The public is being invited to a free event that will discuss the outcomes of COP26 and how our county can “rise to the challenge” of reducing carbon emissions to net-zero.

‘Carbon Zero in Cumbria and the Lake District’ is hosted by Cumbria Community Foundation’s Cumbria Club as part of its Cumbria Voices campaign in partnership with Armstrong Watson.

The live stream event begins at 6pm on Tuesday 16th November and although in-person tickets are sold out, the public is still being encouraged to join the live stream.

Viewers and the audience at Rheged in Penrith will hear presentations from author Mike Berners-Lee, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Richard Leafe, Simon Carr of University of Cumbria and Karen Mitchell of Cumbria Action for Sustainability.

The distinguished panellists will discuss the outcomes of COP26 and how as a county, we can all rise to the challenge of climate change.

Andy Beeforth, CEO of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We’re committed to supporting eco-friendly Cumbrian projects for the long term and through our grant making, we’re keen to work with local people and businesses who want to make a difference in reducing the carbon footprint in the county.”

The Cumbria Club is hosting the event with Cumbria Community Foundation, Armstrong Watson, Rheged and the University of Cumbria.

To register for the live stream, click here.

With the rise of fuel prices and the looming flu season, generous Cumbrians are being asked to help local vulnerable older people keep warm and well this winter.

To launch this year’s Winter Warmth Appeal, run by Cumbria Community Foundation, some of Cumbria’s most senior figures in business swapped a warm, comfortable bed for Honister Slate Mine to highlight the ongoing struggle many elderly Cumbrians face to keep warm every night. The annual appeal makes sure that older people who may have to choose between heating and eating, can stay warm and well throughout the colder months.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation spent a night shivering alongside David Beeby, the High Sheriff of Cumbria, Soo Redshaw, Business Coach and Charity Trustee, Sarah Dunning, Chair of Westmorland, Richard Rankin, Chief Executive, H&H Group plc and Mark Cant, Co-Founder and Sales Director, The Cumbrian Tea and Cumbrian Coffee Co Ltd.

Cumbria Community Foundation is the leading independent grant-making charity in the county and its annual Winter Warmth Appeal has raised more than £1.3 million since 2010 in a bid to protect some of the most vulnerable members of communities.

Mark Cant, Co-Founder and Sales Director, The Cumbrian Tea and Cumbrian Coffee Co Ltd said: “Tonight I’m feeling a bit like a non-celebrity going into the jungle on I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here with the Cumbrian business royalty, I’m honoured to have been invited to undertake such an important event with Cumbria Community Foundation for a very worthwhile cause. It is one of the hidden issues in this rural county which greatly affects the health and wellbeing of those who cannot heat their homes.”

One in ten households in Cumbria currently live in fuel poverty, meaning that they spend more than 10 percent of their income on fuel. In most winters, 300 older Cumbrians die because of problems associated with not being able to heat their homes or eat properly. In worse winters, the figure has risen to 500.

David Beeby, the High Sheriff of Cumbria said: “I am delighted to be a part of highlighting the need for the Winter Warmth Appeal. The origin of this appeal was a generous donor who wanted to redistribute his winter fuel payment to those in real need. Sadly this year the need will be greater than ever.  Like him there will be many of us who receive the payment and who are fortunate enough not to need it. If you are in that position why not donate it to the Winter Warmth Appeal and double the value.”

This year, any donation made between Monday 15th November and midday Monday 13th December will be doubled thanks to the Foundation’s generous match fund pledgers WCF Ltd, the John Laing Charitable Trust, Roselands Trust, the Johnson Fund, Brian and Ann Clark Fund, the Harvey Family Fund and a private donor.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Fuel poverty has always been an issue and each year, the Foundation steps up and raises funds for the most vulnerable in our communities who need help and support during the cold winter months.

“This year will see fuel prices increase and we will unfortunately see more people having to choose whether to heat their homes or cook a hot meal. When your income is fixed, as is the case for many retired, older people, rises in energy bills can quickly become unaffordable, and the only choice left in the worst cases is to endure a cold home.

“We are pleading with those who can, to give generously to our Winter Warmth Appeal so we can make sure the funds reach people in need this winter.”

This year, any donation made between Monday 15^th November and midday Monday 13^th December will be doubled thanks to the Foundation’s generous match fund pledgers WCF Ltd, the John Laing Charitable Trust, Roselands Trust, the Johnson Fund, Brian and Ann Clark Fund, the Harvey Family Fund and a private donor.

