Nine community projects across Cumbria have received a financial boost totalling more than £14,000 from a charitable fund set up by a local engineering firm.

The Shepley Group Fund was established in 2009 by Whitehaven-based Shepley Engineers Limited to give grants to small, volunteer-led or community groups helping people facing disadvantage.

The fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, has awarded more than £150,000 in grants since then. In the last year, grants totalling £14,155 have been given to community groups and charities.

Howgill Family Centre in Cleator Moor received £2,000 towards the salary costs for a part-time Project Manager and Volunteer Coordinator to manage the West Cumbria Baby Bank project which provides post-natal safety and wellbeing to babies and parents.

This project aims to reduce the impacts of childhood poverty in west Cumbria by supporting vulnerable babies with a safe place to sleep, warm clothes and the essentials for early development.

Faye Eldon, Chief Executive of the Howgill Family Centre, said: “We are so thankful for the funding we have received from Cumbria Community Foundation. This funding will allow us to continue and expand our West Cumbria Baby Bank project this year.

“With the funding, we are able to provide the service which supports and improves post-natal safety and wellbeing of the baby and mother, as well as providing dignity and hope at this vulnerable time of their lives. The project provides baby clothing, moses baskets, cots, toiletries and essential baby equipment via referrals from midwives, health visitors, social services and other support agencies. Thank you so much.”

Healthy Hopes Cumbria was awarded £2,000 towards the cost of running weekly wellbeing groups in Carlisle and Wigton and employment charity Goodlives received £1,000 towards the cost of running services to support learners into work.

Other projects supported by the Shepley Group Fund included Proud and Diverse Cumbria, awarded £2,000 towards rent for the Colours Hub in Whitehaven, and Safe Families and Home for Good, who received £2,000 towards the salary of a Family Support Manager.

Engineering Development Trust received £1,405 to deliver Industrial Cadets Bronze Projects in two Cumbria schools to inspire young people into STEM careers and Cumbria Scout Council received £1,000 to buy two bell boats for Scouts to use at the Bassenthwaite Centre.

Ryan Christie, Group Operations Support Manager at the Shepley Group, said: “Being a Cumbrian based business, we are delighted that we can support the communities in which we operate by awarding this funding. We have held our fund with Cumbria Community Foundation since 2009 and we are incredibly proud that we have been able to help so many local charities since then and see the impact it has provided.”

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The Shepley Group Fund makes a real difference to communities across Cumbria, funding vital projects which support those who need it most. We are really grateful that they trust us to deliver this essential work.”

Cumbria Community Foundation gives around £6million in grants a year to local charities and voluntary groups through over 100 grant making funds set up by generous businesses, individuals and families.

To find out more about setting up a fund and supporting those in need in Cumbria, contact Development Manager Caroline Adams on 01900 820825 or email caroline@cumbriafoundation.org.

Charities and organisations in Barrow have received a £400,000 funding boost to help people facing health challenges into work.

Barrow Rising: Work and Health Fund (Adult Support) was set up to enable clear pathways for people facing health related barriers towards gaining or sustaining meaningful employment.

Led by Westmorland and Furness Council and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, the fund will help people who are disabled or have long-term health conditions, those with caring responsibilities, or others experiencing disadvantage.

In total, seven projects have received funding. They are:

• Citizens Advice Barrow – £98,330 to fund a partnership with St Mary’s Hospice, Mind in Furness and Carers Support, delivering workplace and community-based support for adults experiencing health-related barriers to employment
• A Stitch Different – £48,101 to extend the Furness Sleep Helpline pilot
• Cowran Care – £48,200 to work with 25 young people facing barriers into employment
• Cumbria Addictions, Advice & Solutions (CADAS) – £49,639 to support people affected by substance abuse to remain in employment, with a focus on the construction and hospitality industries
• Barrow Forward – £50,000 to deliver one-to-one exercise and wellness interventions for individuals facing health-related barriers to employment
• Inspira – £49,466 to fund a project adviser to support NEET young adults
• Vision Support Barrow & District – £49,000 to support working-age people with Vision Impairment (VI) to build tenacity and overcome barriers to employment

Debbie Twinney, Director of A Stitch Different, said: “We are delighted to receive additional funding for the Furness Sleep Helpline and associated work. This will enable us to expand delivery to include one-to-one support, small groups and targeted workshops.

“We know that sleeplessness has a major impact on health and wellbeing, so this funding has the potential to make a real difference to many people who are currently struggling. We are incredibly grateful for the Fund’s confidence in our work and look forward to delivering meaningful, lasting impact.

Partnership

Barrow Rising: Work and Health Fund (Adult Support) sits under Team Barrow: a unique public-private partnership that brings together the skills, funding, and capabilities of the Government, Westmorland and Furness Council, BAE Systems, businesses and the wider community.

Clare Paling, Public Health Project Officer at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “We know there are people in Barrow who want to get back into the workforce, but who face barriers and challenges which prevent them from being able to. The idea of this fund is to place money in the hands of local organisations who can help these people through targeted interventions and programmes.

“We decided to create this grant funding programme in recognition of the important contribution the voluntary and community sector make in supporting people in Barrow. We are delighted to work with Cumbria Community Foundation to deliver this funding, which we believe will be life-changing for many people currently struggling to access employment.”

Sarah Thompson, Grants and Programmes Officer for Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We were very impressed by the breadth and scope of applications we received and are delighted to be able to fund so many excellent projects.

