More than 30 charitable groups across Cumbria have received £248,000 to address a range of issues including mental health, disabilities and improving health and wellbeing. 40 people have also received a share of more than £25,000 towards training fees, sporting activities and victim support.
The money came from 30 grant making funds, administered by Cumbria Community Foundation, including those set up by Castle Green Hotel, Cumbria Victims Charitable Trust, English Lakes Hotels, Thomas Graham & Sons and Westmorland Ltd.
People First Independent Advocacy received nearly £6,000 from the Brian & Ann Clark Fund to purchase equipment for its ‘Hospitality Academy Garden’, a vital component to the Carlisle conference centre. It offers people with learning difficulties the chance to care for the garden, which forms a key part of their Open Awards Qualification, develop work skills and move towards paid employment.
Lisa Blackwell, Fundraising Officer and Business Team Leader said: “Our Hospitality Academy learners are over the moon with the news of the successful grant application, and they are eager to begin the work in the garden; putting all of their learning into practice and implementing the ‘pot to plate’ model at the People First Conference and Centre for Learning in Carlisle.”
Young carers across South Lakeland will be better supported after receiving £15,000 over three years. South Lakeland Carers, based in Kendal, will use the money to expand its one-to-one support service.
Mike Seaton, Chief Executive Officer said: “One-to-one support provides a young carer with a safe space to talk about the impact their caring role has upon their life, to work through different scenarios, explore potential coping strategies and to plan for the future. It also provides the young carer with a voice, so their support worker can advocate on their behalf with their school or sometimes their parent/ guardians.”
Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs received £10,000 from the Cumbria Fund to raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Working alongside not-for-profit group, The Well Communities, sessions have been designed specifically for young farmers to address the mental, emotional, physical and legal consequences of abusing drugs and alcohol, how to deal with peer pressure and where to get help.
Joanne Mills, Chief Officer, said: “The three-year grant will be used to fund the ongoing Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Initiative, which Cumbria YFC is currently rolling out to members aged 12 – 26. Sessions have already been rolled out to 145 young farmers in the last 2 months with further sessions planned in the coming months.”
County Chair, Eamon Monaghan, who has led on the initiative within Cumbria YFC, said: “The grant will give us the opportunity to ensure that our members are able to access help and advice on these important issues and we are very grateful to Cumbria Community Foundation for funding this important work.”
The Lend A Hand scheme, run by Northern Fells Rural Community Development Group received more than £28,000 from the Cumbria Fund over the next three years. The service provides a life line for many elderly and disabled residents across Allerdale and Eden who require either handyman or personal/domestic support in their homes.
Libby Graham, Fundraising Coordinator, said: “More than 30 volunteers provide practical help to individuals including helping with shopping, respite for carers, arranging meals on wheels, gardening, accompanying individuals to appointments, befriending and encouraging and facilitating attendance at social activities or events. The project is coordinated by a part time employee who recruits, trains and matches volunteers to clients in order to provide the service. This is the lynch pin of the project.”
Ellen Clements, Grants & Donor Services Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “There are many worthy organisations around the county that continue to provide help to the local communities. We are ever grateful to the generosity of our fund holders to enable us to support these vital services.”
The closing date for Cumbria Community Foundation’s next grants panel is 10th May 2019. For more information, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org or call a member of the grants team on 01900 825760.
