Nine community projects across Cumbria have received a financial boost totalling more than £14,000 from a charitable fund set up by a local engineering firm.

The Shepley Group Fund was established in 2009 by Whitehaven-based Shepley Engineers Limited to give grants to small, volunteer-led or community groups helping people facing disadvantage.

The fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, has awarded more than £150,000 in grants since then. In the last year, grants totalling £14,155 have been given to community groups and charities.

Howgill Family Centre in Cleator Moor received £2,000 towards the salary costs for a part-time Project Manager and Volunteer Coordinator to manage the West Cumbria Baby Bank project which provides post-natal safety and wellbeing to babies and parents.

This project aims to reduce the impacts of childhood poverty in west Cumbria by supporting vulnerable babies with a safe place to sleep, warm clothes and the essentials for early development.

Faye Eldon, Chief Executive of the Howgill Family Centre, said: “We are so thankful for the funding we have received from Cumbria Community Foundation. This funding will allow us to continue and expand our West Cumbria Baby Bank project this year.

“With the funding, we are able to provide the service which supports and improves post-natal safety and wellbeing of the baby and mother, as well as providing dignity and hope at this vulnerable time of their lives. The project provides baby clothing, moses baskets, cots, toiletries and essential baby equipment via referrals from midwives, health visitors, social services and other support agencies. Thank you so much.”

Healthy Hopes Cumbria was awarded £2,000 towards the cost of running weekly wellbeing groups in Carlisle and Wigton and employment charity Goodlives received £1,000 towards the cost of running services to support learners into work.

Other projects supported by the Shepley Group Fund included Proud and Diverse Cumbria, awarded £2,000 towards rent for the Colours Hub in Whitehaven, and Safe Families and Home for Good, who received £2,000 towards the salary of a Family Support Manager.

Engineering Development Trust received £1,405 to deliver Industrial Cadets Bronze Projects in two Cumbria schools to inspire young people into STEM careers and Cumbria Scout Council received £1,000 to buy two bell boats for Scouts to use at the Bassenthwaite Centre.

Ryan Christie, Group Operations Support Manager at the Shepley Group, said: “Being a Cumbrian based business, we are delighted that we can support the communities in which we operate by awarding this funding. We have held our fund with Cumbria Community Foundation since 2009 and we are incredibly proud that we have been able to help so many local charities since then and see the impact it has provided.”

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The Shepley Group Fund makes a real difference to communities across Cumbria, funding vital projects which support those who need it most. We are really grateful that they trust us to deliver this essential work.”

Cumbria Community Foundation gives around £6million in grants a year to local charities and voluntary groups through over 100 grant making funds set up by generous businesses, individuals and families.

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

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.”

Read more about the projects funded.

A Cumbrian construction giant is launching a new fund to tackle poverty, provide skills and training, and promote wellbeing in local communities.

Flimby-based Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd, incorporating award winning Washington Homes, will support projects making a difference in the areas where it operates across Cumbria.

Managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, the Thomas Armstrong Construction Community Fund will give grants of up to £2,000 to not-for-profit organisations in communities near their head office and sites where they and Washington Homes operate. These currently include Flimby, Workington, Maryport, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Gilcrux, Millom, Moor Row, Penrith and Wigton.

Organisations should be working to create opportunities for people to escape poverty, providing skills, education, and training to help individuals achieve their full potential, or promoting better health.

Philip Hoyles, Deputy Managing Director of Thomas Armstrong Construction, said: “At Thomas Armstrong Construction, we are keen to forge stronger links with our communities.

“Establishing the Community Fund is our way of giving back to the areas where we live and work, supporting local projects that make a real difference to people’s lives. This initiative reflects our commitment to social responsibility and our desire to help create a positive, lasting impact across Cumbria.”

Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships, said: “We’re delighted that Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd have chosen to create a fund with Cumbria Community Foundation. For more than 25 years, we’ve been the trusted philanthropic partner of businesses who want to give back to the communities they serve.

