A HEALTH and well-being project aimed at giving children the best start in life has received a £5,000 funding boost.

Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership (Gamp) has awarded the grant to the Pre-school Learning Alliance to help the charity support eight toddler groups in the Newton Aycliffe area.

The alliance’s Healthy Starts project will help prevent health issues in local families by providing information, advice and hands-on activities relating to nutrition and the importance of exercise.

Financial guidance will also be offered to help families budget and avoid getting into debt.

Today (Tuesday, October 21) toddlers at Woodham Community Centre’s weekly session created healthy-eating inspired artwork, before making a colourful fruit salad.

Rebekah Poole, from Newton Aycliffe, who has been taking her two-year-old twins, Danny and Corey, to the group for six weeks, said: “It is great coming here and chatting to other parents.

“The boys are looking forward to the fruit salad. We have an allotment and they love eating fruit.”

Adam White, Gamp co-ordinator, said the grant would also buy new toys for the groups, adding: “This is a fantastic project that will have a positive impact on a large number of families in our area.”