22nd June 2015
Cumbria Community Foundation has been awarded winner of the 2015 Grant making and funding category at the Charity Awards, held in London, Thursday 18 June, 2015.
Now in its 16th year, The Charity Awards is an annual programme that uses Civil
Society Media’s portfolio of magazines, reports, events and websites to celebrate and highlight best practice across the sector.
The Charity Awards is the world’s most prestigious excellence recognition programme and Cumbria Community Foundation’s Neighbourhood Care Independence Programme (NCIP) was recognised for its new approach to grant making and funding.
- Financial Analyst Louise Cooper, CCF’s Cath Howard, John Ross, Charity Award sponsors Investec, CCF’s Ellen Clements and TV and Radio presenter Gaby Roslin
Television presenter and BBC London radio host, Gaby Roslin and Financial Analyst and commentator Louise Cooper, presented the winner’s trophy to Chief Operating Officer, Cath Howard and Senior Grants and Donor Services officer, Ellen Clements.
The charity beat other finalist to win the accolade by managing a programme that results in delivery partners collaborating with each other to make the most of the staff and volunteers working for each organisation.
Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “This award is the culmination of more than three years hard work. We have one of the fastest growing populations of older people and NCIP is all about helping people stay safe, healthy and independent at home. This award is recognition for all of the charities and organisations funded through the programme and shows we can be the best in the country.”
Tania Mason, group editor at Civil Society Media which organises The Charity Awards said: “In this age of continuing pressure on public finances, the work of Britain’s charitable sector is more vital than ever. All the charities shortlisted at this year’s Charity Awards have demonstrated the highest standards of leadership and management, and so it follows that the work carried out by Cumbria Community Foundation, our granting and fundraising Winner, is really quite exceptional.
“The team at Cumbria Community Foundation should be very proud of themselves and we only hope that this accolade propels them on to even bigger and better things. Congratulations to everyone involved.”
The £860,000 per annum programme is delivered on behalf of Cumbria County Council to support Cumbria’s large and growing population of older people and vulnerable adults. Cumbria Community Foundation facilitated a partnership of 33 voluntary sector delivery organisations but offered a single access point to beneficiaries through lead partners Cumbria CVS and Age UK West Cumbria.
Mary Bradley, Age UK West Cumbria said: “The NCI programme has made a difference in west Cumbria, enabling a diverse range of third sector organisations to support the community with information, advice and activities which have contributed to improving people’s independence, health and wellbeing.
“It is therefore fitting that this innovative project should have picked up this award on behalf of everyone, including the many volunteers and community groups involved in making this a success”.
The NCIP has delivered £1m in public sector savings and helped over 37,000 vulnerable adults and older people in Cumbria to maintain their independence. By the end of the first year, one in eight of the county’s older residents had used NCIP services.
Ian Stewart Cabinet Member for Public Health and Community Services at Cumbria County Council said: “This is great recognition from the sector for very important work that has taken place here in Cumbria. I want to thank everyone involved, and I’m confident that the success in the Awards will be a springboard for further development.”
John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, comments: “I would like to offer my congratulations to the winning charities and all those highly commended in this year’s Charity Awards. Every one of the awards is richly deserved. The judges looked for charities which make a real difference for the people they serve and the winners are great examples of the rich benefits that charities bring to our country, and to people all over the world.”
