Large Image

£130,000 awarded to good causes in Copeland

Charities in Copeland have received a financial boost to help people through the cost of living crisis thanks to the generosity of one local company.

The LLWR Grassroots Fund provides grants to charitable organisations that are addressing issues relating to the current economic crisis, supporting the younger generation with developing skills and vulnerable, older people.

Managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, the fund was set up in 2011 by waste management company, Low Level Waste Repository Ltd, now trading as Nuclear Waste Services.

In that time, more than £130,000 has been awarded to local good causes, including a recent grant to Howgill Family Centre’s project ‘Baby Basic West Cumbria’.

Based in Cleator Moor, Baby Basics West Cumbria provides essential baby equipment, clothing and toiletries to women and families in Allerdale and Copeland, who are struggling with the financial and practical burden of looking after a new baby.

The project relies on the donation of good quality, second hand baby equipment and clothing from the local community, alongside other donations of new, unopened toiletries and nappies. These are then safety checked and prepared into referral packages and given out as gifts via health professionals, such as NHS midwives.

Launched two years ago, it is one of over 50 centres in the ‘Baby Basics’ network throughout the UK.

The project is reliant on volunteers and to secure its future, a grant of £25,380 over the next three years will employ a Project Coordinator to ensure it can continue providing support.

Christine Davey, who set up the project, said: “We have seen an increase in our referral rate since we launched in January 2021, as families have tried to cope with the rising cost of living. The support from the local community through donations and fundraising events has been amazing and enabled us to meet the referrals which are placed with us. We’re so grateful for the compassion individuals, clubs and groups have shown to our project”.

The project works with NHS midwives, health visitors and other agencies, who refer families in need of support.

“We’re excited that this wonderful project will be able to continue in its work to improve post-natal safety and wellbeing of local mothers and babies, providing dignity and hope at this vulnerable time in their lives, and so grateful for this vital funding that will enable this,” said Christine.

The fund has received a recent boost of £50,000, meaning more good causes will continue to benefit.

Martin Walkingshaw, Chief Operating Officer for Nuclear Waste Services, said: ‘We’re proud of the important work that our fund is supporting but the real heroes are the volunteers that work with people in need.

“Being able to guarantee the future of Baby Basics for a further three years will help ensure that families can meet the key requirements for their new-borns. It’s a privilege that we can play a part in providing essentials such as baby clothing that otherwise some may struggle to secure.”

Other projects to recently benefit from the fund include Home to Work’s healthy food growing project, Whitehaven Community Trust, which provides accommodation for homeless 16-24 years olds, and Mirehouse Community Centre to support the Top of the Shops café managers post.

Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to continue our longstanding relationship with LLWR. As an endowment fund at the Community Foundation, it will provide funding to help people for decades to come. The recent grants will help provide a safety net and alleviate current financial hardship during what are tough times for many local residents.”

For more information or to apply visit, www.cumbriafoundation.org or call the grants team on 01900 820827 or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org

Grants available to support young people making a positive contribution to their communities

Projects that encourage young people to take action on the issues that matter to them can apply for up to £5,000 through the #CanDo Fund.

Administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, the #CanDo Fund creates opportunities for skills development for young people living in West Cumbria, including social action through campaigning, fundraising and volunteering, all of which make a positive difference to their communities.

Since 2020, the #CanDo Fund has awarded more than £135,000 to 30 projects, with all the of them having been considered by a youth committee, putting the decisions in the hands of the next generation.

Amie Todhunter, 23 from Whitehaven, said: “The #CanDo youth committee is a great way to socialise and meet new people while also helping to fund important and necessary youth-led social action in West Cumbria.

“Meeting people with the same attitude and mindset has been really important as we’ve all come together from different areas and backgrounds to discuss significant ways to help groups create their own changes in their area.”

Two community projects to have benefited include Always Another Way, which received £5,000 to encourage young LGBTQ+ young people to get involved in social action. Alongside monthly community litter picks, activities raised awareness of LGBTQ+ issues to help improve understanding and build cohesion in the community.

West Cumbria Rivers Trust received £2,400 to recruit young people aged 14-18 to join their Youth Panel and work on a variety of projects from natural flood management to endangered species conservation.

The Trust has a crucial role to play in raising awareness and increasing understanding of West Cumbria’s rivers and lakes.  The youth panel meet quarterly to provide fresh ideas on how the charity can engage with its diverse communities in West Cumbria and also work on the design and delivery of projects.

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

Stuart McCourt, Sellafield Ltd Education, Community and Development Lead, said:” Through our Six – Social Impact Multiplied programme, we want to support our local communities to thrive. The #Cando Fund enables this by empowering young people to lead change within their communities on the issues which are important to them.”

Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants & Programmes Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Young people have enormous potential to make a positive change in their communities. We want to fund enjoyable projects that build and share skills and demonstrate positive impact on the wider community including simple, basic things like making new friends, trying out new activities and improving life skills. We’re proud to support local groups working with the next generation of volunteers, campaigners and activists who want to make a difference.”

The deadline for applications for the next round of #CanDo grants is 17th February 2023.

For more information or to apply visit, click here or contact Annalee Holliday on annalee@cumbriafoundation.org or 01900 820827.

£1.5 million awarded to good causes in Cumbria

More than 1.5 million has been awarded to a range of good causes in Cumbria, helping to tackle issues including loneliness, unemployment, mental illness and fuel poverty.

115 community organisations received a share of £1.4 million and more than 80 people received grants totalling £54,352, including support to young athletes, refugees, and survivors of domestic violence.

The money came from funds set up by local people and businesses including Carr’s Group, Lamont Pridmore, English Lakes Hotels, Lakeland Ltd, Thomas Graham & Sons and Herdy.

Ulverston Resilience Group received £10,536 from ENWL Storm Arwen Community Resilience Fund, set up to help communities provide support to vulnerable residents during adverse weather causes conditions. The group was able to purchase 10 additional two-way radios and increase the number of volunteers carrying out welfare checks.

Neil Fleming, Chair, said: “In the weeks following Storm Arwen, Ulverston Resilience Group made around 1,000 welfare visits to domestic properties across Furness and Cartmel, in support of ENWL and Cumbria County Council.

“At that time, there was little or no mobile phone coverage in many of the areas visited, and it was difficult to keep in contact with volunteers. The grant means we can now operate safely in the event of a major incident and make a real difference to the effectiveness of the service.”

Cumbria’s first wheelchair rugby club, Penrith Pumas, received £10,000 from the GVC Fund to purchase bespoke wheelchairs and cover venue hire costs.

The club offers individuals with any form of physical impairment, long term chronic health condition or disability to come along and participate in the sport. Megan Petit, Club Manager, said “For many of our members, living with life changing injuries, or long-term health conditions can leave them feeling angry and caged in a body that they’ll never be satisfied with. We strive to provide an all-inclusive environment where their impairments are not the elephant in the room.

“Physically, wheelchair rugby impacts on player’s strength, endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Mentally it helps their resilience, improves their mood and reduces stress which can directly improve family life. Many players come from a pre-disability occupational background in the forces involving strategy, power, competition and teamwork. Wheelchair rugby provides these areas and gives players an outlet to practise them which aids continuation of skills from one are of life to another.”

£2,500 was awarded from Hellrigg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund to set up Silloth Parkrun, a free, community event where all ages can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.

Geoff Toogood, Event Director, said: “Once established, the weekly 5km run will take place every Saturday morning at 9am. The course will use Silloth Green and the promenade. Participation is free to all who want to jog, run or walk. We hope to attract members of the local community as well as holiday makers and parkrun tourists.”

£500 was awarded from the William Milburn Charitable Trust Fund to a team of volunteer ‘bus buddies’ who help people using public transport for the first time or are nervous about navigating the routes and timetables.

Brampton Bus Buddies was set up in 2014. Harry Urwin Simpson, Treasurer, said: “We help people overcome isolation and enjoy the company of other people. For some it’s about getting their independence back after losing their driving license due to ill health. For others, it’s simply about having a friend to travel with. This generous grant will allow us to treat our members to a meal out on one of our outings especially in this current climate.”

About one in five women have mental health struggles when pregnant or after giving birth. The Happy Mums Foundation runs support groups for expectant mums and parents experiencing mental health problems.

The award-winning social enterprise received £9,246 from Moorhouse Grassroots Fund to offer support to mothers of underrepresented groups, such as refugees and ethnically diverse, by running engagement events in partnership with other agencies.

Katherine Dalgliesh, Managing Director, said: “It is vital that we work harder to reach those who are marginalised. For example, we know that women from Black, Asian or ethnically diverse backgrounds are 13% more likely to develop postnatal depression or anxiety.”

The Reanella Trust received £15,000 from Live the Dream Fund and Thomas Milburn Fund, to provide a virtual learning course to help young people with mental health issues in Copeland.

Marcelline Menyie, Trustee, said “The Resilience, Recovery, Re-engagement programme offers therapeutic services, advice, support, and skills training and helps young people on their journey to improving their mental health and developing the skills necessary to engage in employment, education, and training.”

