2025 Annual Review
Annual Review 2025 2 About Cumbria Community Foundation For more than a quarter of a century, Cumbria Community Foundation has been working to counter the county’s most difficult problems through targeted, expert grant making. Cumbria is a unique, special place. The beautiful landscape hides intense poverty and lack of opportunity. These aren’t easy issues to solve, but with our supporters’ help, we are making a real difference. We connect people who care with causes that matter. Individuals, businesses, charitable trusts and organisations work with us to invest in local charities and community groups. THESE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING CUMBRIANS TODAY: 21,068 children under 19 are living in poverty 1 in 8 households are in fuel poverty and struggle to warm their homes 1 in 5 claim benefits to support low incomes 18% have no formal qualifications Only 3 in 10 have studied to degree level or higher Around two-thirds of adults are overweight 1,096 children under 19 were treated in hospital for self-harm in 2022/23 37% of 11-yearolds are overweight Super ageing population - A quarter of the population are over 65 Life expectancy in Cumbria varies by 12.5 years between the richest and the poorest areas All distances/times to access essential services are longer than the national average
3 Welcome from our Chairs In September 2025, David Beeby stepped down after serving a maximum nine-year term as our Chair and we welcomed Myles Thompson to the role. I can say on good authority that there is no better way of really getting under the skin of an area than being Chair of a Community Foundation. When I took on the role in 2016, I had little knowledge that, behind the picture postcard beauty of the landscape, many people faced real hardship. Spending time with groups funded by the Foundation, speaking to volunteers and hearing firsthand from those who have received support, has given me a much deeper understanding of the need and the work taking place to address this. Cumbria Community Foundation really helps to connect people who care with causes that matter in so many wonderful and inspirational ways. It has been a joy to be a part of that journey over the last nine years. During my time as Chair, our grant making grew from £2 million per year to more than £6 million per year, and the Foundation’s endowed assets grew from £15 million to over £32 million. Everyone who has supported our mission should be very proud of these figures. And yet the statistics on page two show that the need really is greater than ever – from mental health to employment chances; from childhood poverty to the super ageing population. The stories throughout this report show the work taking place across our grant making priorities: from community buses combating rural isolation, to projects empowering young people to lead the way in tackling the climate crisis; from a table tennis group for people with dementia, to a friendship group for asylum seekers. I would like to express a heartfelt personal thanks to all of our wonderful donors, large and small, to our fantastic staff and volunteers who ensure the funds are put to good work and to the thousands of inspiring people who work and volunteer in the wide range of charitable organisations that help so many people and undoubtedly help to make Cumbria a better place. It has been a real privilege to meet so many incredible people across Cumbria David Beeby CCF Chair, 2016-2025 I am honoured to have been appointed as Chair of Cumbria Community Foundation – a wonderful organisation that does so much to support communities across Cumbria. I would like to thank David Beeby for his dedication to the Foundation over the last nine years. He has left it in great shape to meet our strategic priorities and go from strength to strength in the coming years. This Annual Review gives a good snapshot of work going on across the county, funded by our many generous fundholders and supporters, to address need across our six grant making priorities: • Reducing Poverty • Reaching Potential • Improving Health • Tackling Social Inequality • Nurturing Sense of Place • Acting on Climate Change I am looking forward to finding out more about the great organisations that the Foundation supports and to meeting those working to address the county’s most urgent needs. Myles Thompson New CCF Chair Myles Thompson and David Beeby
Annual Review 2025 4 Barrow and District Disability Association Disability touches everybody, when you have an industrial heritage like we have here in Barrow. People have really difficult lives, really complex and complicated situations. Lorraine Irving is Chief Executive of Barrow and District Disability Association (BDDA), working at the heart of the community to support people with diverse and complex needs. Every day, her small but mighty team has no idea who will walk through the door and what help they might need. BDDA applied to Cumbria Community Foundation for a grant to fund a dedicated Benefits and Triage Officer and was awarded £7,830 towards salary costs from the Cumbria Fund, Pappagallino Fund and the Robinson Family Fund. This role is carried out with a quiet confidence and determination by Jayne Phizacklea, who previously volunteered for the charity. She explained: “My role involves meeting people coming into the centre and assessing what their needs are, whether it be benefits, social activities, disability aids – whatever they need. “A person might come in and ask for help applying for Universal Credit, but then we also end up helping them with a blue badge application, mobility aids… It’s that first initial contact and conversation; you don’t know where it will lead. “It’s really important that we listen to what people need, take the time to really listen and understand what each person is going through. With this understanding, we can support them in the way that’s right for them, whether that’s helping them here at the centre or connecting them with another local organisation that can offer extra support.” The charity’s base is a friendly, welcoming space at the heart of Barrow, with a community café and social areas stocked with art and craft materials, books and games. Jayne said: “We have a very relaxed atmosphere here at the centre. Talking and listening is the most important thing, I think, when people first come through the doors. They soon realise that we are a small group of people, so they feel very comfortable very quickly; they tell us quite quickly what their needs are and then we’re able to assign them the help they need.” REDUCING POVERTY Providing opportunities to support people Making cards at BDDA Craft sessions help tackle loneliness
