Older people in Cumbria struggling to survive the winter months in comfort are being urged to seek help after the Met Office warned the county is about to enter a period of chilly weather lasting throughout the rest of February and possibly into March.

Cumbria Community Foundation, which raises money for the Winter Warmth Appeal, is urging people over 60 and in need to contact their local Age UK to receive a one-off grant of up to £250. The winter fuel grants will pay for anything to do with keeping warm and well – energy bills, contributions towards new boilers and even hot meals, insulation or clothing.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive at the Foundation, said: “With the recent and forecasted drop in temperatures, and daytime highs barely getting above freezing, this support offers an essential lifeline to older people in fuel poverty.

“Falling temperatures place an increasing financial stress on older people, who often have to ration their energy use. Many are at risk and even die because of the combined effects of fuel poverty and social isolation.”

The lifesaving appeal initially started eight years ago because of shocking statistics of winter mortality among older people in Cumbria – an average of 300 people lose their life due to the effects of the cold weather every winter. The appeal, which encourages those who receive the Government’s Winter Fuel Payment to donate it to someone in need, has raised £150,000 and already supported 900 people this winter.

To find out more or donate to the appeal click here or call 01900 825760.

Signal Film and Media are delighted to announce the long-awaited return of Cooke’s Crew next month, the film club for 12-16yr olds, thanks to funding from Cumbria Housing Partners and Barrow Borough Council.

The last Cooke’s Crew project ended in March 2017 and was originally scheduled for return last September, but had to be postponed due to funding limitations, now the cameras are ready to roll again.

The 20-week project will begin recruitment in March for a start in April 2018 and will target young Barrovians who don’t usually take up out-of-school learning opportunities using the language of film. Cooke’s Crew uses exciting varieties of creative digital media activities specially designed to offer an alternative pathway towards employment, further education and social development.

Independent Think-Tank, DotEveryone, identified people in Barrow as being ‘highly likely to experience digital exclusion’. Although young people inherently learn digital skills through using social media, computer games and access at school, in areas of social deprivation this does not translate to acquiring essential skills and knowledge about how to use technology productively – to improve life chances and to access job opportunities.

Kerry Kolbe, Co-Director at Signal Film and Media, said: “By encouraging the exploration of creative digital media through storytelling, young people will learn how technology, used positively, can be a platform for expression of opinion, sharing of experiences and communication to peers and the wider world.”

At the end of the course Cooke’s Crew participants will present a community screening of their work and will have worked towards an Arts Award qualification; a nationally accredited certificate that provides a recognisable marker of achievement.

The Cumbria Housing Partners Fund, administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, provides grants of up to £10,000 to community and voluntary organisations running projects aimed at improving people’s employability or education. Over the last 10 years Cumbria Housing Partners’ has been successful in supporting apprenticeships and community projects in neighbourhoods across Cumbria.

John Clasper, Cumbria Housing Partners Chair said: “We are delighted to fund this exciting project which will support over 100 young people in Barrow to access media and arts learning leading to qualifications. The skills they learn will boost their confidence and support them as they move towards independent life and employment. We very much look forward to seeing the finished project at the screening and meeting the participants.”

Andy Beeforth, CEO of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The Cumbria Housing Partners Fund aims to bring real, positive change and bring local communities in Cumbria closer together. We are passionate about matching fundholders with the most deserving projects in Cumbria. This fund is particularly important because it will directly improve skills of some of the most disadvantaged people in our community.”

Community projects promoting sustainable living along the Solway Coast have received a share of £65,000 from the Robin Rigg West Cumbria Fund.

The fund, set up by energy company E.ON and administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, benefits community projects close to the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm that promote sustainable use of energy and resources, reduce climate change, and support nature conservation.

Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre (CBDC), based at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle received £10,000 to help fund their Solway Nature Networks project. Working in the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, CBDC will encourage local people to volunteer and map, identify and record the habitats and species of the Solway plain. This will provide valuable information about the area that hasn’t until now been sufficiently recorded. The project will end with a roving exhibition of the wildlife discovered and celebrate the hard work of the volunteers.

Deborah Muscat, Manager at CBDC, said: “Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre noticed that it was not receiving as much wildlife data for the Solway Coast as other parts of Cumbria.  We are delighted to receive a grant for our Solway Nature Networks project from E.ON and CCF.  It will allow us to recruit and train a group of volunteers to help us find out more about habitats and species in the area.”

Formerly known as The Settlement, the Castle Hill Trust in Maryport received £15,000 to upgrade the heating system in the building. The Trust, formed in 2017, provides volunteer-led activities such as arts and crafts sessions, a Job Seekers club and Friday night youth provision. The funding will make the grade 2-listed Georgian building a warmer, more pleasant place to meet, with reduced energy consumption and running costs, meaning more  to spend on new activities.

