Two Cumbrian organisations have been handed almost £1 million between them by the Government.
They are among seven community assets in the North West to share in £2.4 million-worth of cash from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Community Ownership Fund.
Across the UK, the department has announced £33.5m today to save more than 80 projects.
In Cumbria, Cooke’s Studios in Barrow and Keswick Rugby Club have been handed the funding.
Cooke’s Studio, a vibrant cultural centre on Abbey Street supports around 15,000 disadvantaged people. It is run by Signal Film and Media and £910,000 will help with renovations to make it a community-led art centre.
Keswick Rugby Club has been awarded £300,000 towards its £1.9 million project to revamp its clubhouse to futureproof it against flooding and make it fit for purpose for its teams.
It was designed to accommodate a single team of senior men; now there are 18 different teams catering for a range of ages and genders so players have simply outgrown the dated building.
Tim Green, Keswick Rugby Club president, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with today’s news on so many levels. Firstly, I’m delighted for the small team who worked tirelessly completing the grant application process and today all their hard work has paid off.
“Secondly, this is amazing news for our rugby club membership; our new clubhouse facility will be fit for purpose to facilitate boys, girls, women’s and men’s rugby without the constant threat of flooding.
“Finally I believe that this is great for our local community. The rugby club is used by so many people away from the sport and we will continue to make the space available for local user groups.
“Whilst much of the money for our Big Build has been raised by our members the truth is that it would not have been viable to commence the construction phase without being awarded the £300,000 from the Community Ownership Fund and for that we’re hugely grateful.
“This now leaves us with £115,000 to raise to achieve our Big Build project target.”
To find out more about making a donation to Keswick Rugby Club Big Build Project, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/p3r4e-krufc-the-big-build
Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said: “We know how much these vital community assets mean to people across the country. They are an important lifeline for people young and old, and they’re the beating heart of our towns, cities and villages.
“That’s why we’re stepping in to protect them with a major rescue package, so we stop these great establishments closing or being lost forever and ensure that they continue to sit at the heart of our beloved communities.”
Signal Film and Media co-director Kerry Kolbe said: “We’re thrilled to have secured such a substantial investment to our project in Barrow, to fund this exciting and long-hoped-for transformation of our community building.
“Having a whole new ground floor entrance, reception and cafe alongside new and improved exhibition, training and workshop spaces will make Cooke’s Studios accessible to so many more people as well as making an even bigger difference to the thousands of residents who already use Cooke’s Studios each year.
“The new facilities will make our business model sustainable long-term and support the growth of an even stronger creative and heritage offer that we hope Barrow can be proud of. We’re very grateful to the Department of Levelling Up for their funding and can’t wait to get started!”
Mr Young is due to visit Cooke’s Studio today and also visited the Roxy Cinema in Ulverston this week, where he saw how £300,000 funding announced in an earlier round of the fund is being used to renovate and restore the historic building.
The funding is preserving it for future generations and making it more accessible to the local community. He also met with the Roxy Collective, the local group responsible for the building.
