COUNCILLORS have given their backing to a group supporting people in Wellington living with potentially life-threatening eating disorders.

They agreed to award the Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association a grant of £500 to help with its work in Wellington.

Charity fundraiser Laura Miller told councillors the group was putting in place a support group in Wellington for those with eating disorders – saying it had spoken with 17 people from the Wellington area in the past month who wanted advice and help.

The application for a grant of £500 was received by the town council to help partly fund a series of three awareness workshops at the youth club linked to senior schools.

Members of the town council’s finance committee recommended that the grant be awarded on January 7 – a decision the full council later verified.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “I knew someone who was anorexic and it is not nice – anything that can be done to help this should be supported.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said he wanted to make sure the money was being spent on services in Wellington.

Others questioned why the charity needed £500 from the town council when its own records showed a healthy bank balance.

But Cllr Andrew Govier said: “Eating disorder is becoming an increasing issue. If our £500 saves one person from having to live with an eating disorder then it is money well-spent.

“I don’t think we need to make any caveats on this grant application – give them the money and let them get on with it.

“We as a council have £300,000 in the bank and here we are talking about giving this group £500.”

The charity, based in Shepton Mallet, was set up in 1992 by a group of sufferers and carers, and has provided a range of services since then for people struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and compulsive overeating.

A spokesman said: “Our services also give support to family members and friends engaged in the difficult task of supporting someone close to them.

“Our stated aim is ‘pro-recovery’ – we seek to enable and empower people to improve their mental and physical health and well-being, thereby enriching their overall quality of life, allowing them to live a life that is as healthy and full as possible.

“We provide a range of services, offering information, guidance, training and support.”

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