The Roselands Trust set up by businessman, Kenneth Johnson, has been working with the Foundation since 2006. It provides funding to help people facing disadvantage, particularly charitable projects supporting older adults and people with learning difficulties.

Kenneth said: “While our emphasis is on supporting small local groups, our association with the Community Foundation has given us access to the greater needs in Cumbria and areas we do not normally reach. The expertise of the Foundation and information supplied by them allows us to make informed decisions.  I feel that our most important project was in supporting and helping to establish the Winter Warmth Fund in 2011 and our commitment to this fund continues on an annual basis.”

The Winter Warmth Fund provides financial assistance to help keep vulnerable older people warm and well during the cold winter months. It works in partnership with Age UK and supports more than a thousand people each year.

Since working with the Foundation, the Roselands Trust has provided grant aid to more many projects, one of them being Cumbria Deaf Association, based in Carlisle. It provides a wide range of specialist services such as community and social activities and events, interpreting, social work, care and support packages, British Sign Language skills courses, and deaf awareness training.

Thanks to the grant from the trust, 10 youngsters with hearing impairments attended two sailing sessions on Lake Windermere with Blackwell Sailing. An interpreter was provided along with free transport. It gave youngsters from across the county the opportunity to try something they had never done before while increasing their confidence and self-esteem.

Esther Palliser, Children and Families Worker at the Association, said: “We hope to offer this activity again as part of our regular programme as the young people enjoyed it so much. One young man had never sailed before and finds communication difficult. He was able to sail across the lake a couple of times with having people to him communicate. The joy on his face at the achievement was wonderful to see.”