Cumbria Community Foundation is shining a light on issues in the community to help guide businesses that wish to invest in improving lives in West Cumbria.

The document, called West Cumbria Opportunities and Challenges, provides an accessible, evidence-based picture of need across West Cumbria with examples of projects that improve the lives of residents.

Cumbria Community Foundation was commissioned to write the report for Sellafield to highlight the opportunities and areas of economic and social need in West Cumbria.

Some of the issues highlighted in the report include:

• Childhood obesity – one in ten children are starting school overweight
•  Adult obesity – two thirds of people in both Allerdale and Copeland are overweight.
• Deprivation – one in seven households are living on less than £10,000 a year.
• Education – one in four adults have no qualifications.
•  Schools – half of all secondary schools are performing below national average.

The document isn’t all doom and gloom. It celebrates everything that west Cumbria has to offer, like:

• Being the global Centre of Nuclear Excellence.
• Being the home of innovative world leading businesses (M-Sport, Iggesund, Innovia).
• Having low crime – it’s one of the safest places to live in the UK.
• Some outstanding schools.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Sellafield approached us to write this independent report after seeing the quality of the research we presented in our countywide document ‘Cumbria Revealed – a County of Contrasts’ in 2017. I hope this new report will help people and organisations who want to devise programmes or create activities to tackle the needs of those living in west Cumbria.

“We’re celebrating our twentieth anniversary as a charity and we know that the solutions to the issues lie within the people and organisations already in these communities. What we need is investment in the areas identified to create real and lasting change in the areas we’ve highlighted.

“West Cumbria is an area of contrasts where a high-wage technology-based economy is contrasted with high levels of youth unemployment and some shockingly poor levels of health and wellbeing. Some the key issues are skills shortages, access to jobs and services, low aspirations, poverty, health and wellbeing, social isolation and obesity.”

The evidence used in the report has been drawn from different sources and presented under key themes:

Growing Up, Living and Working, Ageing, Housing and Homelessness, Fuel Poverty, Debt, Transport and Access to Services, Healthy Living, Safe Communities, Strong Communities.

It looks to the future and explains how businesses can get involved. Sellafield Ltd published its Social Impact Strategy last year and will measure its success by using the National Themes Outcomes Measurements Framework. The Social Impact Strategy says it wants to:

• Improve access to sustainable incomes by increasing skills, knowledge aspirations and access to opportunities.
• Enable resilient economies by growing the local economy and securing new opportunities.
• Build thriving communities that create self-reliance and address community needs.
• Create effective stakeholder and partnership working for collective impact.

Gary McKeating, Head of Community and Development at Sellafield Ltd said: “The new Sellafield Social Impact strategy illustrates a significant shift in thinking. Sellafield has always recognised the close interdependency between our business and the local community and as we continue to make Sellafield safer, sooner, we are working to make sure that our local community, the UK as a whole and the nuclear sector receives the maximum value from the £2billion of taxpayers’ money spent at Sellafield every year.

“As a world class business, dealing with some of the most complex scientific and engineering challenges on the planet, we want our activities to benefit as many people and businesses as possible, but this isn’t just an issue for Sellafield Ltd, it’s for all of those companies in our supply chain as well.

“There’s a lot to be done, but by working collectively, we can address the issues raised in the report, and the entire community can succeed. Look at how the investments from Sellafield Ltd and the NDA leveraged in excess of £30m for the new Campus Whitehaven. This represents the biggest educational investment in Whitehaven for over half a century and will address some of the issues highlighted in the report. This is an illustration of the kind of social impact we should all be striving to achieve.”

A copy of the report is available on the Foundation’s website or for a hard copy or call 01900 825760.

“GIVING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD” is the title of Cumbria Community Foundation’s 20th anniversary year after two decades of life-changing work in the county.

It is also the title of its new book and as the title suggests, it’s not just a look back at the amazing things the charity has achieved, but a look ahead to many more years of connecting people who care with causes that matter.

It will be launched this week at a special event on Thursday 9th May at Rheged, near Penrith, along with an exhibition of 20 photographs that appear in the book.

Chief Executive, Andy Beeforth, said: “I have led Cumbria Community Foundation since day one and I am immensely proud of what has been achieved. From responding to disasters like Foot and Mouth and the three devastating floods to the little things we make happen every single day.

