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Keswick Alhambra Cinema Winter Warmth Fundraiser

Open every day throughout the Christmas and New Year period, the Keswick Alhambra Cinema is situated in the heart of the Lake District. It expects to be one of only five cinemas in the whole of the UK to welcome customers on Christmas Day itself, the nearest alternatives being hundreds of miles away in Glasgow and Leicester.

The independent and family owned and run cinema is showing five films on December 25th:

– the classic “The Bishop’s Wife”  (5.15pm)

– family favourites “Elf” (4.00pm) and the Muppet Christmas Carol in its 30th anniversary re-release (3.30pm)

– then in the evening we have the two big hits of the moment “Matilda the Musical” (7.30pm) and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (6.30pm).

Christmas Day opening at the Alhambra started in 2020 during the Covid lockdown. There were many people in Keswick who couldn’t travel to be with their families or to host them here for Christmas, and we thought that opening the cinema would be a way of providing festive cheer for those separated from their loved ones.

Co-owner Jonathan Moore said: “Word of mouth spread and the following year we found that all sorts of people wanted to come out on Christmas Day, including some as an integral part of their Christmas Day plans and others, including those who don’t celebrate Christmas, who were happy to find the cinema open that day.”

“The cinema raises funds over Christmas for the Cumbria Foundation Winter Warmth Fund by selling home-made mince pies and mulled wine. The Foundation also receives all the profit from the Christmas Day films. Importantly this year we will be also able to directly help those struggling to heat their homes by providing a warm and welcoming place to be.

“On Christmas Day our doors will be open from 2.30pm – 11.00pm and with five great films to see – I am sure there will be a really lovely atmosphere” Jonathan added.

Website: www.keswickalhambra.co.uk

Competition launched to find enterprising young West Cumbrians

Called Positive Enterprise, the competition is open to young people living in Allerdale or Copeland and aged between 14 and 25 to help bring their enterprising ideas to life.

The aim of the programme is to empower young people to think differently and break down barriers for aspiring young entrepreneurs. It is looking to back young people who have a social business idea with ambition to make it into a reality.

Developed by Cumbria Community Foundation, Positive Enterprise 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 comes on the back of a very challenging time for young people. Positive Enterprise will help 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 six months of support, including a series of workshops, expert advice, mentoring and opportunities to shadow local entrepreneurs.

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 five-week period to develop their ideas and apply by 5pm on Monday 9th January 2022. An advisory panel will meet to review all entries and winners will be announced at the end of January.

For information on how to enter here.