27th April 2026
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.”