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Schools at the forefront of the nation’s ‘Food for Life’ scheme

Around 1,000 children have been learning about the importance of local produce thanks to a grant of £11,840 from the Westmorland Family Community Fund.

The Soil Association’s Food for Life School Award programme benefited four primary schools, close to Tebay Services in the Eden Valley: Orton Primary School, Kirkby Stephen Primary School, Crosby Ravensworth Primary School and Beaconside Primary School.

The programme links to the curriculum and encourages a better understanding of growing, cooking and learning to love good food. Its aim is to engage children, parents, staff and the wider community to create a powerful voice for long-term change.

Schools work to a bronze, silver or gold standard, evidencing their achievements against agreed criteria. Activities have included a Farmers Market at Rheged, sausage making masterclasses and design a plate competition.

The Food for Life programme project has been a great success with each school taking part in all the activities on offer. The pupils enjoyed the programme and their appreciation of where food comes from and the importance of good food.

Ian Nutt, Head of Development at The Soil Association, said: “The project has been a great success with each school taking part in all the activities on offer while working towards their Bronze award. It has been wonderful to see how much the pupils enjoyed the programme and their appreciation of where food comes from and the importance of good food.”

Westmorland Family Community Fund have continued to support this project for a further three years with the introduction of a fifth school: Tebay Primary School.

Double your donations to Winter Warmth Appeal

Older people in Cumbria need your donations this winter so they don’t have to choose between heating and eating.

In a bad winter, 300 older people in Cumbria die due to effects of the cold. The Winter Warmth Appeal, run by Cumbria Community Foundation, collects people’s warm generosity and gives it back out to vulnerable older people to ensure they can heat their homes properly and remain safe and well during the colder months.

Age UK Carlisle & Eden and Age UK South Lakeland have seen an increase in demand for support this winter and have already distributed £45,000, which was raised as part of the Winter Warmth Appeal.

Hannah Kitching, Age UK South Lakeland, said: “The Winter Warmth Fund can be a lifesaver for hundreds of older people. A cold home can be a real danger for many of our vulnerable clients. The extra money the fund provides means that older people no longer have to choose between eating and remaining warm. This is often the sad reality that leads to many avoidable hospital admissions.”

A 73 year old from Windermere doesn’t have to worry about putting the heating on this winter: “The Winter Warmth grant gave me peace of mind, for which I am very grateful. It was the last thing I expected. It will help me in a lot of ways, especially in terms of my health. It makes me feel safer as my house can now be warm, so my joints feel better and I won’t be in as much pain.”

A recipient from Eden said: “I am able to put the heating on during the winter without worrying about the cost. The grant was very useful during the “Beast from the East” in February and March this year.”

A spokesperson for Age UK Carlisle and Eden, said: “The Winter Warmth grant is a godsend to many older people who during the winter are faced with the terrible choice of keeping warm or eating. We deal with many clients who live in remote areas in old properties which do not have insulation and are not on the mains gas network, so they are reliant on expensive types of fuel such as oil or solid fuel”.

Any online donations to the Winter Warmth Appeal this week will be DOUBLED as part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2018, which runs from midday on 27 November to midday on 4 December.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign which helps UK-registered charities raise funds for their cause. It offers supporters of participating charities the opportunity to have their DONATION DOUBLED on theBigGive.org.uk website when the campaign goes live at midday on #GivingTuesday, 27 November 2018.

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services and Communications Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “During the last eight years, the Winter Warmth Appeal has raised almost £700,000 – we know Cumbrians are well known for their community spirit. We are calling on their warm generosity again to help us raise even more money this year by doubling their donation during the Christmas Challenge week.”

To make a donation from midday on 27 November to midday on 4 December please click here.

Giving Tuesday is on Tuesday 27 November this year and promotes giving money, time or thanks for charities all across the world.

New board members introduced for Trustees Week

More than one million people across the UK play a vital role in the decision making of almost 200,000 charities by being a trustee.

Trustees Week recognises the great work these people do voluntarily and aims to encourage more people from all walks of life to get involved and to make a difference in their community.

Cumbria Community Foundation has recently welcomed two new trustees to its board: Kevin Walsh and John Wilson.

Kevin Walsh

Kevin Walsh has been involved has been involved in traffic and transport in the county for many years, starting at Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council before moving to Cumbria County Council. An active Rotarian for over 25 years, Kevin was District Governor for Cumbria and Lancashire in 2013/14.  He is also a trustee of Age UK Carlisle and Eden, Chairman of the Carlisle Dementia Action Alliance and a member of the Foundation’s grants panel.

Kevin said: “Having received a number of grants for Rotary led projects over the years, seen first-hand the impact that the Cumbria Flood Fund had on those in desperate need, and being acutely aware that communities are increasingly having to fend for themselves, I am delighted to have been asked to become more involved with the Community Foundation.”

John Wilson is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer and business adviser. He is the former Managing Partner and founder of Baines Wilson LLP, the specialist commercial law firm based in Cumbria and Lancashire.

John Wilson

He set the firm up in 1999 having moved back to Cumbria in 1996. John remains involved with Baines Wilson as a senior consultant. John is also a non-executive director of Penrith Farmers’ and Kidds plc and was Founder and former Chair of West Cumbria Rivers Trust, an environmental charity. He is also involved in various other charitable and sporting bodies.

John said: “CCF is a superb organisation and I’m proud to say that I, and Baines Wilson, have been involved since its formation. Coincidentally, my own business was founded at the same time meaning both CCF and Baines Wilson celebrate their 20th anniversaries next year. Now having some more time available, I was honoured to accept the opportunity to help the charity as a trustee with its extremely important work and I will do my best to make a significant contribution.”

Cumbria Community Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Andy Beeforth, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kevin and John to the board and look forward to seeing how their knowledge and expertise will contribute to the success of the Foundation.”