Jim O’Rourke, Trustee, said: “I was delighted when I heard we had received the grant. The improvements should significantly reduce our energy bill, enabling us to provide more support to the local community. Cumbria Community Foundation has supported our predecessors and we are extremely grateful that they have agreed to continue to support local people through Castle Hill Trust.”

Emma Skelton, E.ON Business service coordinator, said: “E.ON is proud to be an active member of the community. It’s great to see our fund benefiting so many local areas and projects.”

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Since the fund was established in 2009 it has invested almost half a million pounds into the local community. Promoting sustainable living is so important these days, and funds like the Robin Rigg West Cumbria Fund are crucial in helping projects make a bigger impact in their area.”

The Robin Rigg West Cumbria Fund considers applications once a year. The closing date for the next round is 23rd November. For more information, visit our grants page.

Residents of Egremont and Cockermouth can now benefit from the newly launched Lord Egremont Fund for West Cumbria.

The fund, created by Lord Egremont to support his family’s long-term involvement in the community, and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, recently awarded its first grants.

Time to Change (West Cumbria), which runs the Calderwood House hostel in Egremont received £5,000 to help start up a new allotment project. Residents will work together, under the supervision of a trained horticulturist to grow vegetables that are then used in the kitchen. The project will offer a safe and healthy space to work as a team, giving residents a support network to deal with issues such as isolation, depression and low self-esteem, as well as getting them out in the fresh air.

Rachel Holliday, Director at Time to Change, said: “We are always looking at new ways we can work with our community for the benefit of others.

Thanks to the grant, residents will have the delight of growing their own food, providing a healthy diet with lots of learning in the fresh air, as well as keeping food costs down in the hostel. We are so excited to get going and we know this grant will leave a real legacy to help the homeless in our area.”

In addition, the project received £2,000 from the Shepley Group Grants, also administered by Cumbria Community Foundation.

A further £5,000 was given to Egremont Youth Partnership, which provides a range of activities throughout the week for young people, including young adults with learning disabilities. The sessions give youngsters an alternative to hanging around on the streets; helping to keep them out of trouble and reducing anti-social behaviour, while developing the their skills and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

Bern Hellier, Trustee, said: “The Trustees are grateful and delighted with the support we have received this year from the Lord Egremont Fund towards our core running costs. We are entirely dependent on grant aid and fundraising. There is a real need for youth club provision in the town. Over the next year, with this support and that of our other funders, we will be able to run a varied programme for young people in youth sessions which are held on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights in our premises in Chapel Street.”

Lord Egremont, said: “I have been lucky enough to have known West Cumbria, particularly the town of Egremont, for almost seventy years. I have great admiration and respect for its people and am very happy to be able to help the community in this way.”

Community based organisations providing activities benefiting people in and around the two towns, and particularly projects that are volunteer-led or make good use of volunteers to support their work, are eligible for funding.

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer, Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are very excited to be working with Lord Egremont to help identify projects his fund can support. We know, for example, 15% of households in West Cumbria have an income of less than £10,000 per year, and it is funds like this that are crucial in helping people improve their lives and getting them involved in their communities.”

To find out more or to apply see our grants page or contact Annalee Holliday on 01900 82470 or email annalee@cumbriafoundation.org.

Community groups in Allerdale and Copeland are being offered the chance to apply for grants thanks to two new funds set up with money donated by United Utilities.

The water company has set up the Cumbria Legacy Fund which is being managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Cumbria Tree Fund, managed by Cumbria Woodlands.

John Hilton, West Cumbria Project Director at United Utilities, explained why the schemes had been launched: “We are carrying out a crucial infrastructure project across one of the most environmentally sensitive parts of the UK and we knew from the outset that we wanted to give something back to the communities that would be affected by up to five years of disruption.

“These funds will help leave a lasting legacy after our work has finished, helping improve the environment and the lives of people in West Cumbria.”

The Cumbria Legacy Fund is open to applications from community groups which provide activities that benefit people or the environment in the Allerdale and Copeland areas. Successful bids can expect to receive a community grant of up to £10,000 or a strategic grant of up to £30,000.

Funding will be available from 2018 to 2020 and the grants will be allocated in four phases across each year. The deadline for applications for the first phase is 23 February 2018.

Andy Beeforth, CEO of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “The Community Foundation is very pleased to be working in partnership with United Utilities who have created a significant Legacy Fund.

“The fund will be spent over the next three years and will provide valuable investment in people and communities helping to keep West Cumbria strong and able to embrace the challenges we face.”

The Cumbria Tree Fund is aimed at landowners and community groups who want to plant trees, hedges or woodlands in West Cumbria. Grants will be available for plants, trees, fencing and protective materials, as well as support and advice from Cumbria Woodlands. Applications are encouraged before the end of March 2018.

