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Jennings support for Rivers Ride continues – “Bringing the giving full circle”

Cockermouth Brewery Jennings has committed to sponsoring the Jennings Rivers Ride for the next two years.

Its support means the charity cycle rides created in its name will continue to raise money for Cumbria Community Foundation.

The company is dedicated to the Jennings Rivers Ride because of the reason behind the event’s origins.

Gaynor Green, Marketing Manager of Jennings Brewery, said: “I will never forget arriving at the brewery on 19 November 2009 and it being knee deep in water. By the time I evacuated all our staff, it was waist deep and cars were bobbing like corks in the car park. We have a line on the wall marking where the water reached – six feet one inch high!

Jennings flood photo 1“As a company we had to temporarily brew our beers off site, for the first time since it opened in 1828. At the same time, we decided to donate 10p from every pint sold in Britain and raised over £178,000 for the Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund to help the many people affected by the floods.

“This is why the Jennings Rivers Ride is such an important event for us to sponsor. The cycle rides follow the river courses that were flooded and cyclists go across bridges that were washed away and rebuilt.

“Knowing that our support means that the money raised by cyclists goes back to helping people across the county through Cumbria Community Foundation’s grants brings the giving full circle and I am very proud of that.”

A new flood wall and flood gate have been built around Jennings Brewery to direct flood water away from the business if the rivers were to burst their banks again.

Cheryl Frost, Director of Rather be Cycling said: “Having Jennings support the event once again is brilliant. We’re also happy to announce that NSG Legacy Management is on board as a route sponsor, Cycling Active magazine is our media partner, Padon Contracts and Hope are sponsoring feed stations and Clif Bar are providing high energy snacks.

“We still have a couple sponsorship opportunities for any businesses who would like to come forward and support the event.”

2015 sees the fourth annual Jennings Rivers Ride – a series of cycle rides created after the devastating floods in 2009. Ironically, heavy rains forced the event to be postponed in 2013 to the following May.

JCK_1556The four routes reveal some of the UK’s finest scenery and cycling terrain from the heart of the Lake District all the way out to the Irish Sea. The rides all start and finish in Keswick. It’s called the ‘Rivers Ride’ because sections of the routes follow the affected river courses and criss-cross over many of the bridges that were either destroyed and replaced, or were badly damaged during the floods.

Although it is the fourth annual Jennings Rivers Ride, it will be a first for Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, as he has signed up to do the longest ride on the day of the event, he said: “I’ve not cycled for 75 miles in two years now, so I’m glad I’ll be cycling with everyone else for the first time – I’ll need those smiling faces to keep me going!

“The Jennings Rivers Ride is about raising money for local charities and challenging people and this year’s Big Day Out will definitely be a challenge!”

The Jennings Rivers Ride is held to raise money for the charitable work of Cumbria Community Foundation. All the money raised will go directly into its grant making Foundation Grants Fund, supporting projects that provide much needed services at a grassroots level.

The Foundation is at the heart of community life. It makes grants to local charities and people in need. The grants help young people and older people, those living with disabilities and those recovering from illness.

The Jennings Rivers Ride is made possible by the generous support of the sponsors and the help of more than 80 volunteers.

The entry fee covers the cost of staging the event and raises a small amount for the charity – cyclists can help Cumbria Community Foundation by asking friends and family to sponsor them for the challenge and raise money for good causes across Cumbria.

To find out more about the causes Cumbria Community Foundation supports click here.

To read more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities or to enter visit Rather Be Cycling.

NCI Home from Hospital service extended

A service providing support for people returning home from hospital has been given an extra £20,000 this year.

Cumbria Community Foundation, Managed Service Provider of the Neighbourhood Care Independence (NCI) Programme has released the additional funds to extend the Home from Hospital service provided by the British Red Cross.

Home from Hospital delivers support to people being discharged from hospital who may need extra help when returning home with tasks such as ensuring basic food is available, the heating is on and picking up prescriptions.

80-year-old Sarah Smith fell and broke her ankle and was referred to the service by staff at her local hospital. She lives alone and was worried how she would manage her day-to-day tasks, such shopping, laundry, and cleaning.  The Home from Hospital volunteers helped Mrs Smith get her food from the local shops, post letters and pay bills while she was unable to go out.

Mrs Smith said: “The service was wonderful, I really wouldn’t have been able to manage without the support.”

Cath Howard, Chief Operating Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation said: “We are delighted that our flexible grant making is able to direct these funds to a much needed service, supporting people as they continue their recovery, and hopefully reducing the need for hospital readmission. More than 5,000 Home from Hospital visits have been carried out to date and over seven times more people have accessed the service than in the previous year.”