Last year, more than a thousand Cumbrians were helped to keep warm, after Cumbrians donated over £200,000 to the appeal.

Donations help people like Dorothy 83, from Carlisle. She said: “I am very grateful for the grant as it allowed me to heat my home when it was cold. It also made things easier for me as I was struggling financially, due to splitting up with my partner and I have multiple health problems. For people like me, this money makes a big difference to our standard of living.”

Joyce, 80 from Seascale, said: “I was so worried about heating costs with winter approaching as my health has been so poor and I was considering taking out a loan; I now feel so relieved to know that my heating costs are covered.”

Liz from Windermere found out that she could apply to the Winter Warmth Fund from Age UK, which works in partnership with Cumbria Community Foundation, making sure the money reaches those most in need.

The 80 year old said: “It really made a difference, especially with being on benefits. I didn’t feel frightened of putting the heating on and I could put the radiators on in all rooms rather than just my lounge.”

Hannah Kitching, Client Services Manager at Age UK South Lakeland, said: “For a high proportion of our clients, receiving the grant has made the vital difference between remaining warm and well at home during the winter months or being admitted to hospital, or worse. As many older people are only just managing to get by financially, the slightest rise in their outgoings pushes them in to fuel poverty, and many have to make the heartbreaking decision between eating or keeping warm. This is not sustainable and leads to a rise in preventable hospital admissions – a very vicious circle. If you find yourself in a more favourable position, we urge you to donate to the Winter Warmth Fund this year; the difference it makes is simply remarkable.”

To donate online, visit https://cumbriafoundation.enthuse.com/cf/winter-warmth-appeal.

Alternatively, cheques can be made payable to ‘Cumbria Community Foundation’ (write Winter Warmth on the back) and post to Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN. Donations can also be made over the phone by calling 01900 825760 Monday – Friday between 9am and 5pm.

Charity Today –  Winter Warmth Appeal launches to support older people in Cumbria this winter

Cumbria’s High Sheriff, David Beeby, is encouraging people to think about a career in youth work by offering fully funded training and grants to support salary costs.

Better Tomorrows is a three-year programme which aims to substantially increase the number of young people having access to support from youth workers to help them reach their full potential.

The unique initiative provides accredited training via Cumbria Youth Alliance and offers grants of up to £25,000 to community organisations setting up or providing new youth work opportunities for local people. The Better Tomorrows Fund, administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, is now open for applications.

David said: “Many young people have had their lives turned upside down by the pandemic and are facing unprecedented challenges caused by interrupted education, uncertainty about the future and anxiety exacerbated by increases in poverty and family ill health.

“High-quality youth work has a crucial role to play helping many young people to achieve their full potential. Through participation in youth work, young people gain confidence and competence, develop self-assurance, and have the opportunity to establish high expectations and aspirations for themselves.

“I am extremely grateful to all the organisations and individuals who have generously supported this programme. Together we can make a difference to the lives of more young people”

Better Tomorrows aims to invest £1 million over the next three years into quality youth work training and provision. Funding has been secured from individuals, businesses and funders, including Cumbria Community Foundation, Francis C Scott Charitable Trust, Four Acre Trust, LLWR, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, BAE Systems, CCL Secure, Carr’s Group, CGP Publications, Iggesund, James Walker, Lloyd Motors and Out of Eden.

“The programme has been designed to be scalable,” said David. “The more donations we receive, the more people we’ll be able to support, not just through accredited training, but also quality youth work provision.”

The training, Cumbria Youth Alliance, will lead to Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Youth Work and around 150 people are expected to access the learning, which will be delivered through a mix of online and face-to-face sessions. Participants will be supported during and after their training as well as in their youth work settings.

Becky Wolstenholme, CEO at Cumbria Youth Alliance, said: ‘We are delighted to be leading the training element of the Better Tomorrows programme. We will be working in partnership with organisations and people throughout Cumbria to build upon and ensure a long-term quality Youth Work provision to young people.”

For more information, visit: www.cya.org.uk or email Cath Corkill on cathcorkill@dzyp.co.uk

To donate, visit: www.cumbriafoundation.org/better-tomorrows or email David on hscumbria21@btinternet.com

For more information on the Better Tomorrows Fund, click here.

On the run-up to World Mental Health Day this Sunday, Newcastle Hospitals Charity has provided £1.5 million to help people suffering from poor mental health across the North East and Cumbria.

The money came from the NHS Charities Together Community Partnerships Covid-19 Response grant programme on behalf of the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care System (ICS).