Youth Engagement Service based in South Lakeland was awarded £3,900 from myLakeland to support additional activities for its Friends Club and LIFESTEPS members.

Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are grateful to the generosity of our fundholders to enable us to support these worthy organisations that are working hard during these difficult times to meet local needs.”

For more information or to apply for funding, call the grants team on 01900 820827 or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org

Keswick Alhambra Cinema Winter Warmth Fundraiser

Open every day throughout the Christmas and New Year period, the Keswick Alhambra Cinema is situated in the heart of the Lake District. It expects to be one of only five cinemas in the whole of the UK to welcome customers on Christmas Day itself, the nearest alternatives being hundreds of miles away in Glasgow and Leicester.

The independent and family owned and run cinema is showing five films on December 25th:

– the classic “The Bishop’s Wife”  (5.15pm)

– family favourites “Elf” (4.00pm) and the Muppet Christmas Carol in its 30th anniversary re-release (3.30pm)

– then in the evening we have the two big hits of the moment “Matilda the Musical” (7.30pm) and “Avatar: The Way of Water” (6.30pm).

Christmas Day opening at the Alhambra started in 2020 during the Covid lockdown. There were many people in Keswick who couldn’t travel to be with their families or to host them here for Christmas, and we thought that opening the cinema would be a way of providing festive cheer for those separated from their loved ones.

Co-owner Jonathan Moore said: “Word of mouth spread and the following year we found that all sorts of people wanted to come out on Christmas Day, including some as an integral part of their Christmas Day plans and others, including those who don’t celebrate Christmas, who were happy to find the cinema open that day.”

“The cinema raises funds over Christmas for the Cumbria Foundation Winter Warmth Fund by selling home-made mince pies and mulled wine. The Foundation also receives all the profit from the Christmas Day films. Importantly this year we will be also able to directly help those struggling to heat their homes by providing a warm and welcoming place to be.

“On Christmas Day our doors will be open from 2.30pm – 11.00pm and with five great films to see – I am sure there will be a really lovely atmosphere” Jonathan added.

Website: www.keswickalhambra.co.uk

Help us develop our new five-year strategy!

We’re excited to announce that our online survey has gone live.

Click here to take part and help us develop our new five-year strategy

It is vital we understand your views and feedback on challenges facing Cumbria and how the Foundation can best respond to them and grow our grant making funds. Your feedback is warmly welcomed and will help us develop a new strategy based on what we hear during the listening exercise. We’ve appointed an independent organisation, Stand to help us do this.

Background

In 2017, the Foundation created a five-year business plan which was informed by the findings of our Cumbria Revealed Community Needs Report.

The plan contained ambitious targets to double endowment funds from £15M to £30M and to raise base grant making from £1.4M per annum to £2.8M per annum.

At the end of March 2022, the Foundation’s endowment was £27.5M and grant making in 2021/22 was £4.4M with the Foundation managing over 100 active grant making funds.

In addition, the Foundation has made more multi-year awards to groups (48 in 21/22 in comparison with 12 in 17/18), more grants for core organisational costs and larger awards (average grant size in 21/22 was £10,351 in comparison with £4,357 in 17/18).

Now it’s time to refresh our strategy and we want to make sure we are responding to what our stakeholders think is important, so please help us by completing the online survey, which will be open until 9th August.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to help shape the future work of the Foundation.

Young West Cumbrians called to join youth panel

Cumbria Community Foundation is looking for young people living in West Cumbria aged between 16-25 who are passionate about their community and making a difference, to join the 2022 #CanDo Youth Advisory Panel.

#CanDo encourages community organisations to apply for funding for community projects, led by young people. Those applications are then considered by a youth committee, putting the decisions firmly in the hands of the next generation. The committee have their say in which projects they feel will make a difference in their communities and should be supported.

This is the third round of recruitment for the youth advisory committee, which is made up of young people with a wide range of lived experiences and who are from different backgrounds and forms a crucial part of the Foundation’s grant making and helps steer its charitable work in a more youth-led direction.

Amie Todhunter, 22 from Whitehaven, said: The #CanDo youth committee is a great way to socialise and meet new people while also helping to fund important and necessary youth-led social action in West Cumbria. Meeting people with the same attitude and mindset has been really important as we’ve all come together from different areas and backgrounds to discuss significant ways to help groups create their own changes in their area.”

Toni-Anne Wardle, 19 from Whitehaven, said: “I have really enjoyed being on the #CanDo committee. It has strengthened my confidence and communication skills, I have learned the real value of funding and helping young people and organisations with their work.”