Neville Elstone at Cumbria Woodlands said: “We want to see applications that will enhance the landscape, benefit wildlife, protect the environment and involve the local community. Even if you only have a rough idea of what you want to achieve, we can help pull those ideas together into a scheme that will have a lasting benefit.”

For more information on the Cumbria Legacy Fund click here or contact Annalee Holliday on 01900 825760.

For more information on the Cumbria Tree Fund visit www.cumbriawoodlands.co.uk or contact Neville Elstone on Neville@cumbriawoodlands.co.uk or call 07966 758594.

United Utilities will be on hand to answer any questions about the project, or the grant schemes, at a regular drop-in session for the public every Thursday (starting 18th January) between 10am and 3pm, at the Visitor Centre at 32 Lake Road, Keswick, CA12 5DQ.

Cranstons Quality Butchers are warming the homes of older people in Cumbria this winter with the sale of a very special pie.

Cranstons are supporting Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal, which helps older people who are having to choose between eating a meal or heating their homes. The butchers will donate 30 pence from every ‘Steak and Eden Best Ale’ pie they sell from Tuesday 2nd January to close of business on Saturday 10th February.

Philip Cranston, owner of Cranstons Butchers, said: ‘’We are delighted to be helping to raise funds for the Winter Warmth Appeal, which helps some of the county’s most vulnerable elderly people with their fuel costs. Our steak and ale pies are a popular choice at this time of year; what’s not to love about a rich steak, ale and puff pastry topped pie? It’s the ultimate winter comfort food! We are hoping to raise awareness of this worthy cause and to donate a sizeable chunk of money to this year’s appeal.’’

Cranstons, who have been members of Cumbria Community Foundation since 2003, will also be taking part in the Big Sleep 2018, which has raised almost £100,000 for the Winter Warmth Appeal. They’ll be joining other fundraisers on Saturday 27^th January for a night sleeping out under the stars opposite the Low Wood Bay Hotel in Windermere.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive at the Foundation, said: “Older people are more ill in the winter, and it’s very important for them to stay warm so that existing conditions are not exacerbated. When you’re older you don’t cope with cold as well.

“We know that demand for help is greater than ever before, so we are very excited that Cranston’s are helping to raise much-needed funds and promote our Winter Warmth Campaign this year.”

Cranstons Quality Butchers Ltd was established in 1914 by Stanley Cranston in the village of Kirkoswald, and remains a family run business. They have traditional butcher’s shops in the old market towns of Penrith and Hexham, and food halls at Penrith, Orton Grange, Carlisle and Brampton, which opened in 2016.

A winter special, Cranstons Steak and Ale pie combines tender chunks of steak with an Eden Best Ale gravy and dry cured smoked bacon pieces, this tasty rich filling is then topped with puff pastry.

For information about the Winter Warmth Fund Appeal and the Big Sleep, contact us on 01900 825760 or email enquiries@cumbriafoundation.org.

Cumbria Community Foundation is asking people to brave the cold and raise awareness of the plight of older people who lose their lives due to the effects of the plummeting temperatures every winter.

The annual Big Sleep raises thousands of pounds for the Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal. It gives people a chance to experience what it is like to sleep without heat. It is a sponsored event so everyone that takes part collects funds, which will be used to keep older people warm and well.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of the Foundation, said: “Older Cumbrians should not be dying because they can’t afford to keep themselves warm in winter, and we need to help change that.

“In 2017 the Winter Warmth Appeal raised almost £134,000. More than £24,000 of that came from Big Sleep fundraisers who spent a night under the stars in temperatures which dropped below zero during the night.

“Every year, thanks to the warm generosity of individuals and businesses and those who brave the cold and take part in the Big Sleep, we are raising more money to help older people heat their homes. Please come and join us!”

Professor John Howarth, a GP and Deputy Chief Executive of the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is supportive of the Winter Warmth Appeal. He said: “Simply keeping warm could save the lives of many people, who are mostly elderly or vulnerable.”

“There is a big role for neighbours, family and friends to play, to look after each other. It really is a community effort and the Winter Warmth Appeal helps address this issue.”

This year a team from Temple Heelis Solicitors in Kendal are taking part in the Big Sleep. They’ve chosen Cumbria Community Foundation as their charity of the year, and to help raise funds the staff will be joined by their families.

Shelley Savasi, Senior Probate Administrator, said: “The funds we raise will go towards keeping older Cumbrians warm and well. The team will experience a snapshot of what it is like to be exposed to winter temperatures, as do those who can’t afford to heat their homes.”