Eight community partnership projects will be delivered over the next two years by a range of partners from within the NHS, community organisations and the charity sector.

The projects to receive funding are helping to tackle health inequalities, improve people’s mental health and wellbeing, and offer specialist support to people disproportionally affected by the direct and indirect impacts of Covid-19.

In Cumbria, Barnardo’s will deliver a youth-led mental health and wellbeing programme with a specific focus on self-harm and suicide prevention and the North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group will encourage more conversations about death and bereavement through the delivery of training courses in north Cumbria as part of its ‘Let’s Talk Bereavement’ project.

Welcoming the funding, Teri Bayliss, charity director at Newcastle Hospitals Charity, said: “This will have a huge impact for the North East and North Cumbria, our charity and our project delivery partners.

“The grant supports our key aim to tackle health inequalities and create healthier communities through place-based partnerships that can make a genuine difference to individuals and families across our region.

“The last 18 months have been extremely challenging for everyone and many people across the country have shown their support for the NHS and healthcare community through inspiring fundraising initiatives and donations.

“We’re all familiar with the grace and determination of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who proved an inspiration for many by raising millions for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.

“It is the kindness, generosity of spirit and collective effort of people of all ages and abilities that have made it possible for NHS Charities Together to fund vital health and wellbeing projects in communities across the country. For that, we are extremely grateful.”

Other projects to benefit include:

•  A Coping with Cancer North East outreach programme to support people across the region affected by a cancer diagnosis and their families.

•  Family Action to provide additional therapeutic support for young carers in County Durham.

•  Middlesbrough & Stockton Mind’s ‘Rooted in Nature’ project, which is designed to increase mental health and wellbeing support for people living in the most disadvantaged areas of Middlesbrough.

•  North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Child Health and Wellbeing Network is delivering four impactful programmes that will contribute significant positive outcomes for the region’s children and young people, including a Mental Health First Aid ‘Train the Trainer’ project.

•  Wearside Women in Need, a frontline therapeutic service in Middlesbrough and Wearside to address health inequalities for women.

•  Your Voice Counts, a project to develop a consistent and equitable model of support for people with learning disabilities and autism in the North Tyne and Gateshead Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) area.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity is leading the delivery of the grant programme and is working in partnership with County Durham Community Foundation and Cumbria Community Foundation.

Cumbria Community Foundation has become the first charity to be named as one of Cumbria Tourism’s official ‘Strategic Partners’.

As one of the UK’s most prominent Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), Cumbria Tourism’s core network of Strategic Partners draw together collective expertise from across the county to champion effective destination marketing to support businesses, visitors and local communities. 

Cumbria Community Foundation is a leading, accredited community foundation and provides philanthropic services to individuals, families and organisations – managing more than 100 grant making funds and awarding an average of around £3 million a year.

This new Strategic Partnership between the two organisations reflects the importance of the visitor economy to local people, supporting jobs and prosperity for the county as a whole. 

It also means that 10% of the proceeds generated by Cumbria Tourism’s MyCumbria residents’ cards will now be donated directly to Cumbria Community Foundation, to support local good causes. 

Jacqui Currie, Head of Development, said: “Cumbria Community Foundation is delighted to have become a strategic partner of Cumbria Tourism. Our organisations share common values as we work to build a bright, sustainable future for Cumbria’s communities. With one in four people in the county depending on visitor spending for their livelihood, tourism is embedded in our communities and our economy. 

“Many tourism businesses already work with the Foundation by becoming members and fundholders, the proceeds of which the Foundation gives out in grants to community groups that help vulnerable people in our county. Through our Strategic Partnership with Cumbria Tourism, we will be encouraging new supporters in the tourism sector to help us to address disadvantage in our county.”

Jim Walker, Chairman of Cumbria Tourism, adds, “The visitor economy is integral to our local communities and Cumbria Community Foundation is an outstanding example of an organisation giving back to the place where we live and work. It’s fitting that they become the first charity to be named as an official Strategic Partner and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with them over the coming year.”

Cumbria Community Foundation joins a core network of Strategic Partners, who are all highly respected and regarded across the county. The list includes: 

• United Utilities (Cumbria Tourism patron)
• Burnetts
• The Cumberland 
• Forestry England
• Grasmere Gingerbread
• Highways England
• Holidaycottages.co.uk
• Lake District Estates
• Lake District National Park
• Lamont Pridmore
• NFU Mutual
• Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire
• Thomson Hayton Winkley
• University of Cumbria
• Windermere Lake Cruises

Full details on Cumbria Tourism’s  MyCumbria Card.

