Month: September 2021
West Cumbrian business sets up fund to support Cumbrian causes
West Cumbria based business vows to give back to its local community through Cumbria Community Foundation.
MissionCX is a purpose driven company based in Whitehaven. It provides specialist commissioning services delivering mission critical projects in the UK and France. Its team of staff are dedicated to supporting charitable projects across the region and recently set up the MissionCX Fund.
The fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, raises money, which is invested, and income generated is given out in grants via the Cumbria Fund. Donations are pooled together to grow the unrestricted fund and respond to the growing needs of local communities by providing much-needed funding, year on year, to charitable organisations.
Ben Slater, Managing Director & Senior Management Consultant, said: “We are committed to leaving a lasting, positive legacy for our local community, through our 1% pledge initiative, which commits 1% of our profits, equity, time and product to philanthropic endeavours. Cumbria Community Foundation will manage our fund ensuring that our annual contributions are distributed to those in our community that need it most. It is our intent to grow our acorn into an oak tree, maximising our social impact.”
The MissionCX Fund is part of the Cumbria Fund, which has supported awarded more than £1.4 million in grants to 500 projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged children and families, improve life skills, education, employability and enterprise for disadvantaged people, support vulnerable older people, improve the health and wellbeing of people and strengthen and supports fragile communities.
Andy Beeforth, CEO at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The creation of a fund is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. We work with our fundholders to learn about their needs and wishes and create funds that match their interests and need in the community.
“By utilising the knowledge and expertise of our staff, trustees and volunteers, grants are channelled to the best effect giving donors a great sense of satisfaction and confidence.”
For more information on how you can help local causes by setting up your own fund please click here.
Cumbria Tourism forges Strategic Partnership with Cumbria Community Foundation
Cumbria Community Foundation has become the first charity to be named as one of Cumbria Tourism’s official ‘Strategic Partners’.
As one of the UK’s most prominent Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), Cumbria Tourism’s core network of Strategic Partners draw together collective expertise from across the county to champion effective destination marketing to support businesses, visitors and local communities.
Cumbria Community Foundation is a leading, accredited community foundation and provides philanthropic services to individuals, families and organisations – managing more than 100 grant making funds and awarding an average of around £3 million a year.
This new Strategic Partnership between the two organisations reflects the importance of the visitor economy to local people, supporting jobs and prosperity for the county as a whole.
It also means that 10% of the proceeds generated by Cumbria Tourism’s MyCumbria residents’ cards will now be donated directly to Cumbria Community Foundation, to support local good causes.
Jacqui Currie, Head of Development, said: “Cumbria Community Foundation is delighted to have become a strategic partner of Cumbria Tourism. Our organisations share common values as we work to build a bright, sustainable future for Cumbria’s communities. With one in four people in the county depending on visitor spending for their livelihood, tourism is embedded in our communities and our economy.
“Many tourism businesses already work with the Foundation by becoming members and fundholders, the proceeds of which the Foundation gives out in grants to community groups that help vulnerable people in our county. Through our Strategic Partnership with Cumbria Tourism, we will be encouraging new supporters in the tourism sector to help us to address disadvantage in our county.”
Jim Walker, Chairman of Cumbria Tourism, adds, “The visitor economy is integral to our local communities and Cumbria Community Foundation is an outstanding example of an organisation giving back to the place where we live and work. It’s fitting that they become the first charity to be named as an official Strategic Partner and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with them over the coming year.”
Cumbria Community Foundation joins a core network of Strategic Partners, who are all highly respected and regarded across the county. The list includes:
- United Utilities (Cumbria Tourism patron)
- Burnetts
- The Cumberland
- Forestry England
- Grasmere Gingerbread
- Highways England
- Holidaycottages.co.uk
- Lake District Estates
- Lake District National Park
- Lamont Pridmore
- NFU Mutual
- Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire
- Thomson Hayton Winkley
- University of Cumbria
- Windermere Lake Cruises
Full details on Cumbria Tourism’s MyCumbria Card.
Competition launched to find young West Cumbrians creating ‘positive disruption’
Called Positive Disruptors, the competition is open to young people living in Allerdale or Copeland and aged between 10 and 25 who want to “positively disrupt” their communities.
Based on a similar initiative run by the Hunter Foundation, the aim of the programme is to empower young people to ‘positively disrupt’ the status quo, to give them a platform to be heard and to break down the barriers for aspiring young entrepreneurs. It is looking to back young people who have ambition and the courage to take that ambition on.
Developed by Cumbria Community Foundation, Positive Disruptors is funded by Cumbrian property developer, Brian Scowcroft, with match funding from Sellafield Ltd as part of its Transforming West Cumbria programme, LLWR, Well Whitehaven, Morgan Sindall and Kaefer.
Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants & Programmes Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “It is very encouraging to see more funding allocated to creating opportunities after what has been a very challenging time. Positive Disruptors will have an incredible impact on young people, empowering them to develop their ideas that will benefit their peers, their communities and young people of the future.”
Ten successful entrants will each be awarded £1,000 to help them realise their ambition. As well as receiving the grant, the Foundation has teamed up with the Centre for Leadership Performance to provide the young disruptors with six months of support, including a series of workshops, expert advice, mentoring and opportunities to shadow local entrepreneurs to help bring their idea to life.
Catherine Eve, Executive Director, at the Centre for Leadership Performance, said: “We are delighted to be working with Cumbria Community Foundation, the programme promotes self-belief, vision, efficacy, collaboration and resilience; a perfect development platform for young people to develop leadership skills, find their voice and promote ideas that will positively disrupt their community and lead to innovation and improvement.”
Any potential positive disruptors now have an eight-week period to develop their ideas and apply by 10th Jan 2022. An advisory panel will meet to review all entries and winners will be announced.
ENTER HERE: Positive Disruptors Application Form 2021/22
For information, click here.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor to help and encourage these young people to prosper, complete an application form, no later than 1st October 2021 or contact annalee@cumbriafoundation.org for more information.