13th May 2021
Charitable projects across the county have received a share of more than £235,000 addressing a range of issues including homelessness, mental health and domestic violence.
More than 40 charitable organisations and 11 people received a share of the funds at Cumbria Community Foundation’s recent grants panel.
The money came from funds set up by local people and businesses including Herdy, Russell Armer, Westmorland Ltd and author Hunter Davies.
The 106 Bus Partnership received £2,000 from the Pappagallino Fund to support its vital bus service for residents in the Eden area.
The service means that elderly rural residents have transport to do their weekly shopping, attend regular health appointments, pick up prescriptions and attend vaccination centres.
Chairman, John Owen, said: “We have had a very difficult 12 months with Covid restrictions meaning our passenger numbers have been quite restricted. However, are determined to keep the route running so that isolated rural residents, without their own transport can get to the shop and attend Covid testing and vaccination appointments.
“As restrictions ease, we expect to see more people using the bus again. We’re also putting together some ideas for days out using the 106 bus route for people who are planning to holiday at home this summer. The money from Cumbria Community Foundation has helped us over the financial challenges of Covid and will ensure that the route can continue into the future. “
School children from Heron Hill Primary School in Kendal are learning to become young apiarists thanks to £3,000 from the Holehird Trust and Russell Armer Fund.
There is a real buzz at the school around their new interest in beekeeping after the children were introduced to the activity by chair of school governors Jacqui Cottam, who is an experienced apiarist and established the Bee Team.
Jacqui said: “The funding will prove invaluable to our project over the next year. Our Bee Team Young Apprentice Scheme, targets children who may be at risk of not achieving their potential in life.
“The scheme allows pupils who may not have the ‘social leg up’ many youngsters have, by giving them not only nationally recognised qualifications, but most importantly, life skills, a reference, confidence and work experience to take to the next step of their journey, as well as educating and enthusing the next generation of beekeepers.”
Carlisle based iCan Health and Fitness CIC received £5,971 to support its new WeCan Cook project. The pilot project will provide simple, healthy cookery classes to add to its current list of services including a community gym that focuses on promoting healthy weight.
Julia Clifford, Director, said: “We have been inundated with requests from our community to start an interactive cooking programme, where people cook alongside a chef. This is very much the way we do everything, we enable people to gain skills through interaction, rather than teaching through a dictating model that we are so used to here in the UK. We will offer six four-week sessions for five beneficiaries each month to learn healthy, affordable dishes to enhance their wellbeing.”
A project for the environment and youth work sector designed to engage and inspire young people from across the Westmorland area was awarded £32,220 from the Westmorland Family Community Fund.
The Oaklea Trust’s Green Mentor Scheme will encourage young people to take part in environmental learning and action over the next two years.
Susan Green, Director, said: “The project is designed to engage and inspire young people from across the Westmorland area of Cumbria, to take part in environmental learning and action.
“We can now employ a Green Mentor Youth leader to recruit and support groups of young people aged 13-18 in environmental social action projects.
“This project fits with our workplace behaviour of being kind, in this case to the planet and develops the partnership with the Ernest Cook Trust who initially launched this concept across the UK.
There was also another boost for disadvantaged students across the county as they benefit from a grant of £27,559 from the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund to purchase laptops for their studies.
£7,639 was also awarded to 11 people to support their career development through educational grants.
Ellen Clements, Senior Grants Officer, said: “There are many worthy organisations in Cumbria that hold communities together. This is a great example of how philanthropy is helping local people and helping our communities to thrive. We are grateful for the continued support of all our fund holders.”