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West Cumbrian families to benefit from new funding opportunity

Charitable groups and partnerships supporting vulnerable children and young families in West Cumbria are being encouraged to apply for funding.

Part of Transforming West Cumbria, Family Wellbeing will give cash grants of up to £50,000 a year for three years to projects that improve the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families in West Cumbria by:

  • Encouraging a whole-family approach, supporting parents and families to engage and actively support their children’s development
  • Supporting children to build emotional resilience, particularly at critical transition points in their lives
  • Acknowledging the importance of early years (0-5 years) interventions and the need for intensive family centred support.

The scheme is part of wider £2.2 million investment that Sellafield Ltd and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will be injecting into local communities over the next three years.

Gary McKeating, Sellafield Ltd’s head of community and development, said: “I am delighted that we are able to make quick progress on delivering Transforming West Cumbria. The fact that we are in a position to award grants so quickly is a testament to Cumbria Community Foundation’s commitment to the programme.

“There are many amazing charities that are doing vital work with some of the most vulnerable people in our community. I’d encourage them all to look at how the Family Wellbeing might be able to help them support even more people, or make their work more sustainable, and get their grant applications in as quickly as possible.”

Transforming West Cumbria, developed by Cumbria Community Foundation, focuses on promoting thriving communities by supporting sustainable activities that create self-reliance and independence.

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We recognise that to really transform children’s life chances, they need sustained interventions that meet the diversity of their needs and that participation and co-production must be a key component of any service.

“Children and families in West Cumbria are supported by many charities to improve their lives so that they reach their full potential. These groups are part of the community, trusted by families and can make a real difference, providing help and hope.

“Family Wellbeing will address a need for more support to work with parents and families to establish stability in the lives of children and achieve lasting positive outcomes.”

More information can be found at www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/transforming-west-cumbria-family-wellbeing or by calling 01900 825760. Applications must be received by 4th September 2020.

Wind farm funding boost to South Lakes community

Charitable groups in and around the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm are invited to apply for funding of up to £10,000.

The Kirkby Moor development was one of the UK’s first wind farms, coming online in 1993. Since the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund was established with Cumbria Community Foundation in 2009, more than £42,000 has been invested into worthwhile projects including the multi-use games area in Kirkby-in-Furness, new footpaths and cycleways and improvements to Grizebeck Village Hall.

Last year, the wind farm was granted permission to continuing operating until 2027, which also increased the annual donation to the community benefit fund from £3,555 to £24,000 (indexed linked).

Ventient Energy, commented: “We are delighted to work with Cumbria Community Foundation to continue supporting local communities around Kirkby Moor Wind Farm through our Benefit Fund.”

“Ventient is committed to bringing prosperity to the local areas beyond the generation of renewable energy. In the past we have witnessed the positive impact of the Benefit Fund and we place great trust in the local councils that work tirelessly to allow their communities to flourish.”

Kirkby-in-Furness Community Centre is celebrating after recently receiving £10,000 from the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

The money will be used towards fitting out the newly redeveloped centre on Lady Moyra Incline, including improvements to the kitchen, toilets and security and fire system.

David Anderson, Chairman said: “We were fortunate to raise more than £200,000 to extend and refurbish the building.  This latest award of £10,000 will ensure we can fit out the facilities to a high standard.

“The Community Centre has become more sustainable as a leisure and recreational asset, providing a vital community amenity. We have football, cricket, bowling and tennis teams all playing in local leagues, and it will now be possible to add indoor activities, improving the overall health and wellbeing of local residents.”

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “This Fund provides a valuable, long-term, sustainable and reliable source of income for the local communities in Kirkby Moor. The support from Ventient Energy provides assistance to groups in the area who are helping to meet the priority needs of their community.

“It is flexible funding that can address what is really important to communities and we’re delighted to administer this funding which has been making a difference to the communities surrounding Kirkby Moor.”

The Fund is open for applications from community groups and charities within the area of benefit. Eligible projects must be in the 8km radius of the wind farm. More information can be found here.

Communities across Cumbria receive charitable funding

Grants totalling £393,500 have been awarded to community groups across Cumbria.

A total of 58 charitable organisations received a share of the funds at Cumbria Community Foundation’s recent grants panel.

The money will support a wide range of projects across the county such as improving community and sports facilities, offer additional youth provision, support those at risk of homelessness and give help to those with addiction issues.

17 people also received financial support towards educational and training related costs, including support to one young person’s participation of the World Challenge Expedition in Borneo.

The money came from funds administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, including those set up by Cumberland Building Society, Shepley Group and Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd.

Copeland Age and Advice Service (CAAS) CIC received £30,000 over three years from the Roselands Trust Fund and the Cumbria Fund to continue supporting older people in the local area.

Centre Manager, Becky Goddard said: “This vital funding will enable us to continue our current service provision while also enabling us to develop and expand the support we offer to our vulnerable client base, including the provision of our Dementia Support service and the set up and development of our low level aids, adaptions and equipment sales”.

“We are very excited about what the future holds for CAAS and with support of our funders, we will ensure that Copeland Age and Advice Service goes from strength to strength.”

Carlisle Key works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The charity received £4,000 from the Cumbria Fund, Violet Laidlaw Trust Fund and Elizabeth Fell Memorial Trust Fund to support its drop-in and one-to-one support service.

It runs a drop-in centre on Fisher Street which has remained open every day during the coronavirus outbreak and has also recently opened an 11-bed supported accommodation unit which is already nearing full occupation.

Iain Mcnee, Project and Outreach worker, said: “We provide assistance and support within our drop in service and our newly opened Supported Housing Accommodation. Our goal is to inspire young people with the knowledge and confidence to live independently and make a positive contribution to our local community and beyond.”

Heron Corn Mill in Beetham, near Kendal, is a Grade ll listed building situated on the banks of the River Bela and is one of the few working mills left in Cumbria. The re-developed barn is used as an educational and arts resource and a building for community hire. It received £4,963 from the Pappagallino Fund to continue its activities programme.

Audrey Steel, Creative Project Manager, said: “Our adapted programme in response to COVID-19, enables all our resident and community groups to stay engaged with us, whether this is through online resources, video meetings, or as with the elderly group, Powsowdie, a box delivered every month containing activities, resources and freshly prepared food, all to a theme, to gather memories and responses. Powsowdie is normally held at the Mill and is a reminiscence project. It is currently going out as a ‘boxed’ offering to isolated elderly or disabled people in the area.

One older lady said; “When my box arrived I was wondering what I could eat for tea – and this was taken care of by the wonderful tea provided! As I blew the bubbles I found in the box, I was reminded of me and my sister blowing bubbles in the garden many years ago. Thank you for the sweets – I haven’t tasted sherbet in years!”

Kent Estuary Youth (KEY) works with young people in Arnside, Levens and Milnthorpe, and received £3,000 from the Cumbria Young People’s Fund to sustain and extend the range of youth work on offer.

Greg Tagney, Trustee, said: “We are truly grateful for the support from CCF which enables KEY to continue our work with the young people within the Kent Estuary area.

“We believe in young people having a strong voice in their activities and in how KEY develops its work. We run a number of youth activities; youth club, youth cafe, schools alternative curriculum support, projects such as Random Acts of Kindness, summer holiday activities, development programmes, intergenerational work and community projects in which the young people lead their own input with the support of our staff.”

Ellen Clements, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “There are many worthy organisations around the county that hold communities together and continue to support the needs of local people. We are ever grateful to the generosity of our fundholders to enable us to support these vital services, especially during times when local services are under pressure and struggling to meet local needs.”

For more information or to apply for a grant, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org or call a member of the grants team on 01900 825760.