Councillors will today discuss a bid for millions of pounds of Big Lottery funding to help children and young families in Medway.

The Medway Better Start for Children campaign has applied for the grant of up to £50m in order to tackle issues such as smoking, teen pregnancy, nutrition, breastfeeding and obesity.

The bid is being led by the charity Family Action, working with Medway Council and the NHS.

Medway is one of 15 areas to have been shortlisted for a share of £165m.

If successful, the money will be spent on a number of initiatives, including creating a network of “buddies” to provide support for families and making better use of green spaces.

It has been revealed the cash would be used in those wards with the greatest need – Chatham Central, Gillingham North and South, and Luton and Wayfield.

Medway’s cabinet has been asked to delegate authority to two council directors in consultation with Cllr Mike O’Brien, who is in charge of children’s services, to approve the final version of the bid before it is submitted ahead of the February 28 deadline.

Medway will then be invited to make a presentation to the Big Lottery decision-making panel in early May, and a decision is due in June.

Lottery representatives, including its chairman, American entrepreneur Nat Sloane, visited Medway 10 days ago to find out about how the money would be used.