A COMMUNITY fund set up in Bolton aims to inject more than a quarter of a million pounds to help local groups in need.

Business will be asked to support to building a pot of cash worth £258,000 that will be dished out to community and voluntary organisations.

Decision-makers and delegates are due to meet at the 11th annual Bolton Vision conference at the Reebok Stadium tomorrow and they will find out how they can contribute to the scheme. All money raised will be matched pound-for-pound by the Government.

The Bolton Vision Partnership brings together representatives of the voluntary, private and public sectors to discuss ways of working together to improve the area.

The conference attracted 250 delegates last year from more than 150 local organisations and a similar number is expected this time around.

Bolton’s key decision makers including Bolton Council, NHS Bolton, Greater Manchester Police, the University of Bolton and Bolton CVS will look at ways in which they can improve local lives.

Some of the key achievements of the partnership to date include the launch of The BIG Bolton Health Check, which has seen 60,000 screened out of 88,000 of over-45s in the borough.

The pioneering campaign is aimed at encouraging them to have this free health check in a bid to lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “The partnership, which was set up in the mid-1990s, plays an active part in tackling inequality in the borough. We all want Bolton to develop into a vibrant, healthy and prosperous place and the commitment of our partners will help us tackle the challenges that may be ahead of us.”