“It’s quite humbling to see this selection of photographs together in a book and to read the stories about truly inspiring Cumbrians. We are really fortunate as a charity that we have generous donors who set up funds, enthusiastic supporters who have dreams of a better Cumbria and go about making it happen, and of course thousands of people whose lives have changed in some way by either giving or receiving money.

“I am hoping that we can mark this momentous year by raising £250,000 for the Cumbria Fund 20th Anniversary Appeal – we’ve banked almost £30,000 – and I am confident that with a whole host of fundraising events planned by our supporters, we will achieve this target. We’re always grateful for help and anyone who wishes to take on a challenge to raise a bit of that total would be most welcome.”

The 94-page book is a celebration of everything the charity stands for, which is summed up in a specially commissioned poem by Barrow poet Kim Moore. She will read her piece, which is published in the book, at the launch event.

Broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg has written an introduction to the book. He said: “Wherever you look, the people of Cumbria are helping the people of Cumbria, and friends of Cumbria, far and wide, are sending in welcome and moving contributions. It’s heartwarming, it’s effective, and in my view, it’s the only way forward to keep our unique society together and to give people the life chances we all want them to have.”

It was the vision of Cumbrians like John Fryer-Spedding who decided to take action to make the difference he wanted to see in the county. He gathered 20 like-minded philanthropists and started working tirelessly to see Cumbria Community Foundation born. He said he was inspired by the Queen’s Christmas broadcast in 1997, where she said: ‘I pray that we, the more fortunate ones, can unite and lend a helping hand wherever it is needed and not pass by on the other side.’ The founding group wanted to build a professionally managed endowment fund of £3m in four years. It went much better than that – since 1999 it has given out £44 million in grant aid. He said: “The Foundation has always aimed to back every corner of the county and every type of eligible need. Through its excellent grant-making it has steadily built a growing number of fundholders and supporters. We feel a long way from the starting line now.”

Copies of the book are available for a donation from Cumbria Community Foundation. All the money from the sale of Giving Back, Looking Forward will go to the Cumbria Fund 20th Anniversary Appeal.

Name: Rebecca Delin

Job title: Media and Content Officer

Employer: Cumbria Community Foundation

Where are you from? Whitehaven

Where do you live now? Whitehaven

Where do you work? I am very lucky to be based at Dovenby Hall in Cumbria Community Foundation’s offices, situated in beautiful grounds – I have a gorgeous view out of my office window.

How long have you done this job? Part-time since November 2018 and it’s perfect as it fits around my photography business.

Take us through a typical day: I start work at 8.15 after taking my daughter to school. I’m usually the first to arrive and the person who puts the kettle on. It’s then down to business!

I usually start by checking emails and our social media platforms. I then check the daily papers for relevant articles and then it’s all about creating content for social media, newsletters, press reports and our website to highlight the work of the Foundation and how it connects people who care with causes that matter in Cumbria.

It’s non-stop as it’s the Foundation’s 20th anniversary this year. Our target is to raise £250,000 for the Cumbria Fund to enable even more groups to do what they do best – helping improve lives in Cumbria.

We are encouraging people and businesses to get involved and take part in their own challenge to help raise money for the Cumbria Fund, which supports around 50 community projects each year.

I’m never stuck for something to write about as Cumbria Community Foundation has distributed £44million in grants to more than 4,000 groups and 8,000 individuals over the last 20 years. It’s my job to write about these groups.

I recently wrote a lovely story about the community of Caldbeck and how a vast number of projects, managed by Northern Fells Group, has received more than £122,000 in grants to support its community.

I visited the heart-warming community project called ‘Men in Sheds’. It was lovely to meet the group, and I had the opportunity to take some great photos.

I spend most of my time creating content. This includes writing grant stories and newsletters to designing leaflets and imagery. There is always plenty to do but we always make time for a lunch break, when we discuss the weekend’s shenanigans and the latest Netflix series that everyone is watching.

Because it’s so busy, the days fly by.

I always learn something new and look forward to learning about the next funded project, taking the next photograph or attending the next event.

What do you like most about the job? There is never a dull moment! I enjoy meeting new people, attending events and learning about great people in our community. Chatting with people about their lives and having the opportunity to create videos and take photographs is my favourite part of the job.

What do you like least? Tea breaks when I’m made to eat cake and biscuits, it’s just not great for the waistline.

