Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has set out further details on the establishment of local HealthWatch bodies, including a new start date of April 2013 and extra funding. The new local health bodies are set to replace Local Involvement Networks and will be the local consumer champion for patients, service users and the public. From next year, an additional £3.2m will also be made available to local authorities to establish local HealthWatch. Visit: www.dh.gov.uk

The aim of the Young Lancashire's Bursary Fund is to help young people to develop and enhance their life skills through an individual award ranging from £50 – £250 per applicant, for educational and/or developmental activities.

Grants of up to £5000 for projects which achieve any one or more of the following objects:

• the promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of their area,
• the promotion or improvement of the social well-being of their area, and
• the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of their area

Young Lancashire is committed to the concepts of partnership and collaborative working, particularly supporting smaller organisations to benefit from commissioning opportunities. Young Lancashire, with the Greater Together Consortium, will seek to identify the most appropriate vehicle to submit tenders to the funding framework, recently announced by Lancashire County Council's Young People's Service (YPS).