[C]umbria County Council’s Eden Local Committee has agreed an allocation of £10,000 to support projects which look to increase the number of community driven social dining clubs in Eden and to encourage online awareness of local social activity. These projects will run alongside the Cumbria County Council Public Health initiative to establish ‘Good Neighbours’ schemes throughout the district.
Grants will also be made available to encourage and enable community groups to set up lunch clubs in their village or neighbourhood. This will enable local residents, especially older adults to socialise, reducing social isolation and contributing towards resilient communities. Research shows that these clubs are linked with an individual’s happiness, the number of friends they have, their connection with the local community and their overall satisfaction with life.
Parish Councils in Eden will also be able to apply for grant funding to develop a ‘Community Activity’ page on their website. It can be difficult for people to find out what activities are happening across Eden at any given time. Information is shared through local newsletters and via the Compass website – www.compassehub.com – as well as some Parish Council websites, but there are often gaps in activity. By including local community activities on Parish Council websites, the information will be more accessible to residents, visitors, health professionals and advice services.
The Good Neighbours scheme seeks to develop and maintain relationships within local communities to ensure all residents can access local help and support when they need it. Examples of support include befriending, path clearing, shopping and practical indoor jobs. Grants will be available to community groups to establish a scheme within their town or village, along with how-to guides and support from the council.
Cllr David Whipp, Chair of Eden Local Committee, said: “Supporting community togetherness and strength is one of Eden Local Committee’s main priorities. This fund will help to build stronger communities in Eden by encouraging and utilising the already strong sense of community within our towns and villages. I would encourage all of our Parish Councils and community groups to make contact with us to see if they can benefit from this fantastic new initiative.”
For more information on the Building Stronger Communities fund please contact the Eden Community Development team on 01768 812660.