Why did you want to do this job? It’s perfect for me! I have always admired the work of Cumbria Community Foundation and took this as a great opportunity to work with a great team of people who do great work with fundholders to meet the very real needs and issues in our local communities. It’s very rewarding, fulfilling and there is always something new to learn.

What jobs have you done previously? I am also a freelance photographer and have been for over 11 years, mainly portraits and commercial photography for social media. It’s taken me as far as Spain and once a year I still go and help a horse riding holiday business called Hacienda Horses with its media and photography. This is really great because I can take my family to enjoy the sunshine: the only thing is, we have been known to bring a rescue dog or two back, so we are a slightly bigger family now.

I also worked as a college lecturer for 13 years and I worked at The Beacon, Whitehaven Tourist Information Centre, and Summergrove Halls. While studying for a degree, I was lucky enough to gain work experience in South Africa with an events company and then with the SA Tourist Board as well as a working holiday in Greece and a job swap in Cyprus with Limassol Tourist Information Centre.

What qualifications or experience do you need? A relevant degree include advertising, public relations, business, digital marketing, media and journalism. It is helpful to support the team in promoting the organisation by raising its profile and awareness within the local community.

There are work-based routes too, such as Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeships.

Being self-motivated and a people-person is essential, along with having media skills that helps you connect with people. Having a creative skill such as photography is also very useful as marketing is very visual.

Ideally you need to be a dynamic storyteller with excellent writing skills, social media understanding and experience within PR, events and media relations.

What is a typical salary for this job? £24,000

Any advice for people wanting to get into your profession? Do as much training as you can to give you a variety of media skills, there are lots of opportunities online. Volunteer your skills to gain lots of experience – this is invaluable and helps to make contacts which may lead to a job in the future.

Be confident and never turn down an opportunity you never know where it might lead.

Community projects in around the parish of Brampton are being encouraged to apply for funding.

The William Milburn Charitable Trust, administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, offers grants between £500 and £5,000 for projects addressing local needs and creating opportunities that make a real difference to people in the community. Larger grants may be considered depending on the activity.

Cumbria Community Foundation has managed the Trust since 2014 and in that time has distributed almost £40,000 in grants. Priority is given to projects working in rural communities and supporting disadvantaged children and young people.

Geltsdale Arts received a grant for £1,500 to support last year’s Music on the Marr festival. Tom Speight, Chair of Geltsdale Arts, said: “The grant contributed to three things – creating a young musicians showcase to give local teenagers the chance to perform in front of a live audience, allowing accompanied under 16s into the festival for free, and sponsoring a ‘give what you can’ concert on the opening night to offer better access for people with less money. We are proud to support local children, people and businesses – the grant stayed local and supported local.”

Ellen Clements, Senior Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation said: “We are proud to manage funds like the William Milburn Charitable Trust as they are vital in supporting some of our most rural communities. It gives people a real opportunity to improve the lives of people and places where they live.”

The closing date for applications is 10th May 2019 to be reviewed by the panel on 11th June 2019. To apply visit www.cumbriafoundation.org or for more information contact Ellen Clements on 01900 825760 or email ellen@cumbriafoundation.org.

Local charities make up the lifeblood of our communities and make a daily difference to millions of people.

The Government’s Revitalising Trusts initiative aims to unlock £20m of inactive trusts through a partnership with UK Community Foundations and the Charity Commission.

There are many charitable trust funds in England and Wales that are inactive. The original founders and trustees may have died and many of the funds are now relatively small pots of money which makes it difficult to ensure they have a meaningful and local impact. Collectively these trusts total a significant amount which remains inactive in bank accounts but which could be used to support local voluntary and community groups and make a huge difference to local communities.

This initiative will provide a huge boost to local charities in Cumbria by distributing funds from inactive trusts to good causes.

Trustees of charities across Cumbria have started to receive letters from the Charity Commission if they have not distributed significant funds over the last five years.

Charitable trusts may struggle to use their income for a number of reasons, including:

• Their original purpose is out of date
• Trustees struggle to find suitable organisations or people to support
• The real value of the fund has been eroded
• The trust is unable to find new trustees
• The burden of administration becomes too onerous

Community foundations are an effective and sustainable option for revitalising trusts and keeping them working to support local projects. We have staff with the professional skills and local knowledge to take on the management of these trusts, so they can continue to provide funding for the long term benefit of local communities, as the trusts originally intended.