Called Positive Disruptors, the competition is open to young people living in Allerdale or Copeland and aged between 10 and 25 who want to “positively disrupt” their communities.

Based on a similar initiative run by the Hunter Foundation, the aim of the programme is to empower young people to ‘positively disrupt’ the status quo, to give them a platform to be heard and to break down the barriers for aspiring young entrepreneurs. It is looking to back young people who have ambition and the courage to take that ambition on.

Developed by Cumbria Community Foundation, Positive Disruptors 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 has been a very challenging time. Positive Disruptors will have an incredible impact on young people, empowering 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 the young disruptors with six months of support, including a series of workshops, expert advice, mentoring and opportunities to shadow local entrepreneurs to help bring their idea to life.

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 eight-week period to develop their ideas and apply by 10th Jan 2022. An advisory panel will meet to review all entries and winners will be announced.

ENTER HERE: Positive Disruptors Application Form 2021/22

For information, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor to help and encourage these young people to prosper, complete an application form, no later than 1st October 2021 or contact annalee@cumbriafoundation.org for more information.

 Charitable groups and community projects in West Cumbria area are being encouraged to apply for funding of up to £5,000 from the #CanDo Fund.

Cumbria Community Foundation manages over a hundred grant making funds and awards on average £2 million a year to community organisations.

#CanDo aims to support the ambition of developing a lifetime commitment to social action and increase the number of opportunities for young people (aged between 10 and 20, and up to 25 for disabled young people) in West Cumbria to volunteer, fundraise, or campaign on issues that are important to them, with a commitment to reducing the social and financial barriers that stop some young people from taking part in social action.

Funded by Sellafield Ltd, with match funding from Thomas Graham & Sons and local donors, #CanDo is part of Transforming West Cumbria, a multi-year social investment programme developed by Cumbria Community Foundation.

#CanDo will raise young people’s aspirations and build their confidence by:

• engaging young people in meaningful social and environmental action
• empowering young people from disadvantaged communities to volunteer, lead change and take action in their communities
• encouraging young people to have a voice, be heard and give back to their local community
• enabling young people to make a huge difference to improving their community and local environment

Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants & Programmes Officer at “Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Young people have enormous potential to make a positive change – their involvement is crucial to the future of our communities. This funding aims to develop opportunities rather than fund the ongoing costs of existing youth work. We are looking to fund organisations that involve young people in volunteering, campaigning and fundraising activities.”

The closing date for the first round of funding is 10^th September 2021. For more information about, visit https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/transforming-west-cumbria/cando/

 David Beeby, High Sheriff of Cumbria, launches a new initiative to mark International Youth Day.

Better Tomorrows is a three-year programme encouraging people within Cumbria to become accredited in youth work and substantially increase the number of young people having access to support from youth workers to help them reach their full potential.

This unique initiative will provide accredited training to more than a hundred people as well as offer grants of up to £25,000 to community organisations setting up or providing new youth work opportunities for local people.

David said: “Many young people have had their lives turned upside down by the pandemic and are facing unprecedented challenges caused by interrupted education, uncertainty about the future and anxiety exacerbated by increases in poverty and family ill health.

“High-quality youth work has a crucial role to play helping many young people to achieve their full potential. Through participation in youth work, young people gain confidence and competence, develop self-assurance, and have the opportunity to establish high expectations and aspirations for themselves.

“Despite the critical role that youth work plays in a young person’s life, youth work is not a statutory responsibility for local authorities. As money has diminished, funding that previously supported youth workers through qualifications and training has also reduced. There are still areas in Cumbria without any youth provision. That’s why I decided to launch Better Tomorrows.”

Although spearheaded by David, Better Tomorrows works in partnership with Cumbria Youth Alliance and local funders Cumbria Community Foundation and Francis C Scott Charitable Trust who have also invested into the programme.

CEO of Cumbria Youth Alliance, Becky Wolstenholme, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be a partner organisation with the Better Tomorrows programme. Building solid platforms by supporting and offering training to vital youth organisations that will be delivering now, more than ever, essential services to enable young people to reach their full potential.”

Better Tomorrows aims to invest at least £900,000 over the next three years into quality youth work training and provision. David has personally committed a significant amount to the programme and has secured match funding from national funder, the Four Acre Trust, meaning any additional donations will be matched pound for pound.