“We have a deep understanding of the county’s needs and look forward to ensuring this money makes the biggest difference possible.”

To find out whether your organisation or project might be eligible to apply for a grant, or to apply, go to the fund page.

Priority will be given to projects that improve the lives of children and families in need of extra support; offer inclusive activities and reduce isolation; promote better mental health and wellbeing; or build stronger, more resilient communities.

For more information, contact Grants and Programmes Officer Lisa Blackwell on 01900 820828 or email lisa@cumbriafoundation.org.

Cumbria Community Foundation gives around £6million in grants a year to local charities and voluntary groups through more than 100 grant making funds set up by generous businesses, individuals and families.

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

What is the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund?    

Between January 2023 and March 2025, the Know Your Neighbourhood (KYN) Fund invested up to £30 million to widen participation in volunteering and tackle loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas across England.

Between January 2023 March 2025, UK Community Foundations (UKCF) managed £15 million of funding, delivered through nine participating community foundations.

Originally scheduled to end in March 2025, in April 2025 the KYN Fund was extended to run until March 2026, with up to an additional £4.5 million of funding, of which UK Community Foundations managed £2.3 million.

Between January 2023 and March 2026, nine community foundations distributed a total of 190 grants between January 2023 and March 2026 to local community-led projects supporting volunteering, social connection and community cohesion.

The programme engaged a total of 144,632 participants across its funding streams.

Local delivery through Cumbria Community Foundation

As part of this national partnership, Cumbria Community Foundation distributed £1,716,000 in grant funding to support community‑led activity in Barrow‑in‑Furness, with a strong focus on volunteering, connection and community participation.

This included the Furness for You project, led by Groundwork, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s The Bay project. Furness for You is a place‑based programme designed to strengthen community connections, support local people to get involved in shaping activity in their neighbourhoods, and enable voluntary and community organisations to work together to respond to local priorities.

Delivery partners include Age UK South Cumbria, Brathay Trust, Barrow Leisure Centre, Barrow & District Disability Association, Cumbria CVS, Furness Multicultural Forum, the Poverty Truth Commission, Stitch Ability and Women’s Community Matters.

Independent report shares learning from successful approaches

A key focus of the KYN Fund has been to generate and share learning on how people in disadvantaged areas can be supported to volunteer and improve their social connections, which will help to support sustained action beyond the lifetime of the fund.

This independent report explores evaluation findings from KYN Fund delivery between January 2023 and March 2025.

It found that the KYN Fund successfully engaged people new to volunteering. Over half of volunteers (52%) reported they were volunteering for the first time through KYN‑funded activity.

Disabled people and those with long‑term health conditions were strongly represented. Nearly half of participants (48%) reported a long‑term disability or health condition, compared to 18% nationally.

The evaluation also found that the KYN Fund created conditions that supported participation by people at higher risk of chronic loneliness. ‘14% of participants reported feeling lonely often or always, compared to 7% nationally.’

At the same time, the evaluation highlights limits in how loneliness can be measured, noting that ‘there are recognised limitations in measuring loneliness which mean it can be challenging to capture impact in this area.’

Learning from the programme points to the importance of flexible, sustained funding approaches when working with communities experiencing chronic loneliness. The evaluation highlights the value of flexible delivery, sufficient setup time and multi‑year approaches to building trust and engagement.

The evaluation also identifies the role of place‑based delivery and local partnerships in supporting engagement and positive local outcomes. Local knowledge, trusted relationships and partnerships supported participation and were associated with improved feelings of belonging and neighbourhood connection. ‘Local partnerships, trusted relationships and community‑based assets were central to engaging participants.’

The report offers recommendations around recruitment and community engagement, project delivery and collaboration and evaluation approaches, which can be found online here.

Reports supported by UKCF throughout the KYN Fund can be found online here.

Charity workers and volunteers from across Cumbria were thanked at an award ceremony last week, recognising their tireless efforts to enhance and enrich their local communities.

