The next generation show they #CanDo community support

8th October 2020

Young people across West Cumbria have had their say in which projects they feel will make a difference in their communities.

The #CanDo project is part of Transforming West Cumbria and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation. It encourages young people to apply for funding for community projects. Those applications are then considered by a youth panel, putting the decisions firmly in the hands of the next generation.

The panel decided that Maryport and Solway Sea Cadets, Community Alcohol Partnership, Cumbria Youth Alliance and the Phoenix Youth Project should receive funding for their projects.

Emily Dixon, 16, who is part of the panel, said: “The panel was a great experience to be a part of. It was nice to be able to speak to people and share ideas even with the current circumstances. Everyone was really willing to get involved and all the ideas were very different.”

Between them they will tackle environmental pollution by installing a Seabin in Maryport Marina, support groups of young people as they tackle social issues in their communities, and help disadvantaged young people obtain a Level 2 qualification.

Sellafield Ltd’s Head of Community and Development, Gary McKeating, said: “Our new approach to social impact acknowledges that we do not have all of the answers, and that the people living in and working with our communities are best placed to identify projects that will make a difference.

“The fact that #Cando puts the identification of projects and the decision on what is funded in the hands of young people is, for me, one of the most exciting elements of the Transforming West Cumbria programme.”

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer at “Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We believe that young people should be heard and have their views valued and acted upon. That’s why we recruited our first youth advisory committee. Young people have enormous potential to make a positive change – their involvement is crucial to the future of our communities. This group will bring expertise and a fresh pair of eyes to help us decide which projects are funded. I look forward to involving you people in our grant making in  future.”

You can find our more about the #Cando project here.  The next closing date is 20th November for the next round of grants on 16th December 2020.

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