Large Image

As the cold sets in appeal reaches £60,000 – but more people need help

£60,000 has been donated Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal since it launched in October.

The money provides financial support to older people across Cumbria to help with their fuel bills over the winter months. However, all the available funds have been awarded and the number of people needing the grant is increasing.

The Met Office has issued a level 3 cold weather alert in the North West of England. Because of the warnings Public Health England is reminding people to look out for each other and to keep warm indoors.

Dr Angie Bone of the Extreme Events team at Public Health England said: “Cold does kill, even in places where the temperatures aren’t at their lowest. “Our advice is that when indoors, have plenty of warm food and drinks to stay warm and try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long term illness or are 65 or over.”

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “There are a lot of older people in our communities that can’t sustain their energy bills in the winter. Often poor health means they need to stay warm more often, thus using more of their fuel quicker. The grants we give out give these people security and reassurance that they can afford to have their radiators on at night. But there are still a lot of people who need this support.”

Cumbria Community Foundation works with Age UK’s Carlisle and Eden, West Cumbria and South Lakeland as well as The Oaklea Trust to distribute the grants to people in their area.

Mrs Smith is a Winter Warmth Grant recipient, 71. In 2012 she was widowed and has struggled to pay full rent and council tax on her own. She said: “I spend the nights worrying about how I can pay the rent – so paying to put the boiler on is out of the question sometimes.” “My family help me, they know I struggle moving around as I get older but I like to be independent.”

“The grant was reassuring as I was able to have a nice warm house over Christmas and have a little less to worry about. It’s very reassuring to know there are people in the community helping older people financially.”

It’s very simple to donate to the Winter Warmth Appeal: Just phone Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 825760 or visit our JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/WinterWarmth2014.

You can also simply send a text message to 70070 including our code WINT37. You can donate £2, £5 or £10. e.g. WINT37 £5 to 70070.

Or you can send a cheque to: ‘Cumbria Community Foundation’ and write ‘Winter Warmth’ on the back. Send it to: Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN.

All the money raised from Cumbria Community Foundation’s Big Sleep, taking place on Saturday 7th February at The Low Wood Bay Hotel, Windermere also goes toward the Winter Warmth Appeal.

Last year the event raised £23,000 for the cause and The Foundation hopes fundraisers will raise more this year. There are already over 120 people signed up to take part on the evening and through JustGiving alone have raised more than £3,500. To register to take part in The Big Sleep click here.  or call 01900 825760 for more information.

Cash available from Cumberland legacy fund

Cumbria Community Foundation is urging more community groups to apply for funding through the Joyce Wilkinson Trust Fund.

The funding is available to community groups in the former county of Cumberland, especially those in the Rosley and Westward parishes.

Grants are distributed from the fund twice a year and the Foundation is looking for more applications for the next panel in June.

Ellen Clements, Senior Grants and Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation said: “We are enormously proud to have been able to carry on Joyce Wilkinson’s legacy since 2008. Many local projects have benefitted from her fund and there is still money to be distributed before the next panel meeting in June.”

SONY DSCThe criteria of the fund encourages groups supporting older people and children and young people to apply and those operating or providing services in or close to the parishes of Rosley and Westward.

Last month £9,480 was awarded to six different community organisations including Wigton Cricket Club, Fell View After School Club, Northern Fells Pre-School Nursery Group and the Ireby Festival.

Charles Devlin, Treasurer of the Ireby Festival said: “The Festival is a not for profit community organisation and the Joyce Wilkinson Trust awarded £1,500 to help offset some of the costs associated with the hire of professional lighting and stage structures, essentials for making the festival professional and enjoyable for the community.

Applying to the Foundation for a grant is straight forward and staff are always looking to help organisations with their applications.

The deadline for applications to the Joyce Wilkinson Charitable Fund is Wednesday 27th May. For more information about how to apply contact Ellen Clements by phone 01900 825760 or by email ellen@cumbriafoundation.org

 

Northern Rock Foundation gives £1.5m in grants to four Community Foundations

Northern Rock Foundation has announced four special awards totalling £1.5 million as part of its final programme of work in 2015.