John Bothamley CBE, Chairman of Four Acre Trust, said: “Four Acre Trust is pleased to support this great initiative to train and support more youth workers across Cumbria. The future of our country relies on our children; we have a duty to give them all the best start in life and this is why we are offering to match, pound for pound, donations from new donors.”

“The programme has been designed to be scalable,” said David. “The more donations we receive, the more people we’ll be able to support, not just through accredited training, but also quality youth work provision.”

Donations have also been received from local businesses including LLWR and individual supporters. David is delighted to have received so much encouraging support.

Cath Giel, Director of Communications & Stakeholder Relations at LLWR, said: “This targeted initiative to support young people across Cumbria is well-timed to meet a pressing need, given the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.

“Better Tomorrows’ will address the shortage in the provision of trained youth workers across the county, equipping a new generation to reach out and support our young people, building a sustainable model that will continue to deliver long after this programme has ended.”

International Youth Day is celebrated annually on 12^th August to bring youth issues to the international community’s attention and celebrate the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society.

David is looking to raise a further £200,000 to reach his target. “We’ve never needed youth work more and it’s never been more important to collaborate and align our activities to work with young people. It is so important that we support young people to be ambitious about their future to achieve better tomorrows,” he said.

For more information or to donate, visit: www.cumbriafoundation.org/better-tomorrows or email David on hscumbria21@btinternet.com

More than £100,000 has been awarded to a range of good causes in the Furness area, including combating loneliness, helping people recover from debt, and providing activities for young people.

Cumbria Community Foundation awarded just under £104,000 at its recent Furness Grants Committee to 12 community organisations, with two people receiving a share of £3,500 to increase sporting and artistic achievement.

The money came from funds set up by local people and businesses including the Barrow Community Trust Fund, the Cumbria Young People’s Fund and the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Helping to relieve loneliness in the community, Age UK Barrow and District received £10,000 from the Pappagallino Fund to relaunch its community-based social groups and activities, which were forced to stop during the pandemic.

The charity offers a range of services for the elderly including sessions for those who have very limited interaction with family and friends in rural areas.

Vickie Martin, Head of Age UK Barrow & District, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding. Lockdown has affected older people significantly and many people have struggled with their mental and physical health throughout the pandemic. By relaunching social groups and gentle exercise sessions, it will help people to improve their physical health and mobility and start to reconnect with friends in a social setting, helping to improve the impact that isolation and loneliness has had on so many people during the last 18 months.”

Age UK Barrow and District also received a further £20,000 to continue running its befriending service.

Youthability Youth Services & Walney Community Centre is a new initiative set up to provide support to young people who are socially isolated, particularly those with disabilities.

£5,000 from the Cumbria Young People’s Fund will provide a wide range of activities and support children and young people with special educational needs.  Specialist youth workers take each person’s situation and work closely with them and their families to accommodate their needs and aspirations.

The Youthability project was delivered by charity, Leonard Cheshire for 15 years, however, due to funding issues, they took the decision to cease operating. Rather than allow the service to disappear, this new partnership was formed to ensure that young people with disabilities in the area are supported.

Leslie McLeese, Senior Youth worker & Centre Manager, said: “We are so grateful for the support that Cumbria Community Foundation has given us on our new journey.

“The grant will enable us to carry on supporting young people with special educational needs on their social and emotional journey to adulthood. Community is at the heart of everything we do, and this grant will also go a long way in enabling us to provide an accessible community hub.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a large and persistent economic impact on people, causing more people to fall into debt. Spring Mount Christian Fellowship received £27,000 from the Cumbria Fund and the Cumberland Building Society Community Fund to help people struggling to control their finances over the next three years. Its CAP Barrow project offers a life skills course and money courses and debt Help. CAP Debt Help helps people who need counselling on how to escape from problem debt and usually involves home visits, building up a relationship to see if there is anything else they can help with.

CAP is a Christian debt charity that amalgamates people’s debts into one lump sum to be paid off per month with additional assistance for dealing with debt collectors and more.

In 2019, CAP Barrow saw 26 new clients in addition to working with existing families. A total of 14 people were helped to go “debt-free.” The charity pays a subscription to CAP central to help finance the expert financial services and support provided by the charity’s centralised services to local debt centres.

Ellen Clements, Senior Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are grateful to the generosity of our fundholders to enable us to support these worthy organisations in the Furness area that are working hard during these difficult times to meet local needs.”

For more information about Cumbria Community Foundation, how to support local charities through them or to apply for a grant, call a member of the team on 01900 825760.