Behind a row of terraced houses on the outskirts of Egremont lies a sanctuary. An allotment run by Calderwood House, a homeless hostel providing up to six months respite for those in need.

Historically in West Cumbria there has been little or no provision for homeless adults who do not fall into the ‘priority’ category in the local authority. This often means a life of sofa surfing, living in unsafe conditions, being subject to exploitation and living rough on the streets. Without a fixed address they cannot get work or access to training so are unable to start rebuilding their lives.

Since opening in 2015, Time to Change (West Cumbria), which runs the hostel, has helped more than 170 people get back on their feet. For many who are supported by the social enterprise, this is a place to relax, learn new skills and be with new friends.

In 2018, a £7,000 grant helped set up the allotment project. Under the supervision of support worker Carla, residents grow vegetables that are then used in the kitchen. Working as a team, it provides a support network to deal with issues such as isolation, depression and low self-esteem.

This little oasis of peace offers a place to go when residents need some time to reflect and gather their thoughts. In the allotment, not only will you find fruit, vegetables and flowers, a cherry tree flourishes in the corner. It was recently planted for a resident who lost his life – a tragic story that will never leave the devoted team. Their energy, motivation and commitment to help people is commendable.

Sat in the shade of the potting shed is a former resident who now volunteers at the hostel. He became homeless after a sudden stroke had took away his ability to communicate while on holiday. After months in hospital recuperating, he returned to Cumbria to find he had lost his job and his home.

Billy, 26, became homeless when his family circumstances changed after a tragic incident. Not only was he subjected to a savage attack, he had also been living without gas and electricity for a year. He said: “It wasn’t safe for me to stay at home, I had nowhere to go.” Billy spent months at Calderwood House recovering. Since moving out, he now has a house nearby. He still enjoys visiting the Calderwood House team most days. They continue to support him, including helping him to apply for an online university course.

At Calderwood House, residents learn to live together in a community, sharing the cooking and cleaning, as well as developing skills and knowledge through work experience and training. You will often find residents helping in the community, including street cleaning and litter picking. One of the conditions of their stay is they stay free from drugs and alcohol, and testing is carried out.

Back at the allotment, past and current residents gather daily to water the plants and tend to its needs. The air is filled with laughter and banter as Lee, a former resident and friendly ex-army veteran, cooks up a delicious smoking barbeque to the resident’s delight.

Father of three, Lee, left the army in 2009 when his life spiralled out of control. After many troubled years of abusing drink and drugs, the 31 year old became homeless. He said: “With the support of Calderwood House, I now have my own home and work as a Security Guard. I can support my daughters and now look forward to a bright future.”

Also helping out is former veteran and resident Keith, who had been homeless on and off for many years. He had been living at the back of Tesco’s in Whitehaven when Rachel Holliday, Director and Founder of Time to Change approached him to offer help. Keith said: “If it wasn’t for Rachel, I would be dead.” Fast forward to today and you will find Keith helping current residents. He lives nearby and works as a Support Worker in the hostel. Forever thankful for the support he received, he now wants to pay it forward and help others.

Rachel was born and raised in Whitehaven. After becoming homeless in her teens, she spent many years working hard to move out of poverty and create a better life for herself.

Rachel set up Time to Change (West Cumbria) in 2013 to tackle the rising issue of homelessness and subsequent unemployment in the area. Based in the former police station, Calderwood House has received more than £70,000 in grants from Cumbria Community Foundation since 2013.

The first grant gave Rachel the opportunity to create eight new jobs. She said: “Staff are trained to a high standard to ensure our residents have the best support available to them. Time to Change also offers employment to those who may have been homeless, an ex-offender, or have faced mental health issues or addiction. We recognise our employees with lived experience often go over and above for our residents. I have personally experienced homelessness, drug addiction and severe mental health illness. It makes me who I am. Seeing my recovery and hearing my story gives others hope that there is a bright future out there.”

Another grant supported the purchase of a mobile coffee van from which residents sell its own brand blended coffee. You will often see new member of staff, Deb and Keith with the van at local events fundraising for Calderwood House. The coffee is packaged in-house and sold to the consumer market. For the residents, the purchase of the van not only meant new training but also paid employment.

The world of the homeless is a tough place. More and more people are facing homelessness and housing problems. Calderwood House will continue to save lives and support people at their most vulnerable.

