West Cumbrian community projects are set to benefit from over £40,000 of funding this year.
The Whitehaven and Costal Community Panel has awarded investments to several projects including plans for a new diversity hub and café in the town.
Other projects that have received funding include a cricket outreach programme, plans for a new competition boxing ring as well as plans for pilot projects providing advice for vulnerable people.
Community Panels distribute Cumberland Council funds to grassroots community projects and bring together funders in a bid to spot gaps in provision and use a community network to find out what is needed in the area.
At the Whitehaven panel’s most recent meeting, the following community projects were awarded funding.
Proud and Diverse Cumbria – who ran Whitehaven’s first pride event – is creating an inclusive hub and café space in Whitehaven.
It was awarded £12,000 towards new furniture and kitchen equipment. The money will also be used to help the people who use the hub create art for the walls.
Proud and Diverse Cumbria director, Glenn Anderson, said: “Thank you so much to the panel for this investment. Mental health is an ever-growing problem in coastal and rural communities and a preventative approach, where people have the right services to turn to, is essential.
“Our new centre and its services will help to change lives for the better.”
Whitehaven District Amateur Boxing Club was also awarded £3,000 towards a new competition boxing ring, which the club said will be in use for at least the next 15 years.
Whitehaven Cricket Club received £3,200 towards new equipment and a programme of visiting local schools.
Some of the equipment will allow people of all abilities to join in with fun activities. The planned outreach sessions will encourage young people to engage with different sports, and perhaps join the cricket club.
Phil McCormick, of Whitehaven Cricket Club, said: “We are really grateful for this investment, and for the support of officers.
“We are trying to establish a thriving female section. This money will fund high level coaching in schools, hopefully inspiring girls to come down to the club, where we have excellent female role models to inspire them.
“We are also trying to grow our special needs membership and the new equipment will go a long way towards achieving this.”
Whitehaven Community Trust was also awarded £6,000 to help young people find their feet when leaving supported accommodation to live independently.
A one-year pilot project will support people to plan, budget for and buy what they need in their new home – in a bid to create essential life skills and enable people to enjoy a better quality of life.
Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project, which delivers a range of activities for young people, was awarded £6,000 for new flooring in its town centre building.
Project director, Stuart Dunnett, said: “The application process was really straightforward and the support was brilliant. Investing in places for young people is important, and having modern, welcoming spaces gives them a sense of being valued.”
Time to Change West Cumbria was awarded £8,810 for a pilot project helping people with complex issues around mental health and financial management.
People will get one-to-one support and direct access to help from a number of partner agencies, instead of having to approach them all separately.
St Bees Village Hall also received £8,410 towards completing essential building maintenance. The committee had raised funds for the work, but unexpected building issues meant extra costs, which this investment will cover.
Dr Claire Hale, of the St Bees Village Hall committee, said: “This is an important grant-awarding body because it deals with small amounts and has flexible criteria. We were upgrading the hall to increase the use of our facilities.
“When our previous grant ran out, there was still work to do – this investment will help make the hall a more attractive venue for our users. We would encourage organisations to apply for this funding.
“The forms are easy to complete and the support given by the community development team is excellent.”
Councillor Graham Minshaw, chairman of Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel, said: “I am very pleased the panel has been able to support such a great range of projects. They all address issues that residents have said matter to them the most.
“Our priorities are based on feedback from residents and it is good to see so many great organisations helping address those community priorities through this funding.”
Councillor Lisa Brown, Cumberland’ Councils portfolio holder for adults and community health, said: “This is another set of excellent projects that do exactly what we hoped Community Panels would – make important changes to people’s lives at a grassroots level.”