If you are a trustee and would like to know more about how Cumbria Community Foundation can help to rejuvenate the assets of an ineffective fund, or take over the trusteeship of an active fund with a view to ensuring the objects of the fund continue to be met, then please contact us on 01900 825760.

More than 30 charitable groups across Cumbria have received £248,000 to address a range of issues including mental health, disabilities and improving health and wellbeing. 40 people have also received a share of more than £25,000 towards training fees, sporting activities and victim support.

The money came from 30 grant making funds, administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, including those set up by Castle Green Hotel, Cumbria Victims Charitable Trust, English Lakes Hotels, Thomas Graham & Sons and Westmorland Ltd.

People First Independent Advocacy received nearly £6,000 from the Brian & Ann Clark Fund to purchase equipment for its ‘Hospitality Academy Garden’, a vital component to the Carlisle conference centre. It offers people with learning difficulties the chance to care for the garden, which forms a key part of their Open Awards Qualification, develop work skills and move towards paid employment.

Lisa Blackwell, Fundraising Officer and Business Team Leader said: “Our Hospitality Academy learners are over the moon with the news of the successful grant application, and they are eager to begin the work in the garden; putting all of their learning into practice and implementing the ‘pot to plate’ model at the People First Conference and Centre for Learning in Carlisle.”

Young carers across South Lakeland will be better supported after receiving £15,000 over three years. South Lakeland Carers, based in Kendal, will use the money to expand its one-to-one support service.

Mike Seaton, Chief Executive Officer said: “One-to-one support provides a young carer with a safe space to talk about the impact their caring role has upon their life, to work through different scenarios, explore potential coping strategies and to plan for the future. It also provides the young carer with a voice, so their support worker can advocate on their behalf with their school or sometimes their parent/ guardians.”

Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs received £10,000 from the Cumbria Fund to raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Working alongside not-for-profit group, The Well Communities, sessions have been designed specifically for young farmers to address the mental, emotional, physical and legal consequences of abusing drugs and alcohol, how to deal with peer pressure and where to get help.

Joanne Mills, Chief Officer, said: “The three-year grant will be used to fund the ongoing Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Initiative, which Cumbria YFC is currently rolling out to members aged 12 – 26. Sessions have already been rolled out to 145 young farmers in the last 2 months with further sessions planned in the coming months.”

County Chair, Eamon Monaghan, who has led on the initiative within Cumbria YFC, said: “The grant will give us the opportunity to ensure that our members are able to access help and advice on these important issues and we are very grateful to Cumbria Community Foundation for funding this important work.”

The Lend A Hand scheme, run by Northern Fells Rural Community Development Group received more than £28,000 from the Cumbria Fund over the next three years. The service provides a life line for many elderly and disabled residents across Allerdale and Eden who require either handyman or personal/domestic support in their homes.

Libby Graham, Fundraising Coordinator, said: “More than 30 volunteers provide practical help to individuals including helping with shopping, respite for carers, arranging meals on wheels, gardening, accompanying individuals to appointments, befriending and encouraging and facilitating attendance at social activities or events. The project is coordinated by a part time employee who recruits, trains and matches volunteers to clients in order to provide the service. This is the lynch pin of the project.”

Ellen Clements, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “There are many worthy organisations around the county that continue to provide help to the local communities. We are ever grateful to the generosity of our fund holders to enable us to support these vital services.”

Charitable causes across West Cumbria are financially better off after recently receiving a share of more than £200,000.

Cumbria Community Foundation awarded the money to more than 30 charitable groups at its quarterly West Cumbria grants panel. Funding was also given to 25 young people towards academic study and foreign travel.

The money came from 10 grant making funds, including those set up by local corporate businesses such as Shepley Engineers and United Utilities.

Cumbria Youth Alliance (CYA) based in Workington received £7,500 from the United Utilities Legacy Fund to run a mental health and emotional resilience project, called With the Future in Mind. Russell Maddams, CYA Emotional Resilience Senior Project Officer, said: “The project will train a network of young people in secondary schools and colleges across West Cumbria as peer leads around the emotional resilience agenda. Pupils will become Mental Health First Aid champions and support their fellow peers. The project aims to give young people the knowledge of where to go for help and what to look for if their friends are struggling with their mental health. This will ultimately leave a legacy in place with young people having a greater understanding of what constitutes good mental health and emotional resilience and where to go for help if they are struggling.”

