In 2011 Lamont Pridmore, a leading family-run Cumbrian chartered accountancy firm took advantage of a Government scheme allowing the creation of a charitable fund supporting community activity across West Cumbria at a grassroots level.

Graham Lamont, Managing Partner said: “Both myself and my son, Chris, who is also a partner in the firm, were born and brought up in West Cumbria.  Our family owned accountancy practice was founded over 100 years ago in West Cumbria, and still operates, in the area and we wanted to give something back to the people and communities we serve.  Working with Cumbria Community Foundation means we can support and champion the causes we care about and be confident that our money is in safe hands and being spent wisely and effectively.”

Since the fund was established, many projects have benefited including Southfield Community Champions’ adventure learning programme ensuring that all members could take part in outdoor activities regardless of their family income. The activity days were designed to offer learning experiences as a method of raising confidence, skills and achievement. Young people were given access to learning opportunities which would otherwise have been denied to them, including experiencing outdoor individual and group activities in the fields of orienteering, canoeing and paintballing.