Representatives from nine community and non-profit organisations were invited to the High Sheriff Award ceremony at Brougham Hall, Penrith on Thursday 12 March.

The awards are part of the High Sheriff’s Fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation. They publicly recognise both charities and individual volunteers who help improve their communities.

The High Sheriff of Cumbria, Dr Geoff Jolliffe, has travelled around the county visiting many charities and voluntary organisations throughout his year of office, which comes to an end this month.

He said: “It’s been humbling to meet these groups and individuals, to see the brilliance of their work and to be able to recognise and thank them on behalf of all Cumbrians for their outstanding contributions to the county. I recognise just a few of those today with the High Sheriff Awards.

“I want to be clear that so many could have been winners – the breadth and depth of activity I have witnessed is outstanding.”

The High Sheriff chose nine organisations to receive a certificate and grant funding totalling £8,070.

County Chair Abigail Graham, Vice Chair Hector Meanwell and Eden Valley YFC member Jade Pearson received the award on behalf of Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.

Abigail said: “It has been truly inspiring to hear about all the incredible work happening within our communities and we were honoured to receive recognition for the contribution our young farmers make within the county.”

Emma Wells accepted the award on behalf of Unseen Victims, which provides support and assistance to the loved ones of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. She said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to receive this award this year. It means a great deal to have the High Sheriff recognise the often-overlooked impact that crime has on indirect victims, and the importance of supporting those whose lives are affected beyond the immediate incident.

James Cobbold, Director of Raise Collective, said: “We’re honoured to receive this award because it recognises the contribution neurodivergent people are making to environmental work in Cumbria, and the importance of creating spaces where different ways of thinking and experiencing the world are valued. It is a credit to the hard work of the Raise team and to the partners, landowners and communities who are helping to grow the Cumbria Community Forest.”

Recognition

“This recognition reinforces our commitment to continuing our work in raising awareness and providing support to those who are too often unseen.”

Three organisations received the prestigious High Sheriff’s Shield.

The first went to 4Eden, a Penrith-based charity that provides coaching, support and services for people throughout the Eden Valley, specialising in learning disability, neurodiversity and additional learning needs.

The second shield was awarded to Camp JoJo, which provides fully adapted camping breaks near Appleby for families of children with complex and life-limiting needs.

Greengate Junior School in Barrow also received the High Sheriff’s Shield for their work with neurodiverse children.

Lexie Gager-Liebhart of Whamos, one of the 2025 recipients of the High Sheriff’s Shield, gave an update on their year since winning. She said: “Receiving the High Sheriff Award last year meant a great deal to us. Not just as recognition, but as validation. It showed us that the work happening quietly in our community matters. That small teams, local people, and grassroots effort can make a real difference.

“Much of community work goes unseen. It is early mornings, late evenings, difficult conversations, and constant problem-solving. The award gave us visibility. It opened doors to partnerships and opportunities that may not have happened otherwise. It helped us show others that community-led work has real impact.”

The High Sheriff’s Chaplain, Debbie Wilde, also addressed the winners.

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “At Cumbria Community Foundation, the High Sheriff Award ceremony is one of the highlights of our year. It’s wonderful to get together so many charity workers and volunteers to thank them for all they do, week in, week out.

“There are so many incredible voluntary and non-profit organisations working at the heart of our communities, and this is an opportunity for them to receive the recognition and support they deserve.”

Before the award ceremony and lunch, the High Sheriff officially reopened Brougham Hall. The 14th century hall was bought last year by a group of artists who had workshops there and now operates as a social enterprise.

The winners:

Shield and £1,390 grant:

• 4Eden
• Camp JoJo
• Greengate Junior School

Certificate and £650 grant:

• Emma Wells, of Unseen Victims CIC
• St Mary’s Hospice therapists
• Jade Clifford, of iCan Wellbeing Group
• Raise Collective
• Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs
• Cumbria police cadets and their trainers

Jobseekers in West Cumbria are receiving a helping hand to find work, thanks to grant funding totalling more than £40,000.