Northern Rock Foundation has awarded £1.5 million in grants of £375,000 each to the region’s four community foundations in the North East and Cumbria. These awards mean that communities across the region will continue to benefit from the Foundation’s funds in the future.

Cumbria Community Foundation will use the funding to create a new fund within their endowed fund which will then provide annual grants in perpetuity for disadvantaged people.  Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “For many organisations in Cumbria, funding from the Northern Rock Foundation was a significant part of their income. We hope to continue supporting charitable groups like these, which operate in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Cumbria. The money will be endowed into the Foundation Grants fund, which addresses poverty and disadvantage, and will become a lasting legacy for the county.”

Alastair Balls, Chairman of Northern Rock Foundation said “Community Foundations are connected to a wide range of voluntary and community organisations which meet the needs of people throughout the region. These grants are part of the Foundation’s legacy programme and ensure that the last of the Foundation’s funding provides long term benefit for current and future generations across the North East and Cumbria. “

In the North East Tees Valley and County Durham Community Foundations will also use the funding to create a new fund within each of their endowed funds. The Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland has used the grant in kind towards purchasing the Old Chapel in Gosforth from Northern Rock Foundation, alongside a gift from a private donor, which will become the Community Foundation’s new offices in 2015.

Soul Survivors do first gig for Barrow Community Trust

Early in 2014 three former founding members of Chapter Five came together with other top ranking local musicians to form a new 9 piece Soul band, “Soul Survivors” exactly 50 years after forming “Chapter Five”

The guys were brought together by their love of Sixties Soul music, and a close friendship with each other going back decades.

The former Chapter Five members are Frank Hayes Bass Guitar, Allan Davies Lead Guitar and Dave McGerty Keyboards. They were joined by Danny Smyth on vocals, Mike Kidson Drums, Julie Rogerson Sax, Kim Anderson Trumpet, with Dave’s Daughter Tania McGerty on backing vocals and Sarah Carrick (Daughter of Chapter Five’s Drummer Tony Flanagan) also on backing vocals. Both girls also take the lead vocals on female vocal tracks.

Soul Survivors

Danny Smyth was well known as half of Soul Duo “The Smyth Brothers” and topped the bill all over the North of England backed by local bands “Index Trend” and the great “Patents Pending”.

Dave, Frank, and Mike, have also played together over the years in other local bands such as “Small World” and “Breaker” and “Danny Patterson & The Flamingoes”.

Mike is known as a “Drummers Drummer”, and is probably the most well respected percussionist to ever come out of Barrow.

Saxophonist Julie Rogerson is a well respected local player and one of the very best Sax players ever to come from the local area. Trumpet player Kim Anderson is the youngster in the band, but is very experienced, being both a conductor of several local Brass Bands and a professional Brass teacher, she is also a published Poet under the pen name of Kim Moore.

Sarah is well known for starring in many local musical productions over the years, her most recent appearance being in the Chorus for “Evita” at The Forum.

Tania was a member of Cabaret and Dinner Dance band “Forever” along with Dad Dave some years ago.

Altogether a very experienced outfit who just love to play and entertain the crowd.

The public’s interest in, and love of, Sixties Soul Music never seems to diminish, and Dave has just recently been informed that the “Chapter Five” single he wrote (You Can’t Mean It) is to be re-released early in the New Year for the 4th time!!! The band obviously include this, and other Chapter Five numbers, in their set list.

Barrow Community Trust is delighted that Soul Survivors have agreed to perform their first major gig to raise funds for the Trust at the Soccer Bar on Friday 30 January 2015 with doors opening at 8pm.  Admission will be by ticket only with tickets, costing £10 each, being available for cash purchase only from R & T Music, 8 Dalkeith Street, Barrow-in-Furness.

Rob Cairns, Chairman of Barrow Community Trust, said: “It is wonderful that Soul Survivors are doing their first full gig to help us with our fundraising.  We all very much appreciate this tremendous gesture.  Every penny raised will be used to help worthwhile causes within the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness.  We are certain that this gig will quickly sell out and I therefore urge any Chapter Five followers or soul music fans to get their tickets quickly.  Personally, I cannot wait to hear them.”

Barrow high res