“I liked to have a drink and would often have a glass of wine in the evening but then alcohol became my crutch. I found myself opening the wine and drinking the whole bottle.” This is a common statement in our current society and for some it can be the start of a downward spiral.

Alcohol-related hospital admissions in Cumbria are worse than the average for England. Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (CADAS) aims to address and reduce the negative impact of problematic drug and alcohol use on individuals, their families and communities.

CADAS is at the forefront of tackling drug and alcohol addiction in the county. It is particularly serious in Barrow, which has seen a spike in drug related deaths. People here are more likely to die from drugs than those in Manchester, Liverpool or Lancaster.

Helen Davies, one of the charity’s three clinical supervisors, said alcohol continues to be the substance most affecting local people. But the charity’s staff and volunteers are seeing evidence that people are increasingly mixing their alcohol use with dabbling in cocaine, with potentially damaging long-term consequences. “More people are accessing our service because of cocaine, and there are a lot of people using it recreationally while they are having a night out in town,” said Helen.

Brian, 40, started drinking at the age of 14. He describes his addiction growing from alcohol to ecstasy to cocaine before ending up in jail, where he started using heroin. “When I came out I was stealing from people, I was constantly asking for money. I was manipulating people. I didn’t think I had a problem. I thought I didn’t need recovery and that I could do it my way.”

He stopped using drugs and alcohol and received help from The Well in Barrow and put on the 12-step programme. He had talking therapy with CADAS and ten sessions of black box therapy – a TENS machine stimulates the body’s production of natural endorphins. This helps reduce stress, anxiety, improve sleeping patterns and the body to heal.

Recently, Brian saw his mother for the first time in a while. She said that him walking away that day was the hardest thing she ever saw, because for the first time in her life she wanted him to stay, not leave.

Over the last 17 years, CADAS has received almost £230,000 in grants from the Foundation. The first grant was awarded in 2003 towards staff supervision and training. In 2014, £30,000 from the NMP Community Fund helped to extend the S.T.A.R.S project in west Cumbria. Two part-time youth development workers were employed to support groups of 11-19 year olds through drug and alcohol school education programmes. It also offered one-to-one support for those worried about their own or others substance misuse.

CADAS uses volunteers to support people through their recovery and reintegration into the community. £24,000 from the United Utilities Legacy Fund employed a Volunteer Coordinator in West Cumbria. More recently, £30,000 was awarded to support the wages of a Recovery Volunteer Coordinator and increase the number of volunteers in Barrow over the next three years.

Carrie Bertram, CADAS Centre Coordinator, said: “Once trained, our volunteers can change a lot of lives. The intensive fourteen-week training process gives volunteers the skills and understanding to help clients make positive changes in their lives. They see an average of two clients each a week, offering mediation, nutrition and lifestyle support and a signposting service.”

Phil Caine, a CADAS volunteer who became an employee and now coaches people in recovery, said: “Volunteering is part of my own recovery. I live the 12-step programme. I wanted to work with CADAS and use my knowledge of addiction and drugs. There is the behavioural side of addiction, that’s a lot of what we do here, helping people figure out what is underneath the addiction.”

Addiction has no prejudice. It doesn’t discriminate, no matter where you are from, how old you are or what job or school you go to. There is no getting away from the fact that addiction can happen to anyone of us.

Helping only one person with their mental health recovery can save the community £60,000*.

A Cumbrian judge deferred a local man’s prison sentence after the intervention of Mind in West Cumbria. During sentencing, the Judge said: “I am delighted to read of your progress. I am delighted that you have responded to the help. There is no question that was it not for the support [of Mind in West Cumbria], I would have been imposing a custodial sentence.”

Statutory mental health services are overstretched. Yet, Mind in West Cumbria has several initiatives to help people struggling with mental health issues. It currently offers one-to-one counselling, drop-in sessions and family support. People can also develop gardening skills at its allotment in Flimby. The charity can offer these services free of charge thanks to financial help and has received more than £88,000 from the Foundation since 2006.

One in four people are likely to suffer from diagnosable mental health problems. Mind in West Cumbria works with other agencies and local partners to support around 100 people per week.

The Cumbria NHS Foundation Partnership has no dedicated helpline for people in urgent need of support. They must depend on GPs including the out of hours service and charities including MIND.

Dr Brian Campbell, Chairman, said: “We try to see people immediately, especially if there’s a threat of self-harm. We can give some time and activity that a GP doesn’t have time to do. We can go a long way to tackle mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, and, in some instances, self-harm and suicide.”