The Programme and Project Partners (PPP) Social Impact Fund – managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, and funded by Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd, Amentum Clean Energy Ltd, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, and Altrad Babcock Ltd – was set up last year.

It aims to enable access to educational and training activities that raise career aspirations; support individuals in becoming “work ready”; facilitate entry into meaningful employment; and remove barriers to employment and economic participation.

Since then, £42,520 has been awarded to projects across West Cumbria.

Social enterprise Time to Change West Cumbria (TTC) has received £10,000 to support individuals seeking work. The funding could provide a bicycle or bus pass for travel to work trials, a CSCS card needed to work on a construction site, or other essential equipment.

Rachel Holliday, TTC Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be awarded £10,000 from the PPP Social Impact Fund to continue to help local people in need in our area. So many people are struggling financially with the cost of living crisis and are just not able to make ends meet. By supporting people into work and helping them sustain their employment, we can help many people move towards a better life and a brighter future.”

People First Independent Advocacy has been awarded £10,000 towards funding a Job Coach to support staff with learning disabilities and/or autism at Harbour Place Community Cafe in Workington.
Revive Furniture Recycling has received £10,000 towards the cost of delivering a community training and employment project to residents in Copeland who are NEET, unemployed, or facing multiple barriers.

And Whamos Training and Development in Millom has been awarded £2,520 to cover staff costs for delivering one-to-one and small-group sessions in Digital Skills, English, Maths, Life Skills and Employability.

Last year £10,000 was awarded to Goodlives, a charity that runs training centres for adults facing long-term unemployment, social exclusion or poor mental health, in Cleator Moor and at West Lakes Science Park, near Whitehaven. The grant helped to fund a Project Trainer to provide support for adults to improve their skills and self-confidence and help with their job search.

Partnership

The PPP is a 20-year partnership established by Sellafield Ltd in 2019 to deliver major infrastructure projects. Other businesses have now stepped forward to contribute to the fund, seeing the impact it is having in transforming lives in West Cumbria.

Global AI-powered digital transformation leader Atos, which has a base in Whitehaven, has donated £5,072 to the fund. Phil Lazell, Account Director at Atos said, “As a business with roots here in West Cumbria, we strongly believe in supporting the local community. We’re delighted to be able to help the team at PPP in the vital work they do, removing barriers for people to get back into meaningful and fulfilling work.”

Bauer Technologies has contributed £500 to the fund.

The PPP Social Impact Fund is also open to applications from individuals, particularly those facing complex barriers to employment or living in areas of high deprivation.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available for individuals aged 18 and over, living in the former boroughs of Allerdale and Copeland. Applicants must have the backing of a recognised professional, such as a support worker or teaching professional.

Steve Harnwell, PPP managing director, said: “I’m delighted to see our latest grants being awarded to such a mix of amazing community organisations. Each is doing incredible work investing in skills, training and giving people the confidence to pursue meaningful work.

“Our Social Impact Fund helps them to deliver this vital work by removing barriers to employment and creating opportunities that make a lasting difference to people’s lives.”

Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to work with Partnership and Project Partners to ensure this funding reaches those who need it most. We know many people in West Cumbria face significant barriers to securing employment and this fund is making a real difference, providing practical support where it is most needed.”

Find out more about the fund.

For further information on applying to the fund, please contact the Grants Team on 01900 825760 or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org.

Cumbria Community Foundation gives around £6 million in grants a year to local charities and voluntary groups through over 100 grant making funds set up by generous businesses, individuals and families.

To find out more about setting up a fund or becoming a member and supporting those in need in Cumbria, contact Development Manager Caroline Adams on 01900 820825 or email caroline@cumbriafoundation.org.

Ten young entrepreneurs with brilliant business ideas from software development to gutter cleaning have been accepted onto an exciting programme to help them bring their plans to life.

The young people, aged between 14 and 21 from across West Cumbria, have been chosen to take part in the Positive Enterprise programme, run by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP).

