As much as £600,000 in public money has been allocated to community projects designed to boost general wellbeing.

Hertfordshire County Council’s public health department agreed to continue to fund health and wellbeing schemes throughout the region.

Local authorities that make up Hertfordshire’s District Partnership allocated the money to develop schemes to benefit people in the county.

In the last five years, £2.3million has been invested in public health projects in Hertfordshire.

In Watford for example, previous projects have included improving the premises of homelessness charity New Hope on Whippendell Road and street improvements to areas of “high deprivation”.

Whereas in Three Rivers, funding was granted to introduce “Making It” Arts on Prescription courses for adults living with poor mental health and wellbeing.

The project culminated in artwork displays in libraries and galleries across the county.

One of the participants said: “This has got me out. I never go out due to my social anxiety. Here, I got to be me.”

Other projects in Hertsmere and Dacorum also received financial support.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for public health and prevention, Tim Hutchings, said: “Our District Partnership is a real success story; a perfect example of how joining things up and working together can achieve real results and make a tangible difference.

“At a time when the future of public health funding is rarely out of the news, this initiative demonstrates the unique position local government is in to genuinely improve people’s lives and make a positive impact on the wider prevention agenda.”

For more information, visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/healthinherts