The Big Sleep is being held on Saturday 27th January 2018 on the shore of Lake Windermere. It costs £35 for adults and £5 for children – to enter visit: http://www.cumbriafoundation.org/bigsleep/. The entry fee includes a hot drink, evening meal, activities, and breakfast.

If you can’t join the Big Sleep on the night why not do your own? The 1^st Wetheral Brownies will be camping out remotely in a cold barn near Brampton. The girls will be taken on a midnight hike round Talkin Tarn, watch a movie and have a camp fire. If that isn’t an option, you can still donate to the Winter Warmth Appeal: visit: www.cumbriafoundation.org/winter-warmth-fund.

You can also send a cheque to: ‘Cumbria Community Foundation’, writing ‘Winter Warmth’ on the back to: Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN.

Cumbria Community Foundation is encouraging people to apply for financial assistance after flooding hit homes again across the county.

The Cumbria Disaster Fund was set up with an initial donation of £50,000 from the charity’s own funds to ensure immediate funding is available to anyone who needs help following a disaster.

The fund will initially provide support for immediate needs such as alternative accommodation costs, cleaning up, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, drying out and basic furniture. Priority will be given to uninsured, low income households.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Sadly, our county has seen multiple major flooding incidents in the last ten years. It is devastating to see the damage done yet again to our community over the last few days.

“We don’t yet know the full scale of the need, but we know that the flooding will cause significant financial hardship and emotional distress. The disaster isn’t over when the floodwaters recede, for many this will just be the start of a really tough time.

“The trustees committed £50,000 to a response and recovery fund for the region. At this stage, grants will be awarded to provide clean-up materials, household items and furniture to ensure that everyone has the basics needed to get their lives back up and running but that will be just the start, there is going to be a lot of ongoing need.”

The Foundation is aware that the fund can only provide a limited level of support to uninsured households. If anyone would like to donate to the Cumbria Disaster Fund, visit: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/cumbria-disaster-fund or call 01900 825760 during office hours.

To apply for the fund visit the Cumbria Disaster Fund page or speak to the grants team on 01900 825760.

The Foundation has previously raised almost £14 million following widespread flooding in 2005, 2009 and 2015, all of which has gone back into rebuilding the county.

Local causes across West Cumbria have been awarded around £90,000 thanks to funds administered by Cumbria Community Foundation.

21 community groups and 19 young people have received a share of the funds awarded at the recent grants panel. The money will support a wide range of projects including theatre workshops for children, advice for people with disabilities, improvements to community facilities and travel costs associated to school trips via the Mary Grave Trust.

Some of the funds that have supported the projects include the Broughton Moor Wind Farm Fund, the Quarry Hill Grassroots Fund and the Live the Dream Fund.

More than a hundred carers will be offered the support they need thanks to £3,000 awarded to the West Cumbria Carers. The grant from the Older Peoples Fund means that staff at the Carers Clinic, based at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, can continue to provide emotional and practical support to carers of those who have been admitted to hospital. The clinic will also help carers take care of themselves, making sure they maintain their own mental and physical wellbeing, and providing them with an essential support network.

Clare Edwards, Project and Funding Development Manager, West Cumbria Carers said: ‘This grant will enable us to continue to run a much needed support service for carers at West Cumberland Hospital. Carers need lots of support when their loved ones get close to discharge from hospital. We help carers to understand their rights, to get their voice heard and provide them with time and space to talk about their own concerns about the discharge. Providing support at this time means carers can build a support network which can help to prevent their loved one being admitted again.’

Children in West Cumbria are growing in confidence and learning new socials skills with the help of speech and drama. Cumbria Theatre Trust received £4,000 from the Lamont Pridmore Grassroots Fund and Solway Fund to provide 20 workshops to local schools including Northside Primary School, Victoria Junior School and St. Herbert’s Church of England Primary and Nursery School. By exploring the world of The Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and attending the performance this Christmas at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, the children will improve their reading and writing skills and gain confidence through participating in group drama activities. 

Cath Gaskell, a teacher at St. Herbert’s Church of England Primary and Nursery School said: “We have seen children grow and blossom as they become absorbed by the magic of theatre.”

James Cobbold, Administrative Director, Theatre by the Lake said: “We are committed to enabling children and young people to experience and engage with the arts, and particularly live theatre.  The funding we have received through Cumbria Community Foundation will enable us to broaden the impact and reach of our workshop activities with schools across North and West Cumbria in response to our Christmas production, The Secret Garden.”

Annalee Holliday, Grants & Donor Services Officer at the Foundation, said: “Our grants are vital in helping people in West Cumbria, and we are ever grateful for the continued support of all our fundholders.”

The closing date for the next round of applications is Friday 15th December 2017 to be reviewed by the panel on Wednesday 10th January 2018. For more information or to apply see out grants page or contact the grants team on 01900 825760.