Funding available to support health and wellbeing for schools

All primary, secondary and special needs schools in Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth have until 5 November to apply for the funding.

The team is looking for ideas, which goes beyond just adding to their PE equipment and sports clubs. Successful bids will be those that take a whole school approach with creative ideas that can be built into the school day.

The Emotional and Mental Health Wellbeing Through Physical Activity Fund is unlike any other schemes because it is not prescriptive. Schools are in control of how much they want to apply for and what the funding will go towards.

Cllr Rebecca Knox, Dorset County Council Leader and Chair of the Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board said, “This type of fund is a first for Dorset. There are no rules as such to what this money can be spent on apart from that it must be towards improving emotional and mental health and wellbeing in schools through physical activity.

“There may be a project that is already in place in your school and you want to develop it further or a brand new project that your school wants to introduce. The possibilities are endless and I can’t wait to see the innovative schemes that are submitted and developed.”