They will each receive a £1,000 grant, plus workshops, expert advice, mentoring and the opportunity to shadow local entrepreneurs.

Each participant will also be paired with an experienced businessperson to act as a mentor and guide them through highs and lows of running their own business.

This is the fourth year of the programme, which will also run in the Furness area for the first time this year. The West Cumbria launch took place at LEVELS in Whitehaven, where participants and their families, mentors and organisers had chance to get to know each other and hear about previous success stories.

Business ideas this year include furniture reupholstering, buying and selling vintage sports memorabilia, software development, and gutter maintenance.

Aiden Gill, 15, of Dearham, has been selected to take part with his idea of creating a new fragrance. He said: “I’m most looking forward to trying new things. I’ve done some research into making a fragrance and this programme seems like a really good opportunity to give it a go.”

Chloe Pennington took part in Positive Enterprise in 2024 to develop her business, Chloes Chateau. She sells original art and gifts, transforming her own brightly coloured, hand-drawn artwork showing scenes from West Cumbria and beyond into prints, mugs and other giftware.

Chloe gave her advice to this year’s participants: “Take every opportunity; you don’t know where it will lead. If it’s not working for you – pivot. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The experience itself is worth much more than the money.”

The programme is funded 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, Social Impact Manager at Sellafield Ltd, said: “We always look forward to the launch of the new Positive Enterprise cohorts each year. Meeting the new participants and seeing the passion behind their ideas was fantastic. The success of previous beneficiaries proves the programme’s impact – helping young entrepreneurs get started and giving them the tools to build sustainable, growing businesses.”

The programme is delivered by CforLP. Project Lead Rhianna Smith said: “At the very start of this year’s Positive Enterprise programme, we’re already seeing a diverse group of young people bringing forward a broad and creative range of business ideas that reflect their different experiences, interests and ambitions. Positive Enterprise doesn’t just focus on the business outcomes, the real impact is long-term – supporting participants to build confidence, resilience and essential skills that shape their futures.

“Now in its fourth year, the programme continues to support alumni beyond delivery, helping them apply what they’ve learned as they move into education, employment or self-employment. It’s a privilege to be part of another year supporting young people as they take their first steps on that journey.”

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Positive Enterprise has a fantastic track record of delivering practical support and advice to young people starting out in business. There are so many success stories from the first three years of the programme – not only in terms of the number of businesses still going from strength to strength, but the confidence and life skills it has given those taking part.

“Positive Enterprise really does have a transformational effect on the lives of the young people taking part, and we are very grateful to the funders and mentors giving up their time to share their skills and experience.”

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

A group of kind-hearted Brownies from near Carlisle have raised thousands of pounds to help vulnerable older people stay warm in winter – and they aren’t finished yet!

Since 2013, 1st Wetheral Brownies have supported Cumbria Community Foundation’s annual Winter Warmth Appeal, which gives out vital grants to older people to keep them warm and well through the colder months.

The Brownies have held a sponsored sleepout every winter at chilly spots across Cumbria, including Naworth Castle, Netherby Hall, Wetheral Priory Gatehouse and even in tents, on the shores of Windermere.

So far they have raised more than £12,000 – and this week they will be digging out their thermals and doing it all again.

Twenty Brownies and Young Leaders from 1st Wetheral will be joined by 10 Brownies and Guides from Hayton to spend the night in a tipi near Brampton. This year’s theme is a Native American Adventure, and the girls have been making dream catchers and totem poles in preparation.

Their leader Janice Brown, AKA Tawny Owl, explained: “We have been learning about Native American culture, in preparation for our sponsored sleepout this week. The girls have made dream catchers and lanterns, and we’ve been practising our campfire songs and tracking skills, which we will try out in the woods.

She explained why the Brownies support the Winter Warmth Appeal each year, which last winter gave out more than £270,000 in grants, benefitting 1,570 vulnerable older people across the county.