Over the past two years, the youth committee has awarded £98,128 in funding to 22 youth-led projects in West Cumbria, including Community Alcohol Partnership’s, Young Health Champions programme. This supported young people to achieve a Level 2 qualification which aims to give them the skills, knowledge, and confidence to act as peer mentors to help young people to improve their health and wellbeing and understand unhealthy behaviours like alcohol misuse.

Funded by Sellafield Ltd as part of their SiX – Social Impact Multiplied programme, 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.

Stuart McCourt, Education, Community and Development Lead at Sellafield, said: “The #CanDo programme enables young people across West Cumbria to turn their ideas into reality and make a real difference in their communities. It is a programme where young peoples voices are heard and all the decisions are made by their peers.”

Annalee Holliday, Senior Grants & Programmes Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are very excited to be offering this opportunity again to young people in West Cumbria. The #CanDo Youth Advisory Committee was launched in 2020 and has been very successful. We believe that young people should be heard and have their views valued and acted upon. Young people have enormous potential to make a positive change – their involvement is crucial to the future of our communities. The young people on the panel bring expertise and a fresh pair of eyes to help us decide which projects are funded.”

Applications to join the #CanDo Youth Advisory Committee are open now and will close on Friday 14th October, 5pm.

For more information please download the #CANDO information pack

To apply please complete the #CanDo Youth Advisory Committee Application Form.

For more information or to apply visit, www.cumbriafoundation.org/transforming-west-cumbria/cando or call Annalee Holliday on 01900 820827 or email annalee@cumbriafoundation.org

Funding available for individuals and community projects in Borders area

Charitable community groups and individuals in the Borders area are being encouraged to apply for financial support from a wind farm supported community benefit fund.

The Beck Burn Wind Farm Community Fund and Beck Burn Wind Farm Community Fund Educational Bursaries was established by EDF Energy Renewables in 2017. The company donates in excess of £170,00 each year into the funds, which are managed by Cumbria Community Foundation.

Projects and individuals in the Cumbrian Parishes of Rockcliffe, Westlinton, Arthuret and Kirkandrews on Esk, along with the Scottish Community Councils of Springfield & Gretna Green, Gretna & Rigg, Kirkpatrick Fleming & District, and Canonbie & District are eligible to apply for funding.

At a recent grants panel, eight individuals over the age of 16 were awarded a share of £7,540 to support education and training to help them develop their skills and employability.

Three community grants were awarded grants to improve a community play area, provide gardening equipment at a primary school and install three community defibrillators.

In recent years, Springfield & Gretna Green Community Asset Trust have embarked on enhancing the facilities available at Springfield Playing Field.

The group received £8,000 to install new play equipment, including trampolines, a carousel/roundabout, a basket swing, and an accessible gate.

Mike Phillips, Chairperson at Springfield & Gretna Green Community Asset Trust, said: “We are delighted to have received this grant which will allow us to continue our work in developing the playing field to benefit all age groups within our community.

“In previous years we have added amenities for other groups, but we are aware that the children’s play area has not received any upgrade since 1970.

“The grant will enable us to purchase three new items of equipment and we are confident children will enjoy these for many years to come.”

Kirkpatrick Fleming, Hollee and Irvington will benefit from three defibrillators thanks to a grant of £14,134. The installation of the defibrillators will mean that in the event of an emergency, people will be able to collect this life saving equipment quicker than having to travel to the existing one located at the Kirkpatrick Fleming Village Hall.

Gretna Primary School PTA received £5,000 and will use it to provide additional opportunities for children and families at Gretna Primary School to have access to a nurturing garden area to promote wellbeing, to experience gardening projects and to have the chance to be involved in growing and cooking fresh produce.

The fund is intended to support a wide range of activities with awards to community and voluntary organisations and projects which are community based or community led. Activities can include supporting biodiversity and habitat conservation, energy efficiency and sustainability, sports and recreation, health and wellbeing, children, young people and older people, culture and heritage.

The deadline for the next round of applications is 17th June 2022.

Lisa Blackwell, Grants & Programmes Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “This fund provides a valuable, long-term, sustainable and reliable source of income for the local communities. Since the funds were established, £895,000 has been invested into the community. The support from EDF Energy Renewables provides assistance to groups in the area that are helping to meet the priority needs of their community.

“It is flexible funding that can address what is really important to communities and we’re delighted to administer this funding which has been making a difference to the communities.”

For more information or to apply visit, http://www.cumbriafoundation.org or call Lisa Blackwell, Grants Officer on 01900 820827 or email Lisa@cumbriafoundation.org

Charities in West Cumbria supported via Bedrock Awards

Eight charitable groups in West Cumbria are planning for a sustainable future thanks to £880,000 of grant funding.

