A Cumbrian council is supporting calls for a new independent fund to boost the county’s most “left behind” neighbourhoods.
The Community Wealth Fund would take a radically different approach to many previous regeneration programmes, with communities leading decision-making over the long term. Allerdale Borough Council has joined with over 430 organisations, including 38 other local authorities, in backing calls for its introduction.
Council leader Mike Johnson said: “I’ve signed the council up to this alliance because I think it presents a great opportunity to potentially introduce investment into communities in Allerdale which need some extra support to improve their social infrastructure.
“When we adopted our 10-year Council Strategy two of our key themes were ‘resilient communities’ and ‘thriving towns and villages and we’re working hard to secure additional investment into the area so we can improve the lives and futures of the people who live here.”
The goal of the proposed fund is to help neighbourhoods rebuild their social infrastructure, with investments targeted at institutions and spaces that foster personal relationships, civic life and community organisations, and in physical and digital connections.
This can include community hubs and assets, social spaces, parks, community and voluntary organisations providing local services, online communication platforms, digital skills, and community transport, both within and between other places, particularly to and from employment centres.
Matt Leach, chair of the Community Wealth Fund Alliance, said: “We are delighted that Allerdale Borough Council has joined the Alliance of organisations campaigning for the Community Wealth Fund.
“It demonstrates their strong commitment to securing resources for the most ‘left behind’ communities and ensuring that their social and economic prospects are improved.
“The pandemic is likely to exacerbate the challenges these communities face, particularly the employment and health challenges and a response is urgently needed. This response needs to be one that shifts the dial – not just returning communities to where they were pre- pandemic but transforming their fortunes over the long term.”