“Sleeping out in the cold gives the Brownies a real understanding of what life must be like for older people who can’t afford to heat their homes in winter. So while we always have a lot of fun, the girls know the serious reason for the campaign and do their best to raise as much in sponsorship as possible. They love that the money helps older people in need right here in Cumbria.”

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, will be visiting the Brownies at their camp to thank them for their incredible fundraising efforts. He said: “We have been running the Winter Warmth Appeal since 2010 and have raised more than £3m since then. I can honestly say there have been no more dedicated fundraisers in that time than our Brownie friends from Wetheral, and their wonderful volunteer leaders and helpers.

“Unfortunately, the need for the appeal is as great as ever. Every winter, as many as 500 older people in Cumbria die because they cannot afford to heat their homes and eat properly.

“Donations and fundraising by kind-hearted Cumbrians such as the Brownies mean older people won’t have to make the impossible choice of whether to heat their homes or put food on the table.”

The Winter Warmth Appeal is open for donations until March.

How to donate

Donate online: https://cumbriafoundation.enthuse.com/cf/cumbria-winter-warmth-appeal-2025
Donate by phone: Call 01900 825760 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Donate by post: Please make cheques payable to Cumbria Community Foundation, writing ‘Winter Warmth Fund’ on the back, and send to: Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, CA13 0PN.

Thanks to Special Event Tipis, Shake, Waffle and Roll, Darren Morgan of Talkin Adventures and Border Group Ltd for supporting the Brownies’ sleepout.

The incredible work of local charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises involved in Transforming West Cumbria has been recognised nationally, with the programme winning two prestigious awards.

Funded through the Sellafield Ltd Social Impact Multiplied (SiX) programme and delivered by Cumbria Community Foundation, Transforming West Cumbria is a £6.5 million social investment initiative. It is designed to tackle the reasons behind poor health, low incomes and low skills amongst West Cumbria’s most disadvantaged people. Since its launch in 2020, the programme has supported hundreds of local groups and thousands of individuals and families, creating lasting change for people experiencing mental ill health, improving financial wellbeing, and the health and wellbeing of children living in poverty.

This team effort was named Social Value Initiative of the Year at the Institute of Economic Development Awards and won the Social Impact category at the Institute for Collaborative Working Awards. Earlier this year, it also received the Partnership Award at Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster Awards and was highly commended in the Grant Making category at the national Charity Awards.

Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received such clear recognition of the value of the Transforming West Cumbria programme, both locally and on the national stage this year.

“These awards celebrate the passion and commitment of everyone involved – from frontline charities and skilled volunteers to expert mentors, match funders, and steering group members. Transforming West Cumbria is a true team effort, responding to local needs and driving real, lasting change.

Huge team effort

“Thanks to Sellafield Ltd’s significant investment and input, we have been able to co-create and deliver this programme with a range of voluntary, community and social enterprise partners. Transforming West Cumbria is a huge team effort.”

Tracey West, Head of Social Impact at Sellafield Ltd, said: “We know that Transforming West Cumbria has had wide-ranging, lasting impact on local communities since it was launched in 2020, as confirmed by the independent mid-programme evaluation. This success is down to the strength of our delivery partners. Their work has transformed lives and communities, and these awards are a testament to that collective impact.”

The Foundation has also been honoured for further partnership working this year. The Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal Partnership was named Fundraising Feat of the Year at the Cumbria Life Awards, while Age Friendly South Lakeland, which the Foundation helped to set up, was highly commended in the Organisation Champion category at the Diverse Cumbria Awards

Cumbria Community Foundation Chief Executive, Andy Beeforth OBE, said: “All of the awards we have won and been shortlisted for this year demonstrate our depth of knowledge and the difference we have made in supporting vulnerable people. It is a privilege to be able to receive the generosity of local people and businesses and then to direct that money to where it is needed most. We couldn’t do this without the passion and commitment of the charities, social enterprises and volunteers in our communities.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team, and proud of the trust people across Cumbria place in us to deliver life-changing work. These awards are for all the people we have had the honour of working with, supporting and championing this year.”