The money was awarded from the Bedrock Awards programme, part of Transforming West Cumbria, which was developed by Cumbria Community Foundation and funded by Sellafield Ltd, to build the resilience, capabilities and financial sustainability of charities and community organisations in West Cumbria.

Unlike a traditional grant, which would support “business as usual” or a new project, the Bedrock Awards is a two-stage programme that helps community groups plan for sustainability, development, and growth via a thorough analysis of opportunities for improvement.

The first round of awards has benefited critical organisations: Age UK West Cumbria, Cumbria Youth Alliance, Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service, Copeland Citizens Advice, Hospice at Home West Cumbria, Howgill Family Centre, Phoenix Enterprise Centre and Together We CIC.

Bedrock Awards enables organisations to explore new ways of working, including income generation, use of digital, collaboration, sharing resources and better management of community assets/premises while improving governance, building capacity and future proofing the organisation, through staff development, expert volunteer recruitment and clear succession planning.

One awardee said: “The Stage 1 Bedrock Award grant enabled us to increase staffing levels so we could commit time to the programme. It provided a breathing space that allowed us to fully commit to the process. However, grant or no grant, I would have taken part in the programme as I recognised the benefits of it. The grant just made it easier.”

Another commented: “The Stage 1 Bedrock Award process really helped bring the whole team on the transformational journey we are undertaking. We now have a much better understanding of the need to change, why and how.”

Sellafield Ltd understands the importance of organisational resilience and that often change is required at organisational level before resilience measures can be implemented or even engaged with. That’s why, further investment has been provided from the company’s social impact multiplied programme to run a second round of Bedrock Awards.

Tracey West, Social Impact Manager at Sellafield Ltd said: “The success from the first round of Bedrock has highlighted the need and the difference the project is making. The staged approach should help organisations to plan for the future and be more resilient so they can continue to offer the services that are so well received in our communities.

Bedrock Awards is delivered by Cumbria Community Foundation, in partnership with Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership (CSEP) and its partner Social Enterprise Acumen CIC (SEA).

Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships at the Foundation, said: “SEA has worked with each awardee and bespoke strategies have been created. This has enabled the release of funding to help them plan-ahead and provide opportunities to invest in their business development. The funding is intended to deliver long-term benefit to each organisation, resulting in an increased ability to help a greater number of people more effectively and a more resilient organisation.

The Bedrock Awards programme is now open for a second round of funding. Stage 1 applications should be submitted by 5pm, Thursday 5th May 2022. Click here for more information.

Cumbria Voices Carbon Zezo Event

Grants available for community art projects

Artistic projects in parts of Cumbria are being encouraged to apply for funding to help rejuvenate the arts sector after lockdown.

The Westmorland Arts Trust, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, supports charitable projects that benefit residents in the former county of Westmorland, giving them access to the highest quality music, drama and the visual arts.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to offer creative and cultural activities for people, particularly young adults and children, in the former county of Westmorland.

Funding will cover the costs of organising events, including volunteer expenses, artist fees and marketing costs and promotion. The fund is open to voluntary and community organisations that have charitable aims and have professional input.

Last year, Lake District Summer Music received £1,000 to support its summer festival in venues across Cumbria including Kendal, Ambleside, Hawkshead, Grange-over-Sands, Bowness, Windermere and Kirkby Lonsdale.

Nick Hardisty, Festival Manager, said: “After so many months of enforced isolation, people really needed something to lift their spirits and help them reconnect with the community.

“To bring music back and see the smiling faces from our audience, it was clear how much it meant to everyone to experience live performances again. It was a year full of uncertainty and we could not have done it without the support of Westmorland Arts Trust.”

Previous grant recipients include Bendrigg Trust in Kendal, one of the few specialist outdoor centres in the UK working specifically with disabled and disadvantaged people. It received £1,628 to run its Arty Pants project and give disabled youngsters the chance to experience the arts, find hidden talents and develop creative skills.

The Westmorland Arts Trust was set up in 1996 by the provisions in the will of Dr Elizabeth Kemp, for the purpose of the education of the public in the arts of music, drama and the visual arts. In 2012, it was transferred to the Community Foundation.

Ellen Clements, Senior Grants & Programmes Officer at the Foundation, said: “Since 2012, almost £100,000 has benefited communities in the local area, supporting over 70 projects. These include festivals, music groups and arts activities, helping to strengthen cultural involvement and opportunities in the area.”

For more information or to apply click here or call Ellen Clements on 01900 820827 or email ellen@cumbriafoundation.org