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Healthy Living Centre unveiled
The centre will run a range of services |
The UK's first Healthy Living Centre is to be opened in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
The government's New Opportunities Fund has awarded a grant of more than £900,000 to the King's Lynn centre - the first of a network of centres planned in disadvantaged areas across the country by 2002.
 This will make a tremendous difference to the quality of life in our community  |
| Lin Twell, North End and North Lynn Community Trust |
While welcoming the new centre, the British Medical Association said lottery funding should not replace the Government's obligation to fund the National Health Service.
The St Augustine's Healthy Living Centre aims to improve the health and well-being of local people by bringing together a coalition of community health activities and services to work in partnership.
These include a GP, a well woman clinic, childcare facilities, adult education, an employment service, family planning services, a community music project and a cafe.
There is also a plan for an allotment area to be used for horticultural therapy.
It is planned to build the centre in a disused sports and social club.
'Innovative' approach
Baroness Pitkeathley, chair of the New Opportunities Fund, said: "The innovative approach of this project is impressive.
"It will promote health in its broadest sense, improving the mental, social and physical well-being of local people."
Minister for Public Health Yvette Cooper said: "This is exactly the sort of approach to health inequalities that we have suggested in our new health strategy."
Lin Twell is manager of the North End and North Lynn Community Trust which has been awarded the grant to set up the new centre.
She predicted that it would make a "tremendous difference" to the quality of life in the community.
"We know it will revitalise our area. We want to meet the health needs of the community in a holistic way and with strong emphasis on prevention."
The community trust carried out a survey to establish what people needed and wanted before they drew up plans for the centre.
A spokeswoman for the BMA said: "This sounds great for patients. Fine if it is an add-on extra, but lottery money must not become the funding for the core of the health service."
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