A SUCCESSFUL healthy eating project run by West Devon charity WestDEN is to come to an end when funding runs out next month.
The Feel Good Food project, which has given guidance on healthy eating to more than 2,000 people since work started in the community last March, is sponsored by the South Hams and West Devon Primary Care Trust through its Health Improvement Programme.
But the trust has no further funding available and a recent grant application to the Department of Health was turned down, meaning the project will have to fold at the end of May.
Kate Wright, Feel Good Food project manager, said: ?It is very disappointing to see this project finish when so much work has been done in a short space of time.
?The project has huge potential and there is obviously a real need for the service, so we are very keen to find further funding for the project to continue.?
The project employs four assistants and has given nutritional advice to groups including Brownies, Guides, schools, youth organisations, drop-in centres for the elderly and Dartmoor prison.
They have also taken part in events like West Devon Community Fair, Junior Life Skills, Okehampton show and a Healthy Minds Fair.
Their presentations normally involve discussions, games, quizzes, cooking and sampling healthy foods.
Kate Wright said the project was set up in June 2001 as a two-year pilot, but proved so successful it was hoped further funding would be available to enable it to continue.
?We asked the current funders if they could carry on sponsoring us, but unfortunately their resources were already committed to other things,? she said.
WestDEN director Oz Osbourne said: ?The voluntary and community sector is being asked to play an increasing role in the delivery of important services to the community, and is subject to short term funding for project delivery.
?Until voluntary or community sector organisations receive that kind of funding, the life of very important projects delivering essential support to the community will always be limited.?