The enhanced Home from Hospital service is available seven days per week and into the evenings. The extension will also see the development of an ‘on call’ facility.

Since the NCI Programme started in 2012, over 33,000, mainly older Cumbrians, have used one or more of the services provided by over 30 NCI partners county-wide.

The Neighbourhood Care Independence Programme is funded by Cumbria County Council and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation. They will be working together towards other service extensions for the coming year.

To find out more about any of the NCI services including Home from Hospital call the NCI Helpline 0844 967 1885 or for residents in West Cumbria call 08443 843 843.

Non-profit groups recognised in High Sheriff awards

The High Sheriff of Cumbria, Martyn Hart and Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, Andy Beeforth joined non-profit groups at Dovenby Hall, near Cockermouth to celebrate and award the groups and individuals achievements in the last year.

Certificates, cash awards and two High Sheriff Shields were given to 13 community groups and one individual in recognition of their voluntary service to make Cumbria a safe, vibrant place.

High Sheriff Martyn Hart said: “Volunteers are the glue that holds the county together and work tirelessly, so it’s only fair to recognise some of the fabulous work that goes on.”

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(Photo courtesy of Times and Star)

West Cumbria Achievement Zone, in Distington, and Workington-based music charity Soundwave each received £1,000 and a certificate. West Cumbria Achievement Zone was recognised for its work in partnership with schools and work-based learning providers to provide an alternative curriculum for learners aged 14 to 19. Soundwave was recognised for helping 13 to 19-year-olds to engage through music workshops and other events. Stella Kanu, director of Soundwave, said it was wonderful to be recognised and that the High Sheriff had been one of their biggest supporters.

She added: “He was one of the first people I came across when I joined Soundwave and he’s continued to be an active help since.”

Promoting Autonomy and Change and The Rock Youth Project, both based in Carlisle, and Young Cumbria each received £750 and a certificate. All three were recognised for their social work with young people, developing their life skills to smooth their transition into adulthood.

Fiona Sheridan, lead youth worker at The Rock Youth Project, said: “It’s brilliant really because we cover quite a deprived area of Carlisle and it shows people do notice the work we’re doing and that we’re making a difference.”

Time to Change West Cumbria received a High Sheriff Shield and £1,000 for its work to provide homeless people with shelter and develop their life skills.

web croppedRachel Holliday (left), company director, said she was overwhelmed to be recognised.
She added: “When I first set up in June 2013, a lot of people said people like me couldn’t do things like this, but we can with the support of people like the High Sheriff, Cumbria Community Foundation and Richard Rhodes, the police and crime commissioner, and this award is proof of that.”

Wigton-based Borderlines, South Workington Youth Partnership, Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project and Wigton Youth Station all received certificates but no cash award as they had already received a High Sheriff’s grant this year.

Gina McCabe, project manager of Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project, said: “It’s just lovely to be recognised along with everybody else for making a change and it makes you reflect on why we do what we do and why it is so important.”

Cumbria Community Foundation offers grants to volunteers and charities making a difference to the lives of people across Cumbria. To find out more about the funds we have available visit our Apply for a Grant page or contact us on 01900 825760 or by email.

Winter Warmth Appeal raises record amount!

OLDER people around the county have been kept warmer this year thanks to Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Fund.

The appeal, which is in its fifth year has surpassed previous years figure and raised over £107,000 with almost £15,000 of that coming from the Foundation’s Big Sleep fundraisers in February.

Mrs Smith is 77 from Millom. A couple of years ago she became a widow, and has been struggling to pay full rent and council tax on her own. Her own health also suffers as she gets older: “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,” She said.

“The grant reassured me that I can have a nice warm house over the winter and have a little less to worry about.”

The Winter Warmth Appeal began when someone donated their Winter Fuel Allowance to Cumbria Community Foundation to give to someone who needed it more. From that one donation, over £280,000 has now been raised since the appeal started, awarding over 2,000 grants.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “Every year we are thrilled with the commitment people have towards the appeal. We have raised more each year thanks to the generosity of the individuals and businesses who donate and those who brave the cold and take part in our Big Sleep fundraiser at the Low Wood Bay Hotel in Windermere.

We recognise the need for this fund. Each winter up to 300 people in Cumbria are at risk of dying because of the cold weather and this winter there was a record number of A&E admissions within older people. The financial support we give through our partners throughout the county will help reduce this number and literally save lives.”

There is still some funding available for older people through our partners. Please contact Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 825760 for more information and how to apply.