Many of our donors have benefited from a match challenge scheme, whereby their donation was eligible for an uplift of 50%.

The Rowan Community First Fund was set up as an endowed fund in 2013 with a donation of £30,000, it attracted Gift Aid of £7,500 and match funding of £15,000. This year, the fund made its first awards.

Northern Fells Rural Community Development Group was awarded £1,000 to run their Easter and Summer Youth Programme. Established over 15 years ago, it is a catalyst for and home to a range of community projects which serve a large and dispersed rural community on the northern fringe of the Skiddaw and Blencathra range. Children and young people in isolated villages cannot easily access activities so the programme comes to village halls offering archery, cricket, football, golf cycling, sculpting, tennis and climbing.

A second grant was made to Workington community choir, Carnegie Singers to support the cost of a professional orchestra at their concert last month. The performance involved more than 70 local people and commemorated 70 years since the end of World War Two.

The donor behind the fund said: “The wonderful work Cumbria Community Foundation does goes from strength to strength. I am particularly pleased to be able support charitable projects in the Upper Eden Valley, as well as other projects throughout Cumbria. I feel that rural areas often get over looked where the population is sparse and family incomes are not high. The Foundation supports a very varied number of charitable projects.”

Cumbria Community Foundation connects donors with projects which address some of the key issues in their local communities. The benefit of an endowed fund means it will keep giving in perpetuity – providing a lasting and growing legacy.