STAFF from a project which is working in deprived areas of York and Scarborough are appealing for people to support them in their bid to win a national award.

The Yorkshire and Humber Altogether Better programme is one of ten schemes out of 800 across the UK to reach the semi-finals of the best health project category in the National Lottery Awards 2011.

The competition aims to find the country’s best Lottery-funded initiatives, with the North Yorkshire programme, supported by the Big Lottery Fund and managed by NHS North Yorkshire and York, helping individuals and communities to eat more healthily, take more exercise and enjoy better mental health.

Since 2008, it has worked with other organisations in York and Scarborough to provide health education to families, single and teenage parents, and young people who are homeless or leaving council care.

The winning project in each category will feature on the BBC’s The One Show in November and receive £2,000 to spend on their work.

Suzanne Carr, who runs Altogether Better, said: “We’ve provided community health education directly to more than 500 people, reached out to more than 2,000 thanks to the community workers we’ve targeted, and set up or supported 23 community-based activities. “The community members and volunteers who’ve worked so hard on this project deserve recognition.”

Voting closes on June 20, and people can vote by phoning 0844 836 9700 or by logging on to lotterygoodcauses.org.uk or altogetherbetter.org.uk