19th September 2014
Thousands of people in West Cumbria are set to benefit from over £200,000 of funding from Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), the parent body organisation for Sellafield Ltd. A total of £204,098 has recently been awarded to 11 different community groups in West Cumbria via the NMP Community Fund.
The Fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, distributes money to local projects that can change the lives of local people in greatest need across West Cumbria. In total, it will distribute up to £440,000 of NMP funds this year. NMP granted over £2.5m of funding via the NMP Community Fund between 2008 and 2013.
In this latest wave of funding, projects received amounts ranging from £2,000 to over £50,000.
£50,000 was awarded to the Friday Night Project run by Inspira. NMP ‘s continued support of the project will enable it to carry on delivering high quality activities for young people in community venues across Allerdale.
Mike Priestley, Area Manager for Inspira in the West said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from NMP. The money allows the continuation of a very successful and popular project which has engaged hundreds of young people on Friday evenings improving neighbourhoods and providing healthy, positive activities. It’s a great investment in community well-being.”
£37,500 was also awarded to Phoenix Business Enterprise, in Cleator Moor to run Drop-in ICT centres across Copeland. The project gives people the opportunity to have computer access and learn essential ICT skills, which is important for people trying to find employment.
Joanne Crowe, Operations Manager at Phoenix Enterprise Centre said: “This funding will ensure that at least 400 unemployed Copeland residents will be able to get supported access to the internet in order to find jobs. NMP’s funding will bring positive benefits to some of the most vulnerable in our community and will allow them to compete equally for jobs in this digital age.”
Other community groups to receive funding from the NMP Community Fund included: Cumbria Housing Partnership, Derwent and Solway Housing Association, West Cumbria Carers, Citizens Advice Allerdale, Bolton Low Houses Preschool/Play scheme, New Rainbow Preschool Whitehaven, Phoenix Youth Project Cleator Moor, Egremont Youth Partnership and Allerdale Credit Union.
Ian Hudson, Nuclear Management Partners General Manager, said: “There are hundreds of community groups in West Cumbria making a real difference to the lives of local people. We are proud to support these groups and understand how important it is that they receive the funding they need. The allocation of £204,098 is the first wave of funding to be granted this year via the NMP Community Fund. Similar amounts will be granted to more groups later this year through our very successful partnership with Cumbria Community Foundation. We are looking forward to seeing how our funds are being used to benefit people living in our communities.”
Willie Slavin, trustee of Cumbria Community Foundation and Chairman of the West Cumbria Grants Panel, which is responsible for allocating the grants said: “The excellent working relationship between Nuclear Management Partners and Cumbria Community Foundation, developed over the last five years, has effortlessly clicked into place to continue supporting a range of projects that make a significant difference to the well-being of the West Cumbrian community. The extended partnership work has brought a high degree of diligence to the grant making process that ensures the funding is targeted at the most effective projects.”
The panel of committee members meet every ten weeks to discuss applications and award projects with NMP Community funding. The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is October 17, 2014.