes to get people active. Last month The Active Zone, at The Southlands Centre, in Middlesbrough, was opened.

The £75,000 centre is being funded by Middlesbrough Council, Tees Valley Housing and the Safer Stronger Communities Fund, following a consultation process with the community to find out what residents wanted.