Healthy Valleys, the Healthy Living Initiative for the Douglas and Nethan Valley area of rural South Lanarkshire, came about as a result of community representatives along with voluntary and public sector agencies working together to establish a vision for the Douglas and Nethan Valley.  This vision is to reduce health inequalities, promote positive lifestyles and improve health and well being.

Funding was secured to provide services to the villages of the area – Rigside, Douglas, Glespin, Coalburn, Douglas Water, Lesmahagow, Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill. Healthy Valleys was established in November 2003, with initial funding for 4 years from New Opportunities Fund, South Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire.

We are now able to provide services in other rural areas of South Lanarkshire, subject to successful funding applications. These areas currently include Forth, Smyllum, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath.

Healthy Valleys is a partnership project, which promotes positive lifestyles by utilising existing provision as well as working with other agencies and the community to provide new programmes of activity to meet the needs of the community.

Central to the work of Healthy Valleys is the need to increase access to services in order to reduce rural isolation.  We tackle this through providing transport, with support from local providers, in order to maximise opportunities and encourage individuals to act autonomously to effect positive lifestyle change.

We are a Company Limited by Guarantee No: 246145 and a recognised Scottish Charity No: SC034253. We are governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, comprising representatives of the local community.

For information on how to become a Company Member of Healthy Valleys, click here.