“Evidence shows that having access to work can improve mental and physical health, so we look forward to hearing some of the success stories made possible by this funding.”

Read more about the projects funded.

A Cumbrian construction giant is launching a new fund to tackle poverty, provide skills and training, and promote wellbeing in local communities.

Flimby-based Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd, incorporating award winning Washington Homes, will support projects making a difference in the areas where it operates across Cumbria.

Managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, the Thomas Armstrong Construction Community Fund will give grants of up to £2,000 to not-for-profit organisations in communities near their head office and sites where they and Washington Homes operate. These currently include Flimby, Workington, Maryport, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Gilcrux, Millom, Moor Row, Penrith and Wigton.

Organisations should be working to create opportunities for people to escape poverty, providing skills, education, and training to help individuals achieve their full potential, or promoting better health.

Philip Hoyles, Deputy Managing Director of Thomas Armstrong Construction, said: “At Thomas Armstrong Construction, we are keen to forge stronger links with our communities.

“Establishing the Community Fund is our way of giving back to the areas where we live and work, supporting local projects that make a real difference to people’s lives. This initiative reflects our commitment to social responsibility and our desire to help create a positive, lasting impact across Cumbria.”

Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships, said: “We’re delighted that Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd have chosen to create a fund with Cumbria Community Foundation. For more than 25 years, we’ve been the trusted philanthropic partner of businesses who want to give back to the communities they serve.

“We have a deep understanding of the county’s needs and look forward to ensuring this money makes the biggest difference possible.”

To find out whether your organisation or project might be eligible to apply for a grant, or to apply, go to the fund page.

Priority will be given to projects that improve the lives of children and families in need of extra support; offer inclusive activities and reduce isolation; promote better mental health and wellbeing; or build stronger, more resilient communities.

For more information, contact Grants and Programmes Officer Lisa Blackwell on 01900 820828 or email lisa@cumbriafoundation.org.

Cumbria Community Foundation gives around £6million in grants a year to local charities and voluntary groups through more than 100 grant making funds set up by generous businesses, individuals and families.

To find out more about setting up a fund and supporting those in need in Cumbria, contact Development Manager Caroline Adams on 01900 820825 or email caroline@cumbriafoundation.org.

What is the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund?    

Between January 2023 and March 2025, the Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) Fund invested up to £30 million to widen participation in volunteering and tackle loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas across England.

Between January 2023 March 2025, UK Community Foundations (UKCF) managed £15 million of funding, delivered through nine participating community foundations.

Originally scheduled to end in March 2025, in April 2025 the KYN Fund was extended to run until March 2026, with up to an additional £4.5 million of funding, of which UK Community Foundations managed £2.3 million.

Between January 2023 and March 2026, nine community foundations distributed a total of 190 grants between January 2023 and March 2026 to local community-led projects supporting volunteering, social connection and community cohesion.

The programme engaged a total of 144,632 participants across its funding streams.

Local delivery through Cumbria Community Foundation

As part of this national partnership, Cumbria Community Foundation distributed £1,716,000 in grant funding to support community‑led activity in Barrow‑in‑Furness, with a strong focus on volunteering, connection and community participation.

This included the Furness for You project, led by Groundwork, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s The Bay project. Furness for You is a place‑based programme designed to strengthen community connections, support local people to get involved in shaping activity in their neighbourhoods, and enable voluntary and community organisations to work together to respond to local priorities.

Delivery partners include Age UK South Cumbria, Brathay Trust, Barrow Leisure Centre, Barrow & District Disability Association, Cumbria CVS, Furness Multicultural Forum, the Poverty Truth Commission, Stitch Ability and Women’s Community Matters.

Independent report shares learning from successful approaches

A key focus of the KYN Fund has been to generate and share learning on how people in disadvantaged areas can be supported to volunteer and improve their social connections, which will help to support sustained action beyond the lifetime of the fund.

This independent report explores evaluation findings from KYN Fund delivery between January 2023 and March 2025.

It found that the KYN Fund successfully engaged people new to volunteering. Over half of volunteers (52%) reported they were volunteering for the first time through KYN‑funded activity.

Disabled people and those with long‑term health conditions were strongly represented. Nearly half of participants (48%) reported a long‑term disability or health condition, compared to 18% nationally.

The evaluation also found that the KYN Fund created conditions that supported participation by people at higher risk of chronic loneliness. ‘14% of participants reported feeling lonely often or always, compared to 7% nationally.’

At the same time, the evaluation highlights limits in how loneliness can be measured, noting that ‘there are recognised limitations in measuring loneliness which mean it can be challenging to capture impact in this area.’

Learning from the programme points to the importance of flexible, sustained funding approaches when working with communities experiencing chronic loneliness. The evaluation highlights the value of flexible delivery, sufficient setup time and multi‑year approaches to building trust and engagement.

The evaluation also identifies the role of place‑based delivery and local partnerships in supporting engagement and positive local outcomes. Local knowledge, trusted relationships and partnerships supported participation and were associated with improved feelings of belonging and neighbourhood connection. ‘Local partnerships, trusted relationships and community‑based assets were central to engaging participants.’

The report offers recommendations around recruitment and community engagement, project delivery and collaboration and evaluation approaches, which can be found online here.

Reports supported by UKCF throughout the KYN Fund can be found online here.