Community groups and charitable organisations across Cumbria will benefit from a legacy gift of more than £1 million from a much-loved Carlisle charity leader.

Rachael Rodway, who died in April 2022, was the founder and chair of trustees of Carlisle Foodbank, as well as being trustee of several other charities and a well-respected solicitor.

She left a gift of more than £1 million in her will to Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF), the county’s leading grant making charity.

The money will boost the Cumbria Fund, Cumbria Community Foundation’s main fund for targeting need across the county, from poverty and poor health, to inequality, community cohesion and climate change.

Caroline Adams, Development Manager for Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We were absolutely stunned and delighted to learn that Rachael Rodway had left this incredible gift in her will to Cumbria Community Foundation.

“As the driving force behind Carlisle Foodbank, Rachael understood the Cumbrian charity sector better than anyone. Therefore, we’re particularly pleased that she entrusted her money to us to make a difference in Cumbrian communities where it is most needed.

“The Cumbria Fund is our most flexible and powerful fund that we can direct to address the priority issues in our county.”

Carlisle Foodbank benefitted from a Cumbria Fund grant to expand its operations back in 2016, and more recently received further CCF funding towards salary costs for a part-time staff member to help run a new onsite community shop, café, and social hub.

The café opened last year and was named ‘Rachael’s’ in honour of its founder.

Steph Humes, Operations Director at Carlisle Foodbank, said: “We came up with lots of different suggestions for the name and then one of the volunteers said ‘why don’t we call the place Rachael’s?’ and everyone agreed it would be a lovely way to remember her. People who come in the café ask who Rachael was and we tell them all about her.

“She did a lot of work behind the scenes for this place. She was in here right up until the end, very much playing down her illness. She was just incredible, not just for this place but for the whole community.”

On Rachael’s decision to leave a gift in her will to Cumbria Community Foundation, Steph said: “It’s amazing. I’m not surprised at all that she would do something like that. She was a very giving and generous person behind the scenes. She didn’t like to be recognised for the work she did. She just did it and did it well.”

The executors of Rachael’s will said: “Rachael’s charitable work was done efficiently without any sense of her own importance. She was very conscious of her own good fortune and was determined to use her time to improve the lot of others. In addition, she had a robust sense of humour and a keen eye for beautiful things.”

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.

Development Manager Caroline Adams explained: “You don’t need to give a million pounds to make a difference. That’s the power of the community foundation – however much you can afford to give will be put to best use tackling the most vital issues in our communities.”

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

An exciting new fund created by local people, for local people in Barrow to support community projects and help those in need is now open for applications.

Throughout July, more than 20 local residents who volunteered to join a community panel have been taking part in workshops to decide how they would like £85,000 of grant funding to be spent. They have created a fund which aims to bring people together, strengthen communities, create opportunities for local residents, and support community-led ideas that deliver lasting benefits.

This is the second year where residents have had the chance to drive the participatory element of the Barrow Social Impact Fund, provided by Team Barrow and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation.

This year’s community panel has named the fund the Barrow Helping Barrow Fund, and decided that it will support projects in the town that do one of the following:
• Bring people together by reducing isolation and creating opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to connect.
• Make better use of community spaces by increasing access to local venues, facilities and green spaces, and encouraging activities that strengthen community participation.
• Create opportunities for young people aged 14 to 18 through activities designed with young people that build skills, confidence, aspirations and connections.
• Build stronger communities through volunteering by creating opportunities for local people to contribute, develop new skills and support community life.
• Encourage new ideas and community-led solutions that respond to local needs, support emerging groups, and deliver sustainable, long-term benefits.
• Support older people through practical assistance, social opportunities and meaningful activities that complement existing services.

Members of the community panel have also helped design the application process, with an emphasis on making it as accessible as possible.

Application forms are in easy-read format, and there will be several ‘meet the fund’ sessions in Barrow and online for anyone thinking of applying.

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “It has been fantastic working with the community panel in Barrow, who have brought real-life experience and local insight to the table. Their involvement has ensured that funding decisions are shaped by the people who know the community best, helping to target support where it will have the greatest impact.

“Thank you so much to all of the volunteers who gave up their time to create the Barrow Helping Barrow Fund, and of course to Team Barrow’s Barrow Social Impact Fund for providing the funding.

“I encourage anyone thinking of applying to come along to one of the ‘meet the fund’ events where panel members – local residents who helped shaped the fund – will be available to answer questions and support with applications.”

Nat Wealleans-Turner, Community and Social Impact Lead for Team Barrow said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Barrow Helping Barrow Fund for a second consecutive year and to continue putting local people at the heart of decisions about how this funding is used.

“I’d like to thank all of the residents who generously volunteered their time, ideas and local knowledge to shape the fund and help decide where support is most needed. Their commitment has created a fund that reflects the priorities of the community and will help support a wide range of worthwhile local causes, strengthening communities, creating opportunities and delivering lasting benefits for people across Barrow.”

Members of the community panel said how much they had enjoyed and valued the opportunity to help create the new fund and make decisions about where funding should go locally.

One said: “I’m taking away the thought that there’s so much more I can do to help improve Barrow’s community.”

Another member added: “I have more to contribute than I thought. There are brilliant people in Barrow.”

The ‘meet the fund’ events will take place on:
• Monday 17 August 2026, 10am to 12noon, The Bridge, Barrow
• Friday, 4 September 2026, 1pm to 3pm, The Bridge, Barrow
• Tuesday 15 September 2026, 6pm to 7pm, online

Attendance is optional but encouraged for those seeking help with their application. For further information, email Siona Hartley, Cumbria Community Foundation Grants and Programmes Officer at siona@cumbriafoundation.org.

The fund is open to charitable, not-for-profit organisations based within 10 miles of Barrow with an annual income of less than £200,000 in their most recent financial year.

Grants will normally be for up to £10,000 over one year. Funding may be used for project running costs and equipment. Projects may be one-off events or ongoing but must show a lasting impact. They should be delivered within the Barrow boundary and have involved local people in the design of the project.

More details and the online application portal can be found at: https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/barrow-helping-barrow-fund/

The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 21 September 2026.

The community panel will meet in October to decide which projects will be awarded funding. Grants will be expected to be spent by May 2027.

Farmers across Cumbria are being invited to register their interest in joining a new initiative aiming to strengthen collaboration and support the long-term future of farming in the county.

Cumbria Farmer Network, Cumbria Community Foundation, the Food Farming and Countryside Commission and the Cumbria Combined Authority have formed a partnership to bid for funding from the DEFRA Farmer Collaboration Fund (FCF).

This fund supports practical, farmer-led projects that help farmers and land managers work together to improve sustainability, productivity and resilience.

Cumbria already has a number of successful farm cluster groups where farmers share knowledge and coordinate their activities in support of their farms, the economy and the natural environment. The Cumbrian partnership wants to build on that success by working with existing groups and encouraging new ones to form to ensure the whole farming community can benefit.

Farmers interested in finding out more or registering their interest are encouraged to visit https://www.cumbriafarmercollaboration.org.uk/.

The partnership is seeking three years’ funding to strengthen existing farmer groups, create new ones and help participating farms develop stronger business plans for the future.

Veronica Waller, Senior Project Manager with Cumbria Farmer Network, said: “We know that farmers greatly benefit from working together in groups, so we are urging any farmers or groups interested in being part of the bid to contact us as soon as possible.

“We are gathering expressions of interest ahead of the fund opening for applications on 1 September.”