A young single mother, with no family of her own to turn to, was struggling with mental health. She is now a trainee manager and pursuing a university degree. She said: “I am only alive and beginning a life now because of MIND. Many people I have known never had the help and support I did, and sadly took their own life. MIND are paramount to people suffering like myself and so many others. They are the difference between life and death.”

The first grant in 2008 developed the garden behind its building to make it more attractive to its users. From this the Feel Good Project was founded and further grants promoted physical fitness and emotional wellbeing.

Over the years, funding has also supported volunteer training and mentor schemes, drop in sessions and activity costs, such as photography.

The Open Mind project helps people to overcome barriers to employment. It was developed when a local young man, who was bullied for much of his school life, suffered from anxiety.

The project offers training in personal social skills and basic education, alongside other therapeutic support. It aims to increase employability – helping members to reach their potential and fulfil their aspirations.

Dr Brian Campbell continues: “We are delighted at the project’s success. It has supported 80 people and the fact it has now succeeded for this young man is the ‘icing on the cake’ for us. He’s joined the gym and a community group and is looking at starting at the local college.”

The Open Mind project also helped a 15 year old girl who dropped out of school and made a serious attempt to end her life. She was supported throughout this traumatic time and continued with her academic studies. She has now been offered an apprenticeship.

Mind in West Cumbria gives people a way forward. It helps them to understand their options, offers practical and emotional support and lets them know that they’re not alone. Brian concludes: “We help people rekindle their ambitions, which may seem limited due to illness, so that they can thrive as individuals.”

* the estimated cost of an adult custodial sentence to the community per year.

Imagine how frightening it is to be 18 years old and pregnant with no one to support you. Cumbria Family Support has been helping families break through the issues and challenges they face for 25 years.

A local 18 year old with a troubled childhood sought help when she was pregnant with her first baby. She worried about the future for herself and her child. Thanks to Cumbria Family Support, she now has 3 children who are flourishing.

 “I had no family support myself; I had always been the support for them. I hadn’t learnt how to be a parent from my own Mum and needed some help with my baby. At first, I was very nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I worried about whether I would be able to look after my baby. I worried that others would think I wouldn’t be able to because of my childhood. I soon realised that the support worker was coming to help me and not judge me. She supports me to make the right decisions, she gives me advice that she would give to her own children. She never gets bored listening to me and has helped me with my anxiety and got me out of the house. She helps me with appointments and the children love it when she comes and like to play with her.”

Cumbria Family Support helps families who are experiencing difficulties in their own homes. Recently moving into the Allerdale area, the charity has been delivering services to families in Carlisle and Eden for 25 years with the support of over £63,000 of grants from Cumbria Community Foundation. Support workers and trained volunteers provide tailor-made practical and emotional support. Other services include parenting programmes, youth clubs and individual and group work sessions. The charity also manages the Child Contact Centre in Carlisle.

The first grant was awarded in 2006 and again in 2009 to train more volunteers to help with parenting, respite and offer a listening ear. In 2011, the ‘Best Buddies’ project received a grant to work with children aged 5-11 to promote positive relationships and develop awareness of personal safety.

In 2016, a grant helped towards the cost of a support worker to provide emotional resilience work. JP, aged 7, lives with her mum and an older teenage sister. Following her father’s sudden death, the school nurse referred her for emotional support. JP’s feelings started affecting her school and social life. The support worker helped JP to process her feelings about her father and his death. She became more confident, less withdrawn and more able to engage in all that school has to offer.

Grants continue to support a more recent project called Empowering Children and Families. The project works with families to address emerging issues and prevent them from escalating. It aims to support 300 children through a team of 50 volunteers and support workers.

Pam Hutton, Chief Officer said: “We have had fantastic support from Cumbria Community Foundation. As for all charities, fundraising is an ongoing and challenging process. We are reliant on the good will of our fantastic volunteers and the grant making trusts that fund our work.”

The charity has more than 40 volunteers who befriend families, visiting them once a week. One volunteer said: “Some of the families have many professionals in and out of their lives. I am providing continuity to a family that has never had it before.”

Pam continues: “Volunteers are the heart of the organisation. They are recruited from the community and understand the local needs. Volunteers come from all walks of life. They could be a retired professional who has known us from their work or a young person wanting to gain experience in the care profession. Parents who have received our support have become volunteers because they know how our services helped them.”