Cumbria Community Foundation has hit the incredible milestone of £75 million given out to grassroots good causes across the county.

Set up in 1999 to inspire local giving and help communities thrive, Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) raises and invests money to support the people, places and causes that make Cumbria stronger. Today, CCF manages more than 150 funds on behalf of businesses, individuals, families and trusts across the county, awarding vital grants that enable local people to meet the challenges they face.

Generosity

In 2025/26, CCF awarded £5.3 million through 706 grants, helping community groups and individuals across Cumbria. This included 458 grants to groups and 248 grants to individuals, with average awards of £8,232 and £1,012 respectively.

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at CCF, said: “Reaching the £75 million milestone reflects the generosity of thousands of donors and the lasting impact of community organisations across the county. We’re proud that our experience and expertise mean we’re the trusted philanthropic partner for Cumbria.

“We target funding where it is needed most, creating the biggest impact in areas of greatest need, tackling poverty, health issues, inequality, community cohesion and climate change.

“We’re pleased with the impact our work continues to have but know that the need today is greater than ever.”

Sixteen new funds were set up with CCF in 2025/26, including several funded by notable Cumbrian businesses, including Grasmere Gingerbread, Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd and Westmorland, owners of Tebay Services and Rheged.

Other funds were established as a result of gifts left in wills by generous individuals, and others set up in memory of loved ones.

Organisations supported in 2025/26 included Artworks Art4All, a Barrow social enterprise on a mission to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people in Furness. CCF awarded £3,351 towards the cost of equipment, materials and transport for the Men’s Make and Mend group, set up in 2024 at the request of local men dealing with anxiety, loneliness and other mental health issues.

One participant, Dale, has found support from the group after the death of two close family members. “Just coming to this group instead of sitting at home helps me get through that and gives me a routine,” he said. “Just getting out the house and interacting with people really helps me.”

Cumbria Community Foundation carried out a survey earlier this year, asking people who received grants in the past three years for their feedback. More than 90% of respondents agreed that the application process was easy to understand, with clear eligibility criteria. More than 80% said they received good communication from CCF at every stage of the application process.

Supportive

One applicant said: ““Everyone I have dealt with at Cumbria Community Foundation has been consistently supportive, professional and genuinely keen to help. The advice, responsiveness and constructive approach make a real difference, particularly for small, volunteer-led organisations who are doing their best to develop strong and realistic funding bids. Even where applications are not successful, the way feedback and support is offered feels encouraging and focused on helping organisations improve rather than simply saying no, and that is hugely appreciated.”

A new online portal has been introduced to make the application process simpler and more efficient for groups and individuals applying for funding.

As demand for support continues to grow, CCF is encouraging more people, businesses and organisations to get involved by donating, establishing a fund or leaving a gift in their will to help make a lasting difference to communities across the county.

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

Young Cumbrian entrepreneurs showed off their innovative business ideas, from AI virtual assistants to African food, at two celebration events this week.

Fifteen young people from Furness and West Cumbria aged 14 to 25 were selected to take part in the Positive Enterprise programme back in January.

The programme, developed and run by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP), helps young people go into business.

Participants were each given a £1,000 grant at the start of this year to launch or develop their own business. Their innovative ideas ranged from pet photography and a mobile make-up service, to fragrances capturing the smells of Cumbria and a gutter cleaning business.

They all received six months of mentoring from an experienced local businessperson, and skills and leadership development opportunities from CforLP.

Celebration events were held this week at the Carnegie Theatre in Workington and The Bridge in Barrow, where the young people gave a presentation about their business, explaining where their idea had come from, and talking through the successes and challenges they had faced.

Two from each area were chosen by the judges to receive a further cash injection into their business.

Impressing them most from the West Cumbria cohort was Maria Ferreira, 21, of Workington, who refurbishes and reupholsters furniture through her business Ferrocious Furniture. She received an additional £1,000 in funding which she plans to spend on running workshops to teach others how to upcycle and breathe new life into old items.

“I want to show people that you can find pieces in your home that you can give a new lease of life to, rather than just throwing them away,” she explained. “Sometimes it feels like there aren’t many career opportunities or creative outlets for people in places like Workington. I want to show people that you can do it if you try. This is something I want to do for the rest of my life as a business.”

Maria was mentored by Rachel Stewart, who has now volunteered her time and expertise on the programme for three years. “It has been great,” Rachel said. “My friend is an upholsterer, and my dad restores furniture, so Maria has been able to learn from them too. It has been a real team effort. I’m so proud of her.”

Runner-up was 20-year-old Holly Chamberlain of Cockermouth, who received an additional £500 towards her business Un Petit Rêve – a sewing and knitting pattern studio. Holly designs, makes and sells clothes, patterns, and knitted items, and runs workshops so others can do the same.

This is the fourth year of the Positive Enterprise programme, which was funded in West Cumbria this year by Sellafield Ltd, through the Transforming West Cumbria programme, Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd, the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund, and a private donor.

Stuart McCourt, Senior Social Impact Manager at Sellafield Ltd, said: “We were delighted to support Positive Enterprise for the fourth year running through our SiX social impact, multiplied programme. Very well done to all of the participants, it is really inspiring to see how they have taken an idea and developed that through into reality. It’s fantastic to hear about their progress on the programme and I’m excited to see them take their next steps.

“Whatever the future holds for them, I’m sure the skills that the participants have gained and the network they have built will help them enormously. Positive Enterprise is a real team effort between the participants, delivery partners, business mentors and funders and shows what can be achieved when we work together.”

Positive Enterprise ran for the first time in the Furness area this year, funded by the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund and individual donor Jan Ambler.

Travis Drake, 25, of Barrow, was chosen by the judges to receive an additional £1,000 grant towards his business Buzz Trackers – a device to help people find items they have mislaid, such as TV remote controls. He was mentored by James Batchelor.

Travis said: “The funding from Positive Enterprise really did help but the best thing has been the people I’ve met along the journey. James has been a great mentor throughout, helping me think outside the box and try new ideas.”

Runner-up for Furness was Rukky Jokoh, 18, with her Nigerian food business Rukky’s Naija Hub. She said: “The programme has helped me turn a passion into a sustainable business, bringing authentic Nigerian food to more people.”

The programme is delivered by the Centre for Leadership Performance. Executive Director Catherine Eve said: “Positive Enterprise goes from strength to strength. The ideas, energy and creativity of the participants this year was next level and we are confident they all have very bright futures ahead of them.

“The programme has given these young people invaluable help from their mentors, practical workshops and a tailored programme of support, enabling them to develop key employability and entrepreneurial skills such as negotiation, time management, and business knowledge.”

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Thank you to all of the mentors who give up their time and the donors who have funded this truly transformational programme, which will no doubt have a lasting effect on the young people involved throughout their careers.”

Applications for Positive Enterprise 2027 will open later this year but anyone keen to be involved as a participant or mentor can register their interest now by emailing grants@cumbriafoundation.org.

For more information visit www.cumbriafoundation.org/transforming-west-cumbria/positive-enterprise/