Time to Change West Cumbria, which runs homeless hostel, Calderwood House in Egremont, received £1,000 from the Shepley Group Fund towards allotment costs. Residents are involved in preparing the land and growing food to use at the hostel while offering a therapeutic space to interact with the local Egremont community.

Time to Change West Cumbria received a further £10,000 from the United Utilities Legacy Fund for its new project: WOW! Women out West, a brand-new women’s centre based in Kells in Whitehaven.

Founder and Director, Rachel Holliday, said: “WOW! Women out West is an exciting initiative allowing women in need to access all the services they require to live a better life and look forward to a brighter future. We hope to be open by summer and would like to thank United Utilities for their support for this essential centre.”

Solway Community School Bike Club based in Silloth, received £1,323 from Hellrigg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund for set up costs. The club aims to get students on their bikes and out into the countryside to improve fitness and wellbeing as well as helping with team building and leadership skills.

Andrew Callaway, a teacher at the school, said: “The money will be used to buy tools and spare parts to help the students learn how to maintain their bikes and ensure they are safe when we go out on rides. Training will also be given on how to safely lead group rides on the roads. The students are thrilled that we have been awarded this money and we can now make this dream into a reality.”

Workington Transport Heritage Trust can now put two of its young volunteers through their Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driving course thanks to a £3,000 grant from Live the Dream Fund.

The Trust’s Secretary, Alistair Grey, said: “We need to encourage our young members to be actively involved in the operation of our preserved bus fleet to secure the future of the Trust. Gaining two professional qualified bus drivers will allow us to expand our activities and improve services for our customers.”

22 year old Nikita Wilson will benefit from the training. She said: “The chance to gain my bus licence now gives me the opportunity to broaden my horizons with the Trust and help to secure its future developments.”

Keith Turner, 24, said: “I have always been interested in larger vehicles, though mainly in the mechanics of them, but by gaining the bus licence I can look forward to driving our heritage buses out on the roads of West Cumbria and beyond.”

David Wallace, Volunteer Coordinator, said: “The future of our local transport heritage is in the hands of today’s youngsters and hopefully this grant will be the stepping stone not only to Nikita and Keith gaining their qualifications but to other young members to go down the same path in the near future.”

Haig Angling Club in Whitehaven received £5,000 from United Utilities Legacy Fund to redevelop the Mirehouse Ponds. Dave Heald, Secretary, said: “The redevelopment will make exiting on Mirehouse Road safer and make the area easily accessible to all, by improving paths, car parks and controlling the growth of the self-seeding trees and reeds in and around the ponds. It is important not only to the members of the club, but also to local residents within the Mirehouse area, who use the woodland walks for recreational use.”

Football facilities for girls in Workington will improve significantly thanks to £3,000 from the United Utilities Legacy Fund to build new changing rooms at Workington Reds Junior Diamonds Football Club.

The ladies youth section formed in 2015 and now has more than 100 players, fielding teams from u8 up to open age.

Paul MacKenzie, Under 14’s Coach for Workington Reds Junior Diamonds Football Club said: “We are seeing both boys and girls playing their fixtures at the same time and both needing to use the changing facilities. As the players have increased, there is now a need to install female only changing facilities.”

The grant awarded will be used to provide changing cabins for use on match days once the “The Diamonds Den” playing fields on Mossbay Road in Workington has been developed.

“We are delighted with the support given to us by Cumbria Community Foundation and the United Utilities Legacy Fund, along with the support from other local businesses and members of the public,” Paul continues.

Lia Challenger who plays for our Under 16 team, said: “I’ve been a member of the Diamonds for over 4 years and playing football has enabled me to make new friends, be part of a team, keep fit and be a more confident person. The Diamonds Den will give us our own place to play football and I’m sure we will see a lot more girls coming to join us over the next few years”.

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “There are many worthy organisations around the county that continue to provide help to the local communities. We are ever grateful to the generosity of our fundholders to enable us to support these vital services.”

The closing date for the next West Cumbria grants panel is 25^th May 2019. For more information, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org or call a member of the grants team on 01900 825760.