5 Lorraine explained how vital this support is. “Many of the people who access BDDA’s services face a combination of poverty, disability, long-term ill health, low income, social isolation, and are disabled individuals, carers, or people with chronic physical or mental health conditions. Many are digitally excluded, lacking the skills, confidence, or equipment to access essential online systems, including welfare applications. “All of these challenges make it harder to navigate the benefits system. Our services are personalised to make sure that they actually make a difference to the individual.” BDDA runs social activities, including craft sessions and dressmaking classes, aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation. These are also funded by Cumbria Community Foundation from the national DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood fund, as part of Furness For You. Dressmaking tutor Jenny Le Roy witnesses firsthand the impact these activities have on those taking part. She said: “I’ve had students who’ve come who are so shy and just to actually walk in this building is a huge, huge step. I see the progression week by week, the confidence. It’s wonderful and I think it’s because the other students are so caring and supportive. We call it social sewing – the sewing, chatting… It’s lovely, really lovely.” on low incomes Dressmaking tutor Jenny Le Roy FUNDER SPOTLIGHT Vicky and Michael Robinson set up the Robinson Family Fund with the Foundation to support the homeless, people with drug or alcohol addiction, those with a physical disability, and aspiring young sportspeople. As well as Barrow and District Disability Association, other projects they have helped to fund include training costs for two welfare advisors with Child Poverty Action and a programme to educate young people in Barrow on the dangers of vaping. Michael Robinson explained why he and his wife had decided to give through the Foundation. “We are Cumbrians who are lucky enough to live in the Lake District, but we realise that there are lots of Cumbrians who are not so lucky and are in need. That’s why we asked Cumbria Community Foundation to direct our donations to those causes that are deserving, particularly in Barrow where we witnessed so much need on the tour of projects that we were taken on. “Those who work for the Foundation are very caring people and we know our donations go to the right people. Thank you Cumbria Community Foundation.”
Annual Review 2025 6 Brighter Futures – supporting care experienced young people The Brighter Futures programme is making a real difference to the lives of young people leaving care in Barrow and West Cumbria, giving them the guidance and support they need to take their next steps with confidence. We’re working to make sure no young care leaver feels alone as they move into adulthood. The programme has two strands: • Firm Foundation – delivered by Cumbria Youth Alliance (CYA), to help build emotional resilience and social skills, and raise aspirations through personalised mentoring and skill-based activities. • Flourish – delivered by Inspira, focusing on becoming work-ready by providing tailored work placements, training and employment opportunities, supported by mentors from the business community. “Everybody knew that there were children living in care,” said Claire Price, In Care and Leaving Care Project Manager for Cumbria Youth Alliance. “But until a few years ago, no one really gave a moment’s thought about what happens to those young people – living in a residential home, with foster parents, maybe with a special guardianship order – when they hit 18. Our job as a society is to make sure that these young people, who through no fault of their own have been in the care system, have all the opportunities that we can give all our children. I think that’s only fair. From June 2024 to June 2025, the Brighter Futures programme engaged more than 30 young people, offering tailored one-to-one support, work placements, and collaborative mentoring opportunities. Despite challenges, 15 young people have already gained apprenticeships or employment, or passed training milestones. The programme addresses barriers, which might include trauma and lack of confidence, through tailored practical assistance. Dave White is a Skills and Development Advisor for Inspira, securing work placements and taster sessions for Brighter Futures participants, including opportunities in car garages, the NHS, and educational settings. “Everyone’s different and we support every young person with their set of needs,” Dave said. “We’d never push any young person into doing anything that they didn’t want to do but sometimes it is a push that they need. So sometimes by being with them on that first day and staying with them half an hour, an hour, or sometimes they need the full day… or you drop them off and pick them back up and give them a text at dinnertime to see how they’re getting on. It’s just that little bit of encouragement that they need to be able to keep going. There’s no rule book on how to help people so I think almost by letting the young person dictate to you the support that they need, you can fill in the gaps and that makes it even sweeter when it all comes together. As well as supporting the young people, Dave and his colleagues work with employers to ensure they are well equipped to support care experienced young people in the workplace. REACHING POTENTIAL Claire Price, of CYA Dave White, of Inspira Providing skills, education and training
7 Claire Price explained CYA’s role. “These young people lack confidence in themselves. Our job is to boost that confidence, build their self-esteem and give them belief that they can do whatever they want. “They’ve also been thrown statistics at them all the time: ‘only X percent of care leavers will pass their GCSEs’; ‘only so many will go to university’; ‘so many young care leavers won’t get jobs’. And I hate those statistics because we need to break away from that and turn it on its head and go, ‘you can do this, you can do that. You are much more resilient than any other young person in society’. And use that resilience to build their confidence and self-esteem.” Support towards independent living “I’ve been in the real world since I was about 10,” says Carlianne, now 21. “I lost count of how many social workers I had during the eight years I was in the care system.” Carlianne has been supported through both strands of the Brighter Futures programme. Cumbria Youth Alliance helped her build confidence and resilience, while Inspira have organised a series of work experience placements. “My mind was set on catering, that was all I wanted to do. But work experience has opened more things up to me, different things. “I’ve managed to get a train to Carlisle by myself. I also went to work experience in Drigg, at Nuclear Waste Services. “I wouldn’t have done all of these things without the support I’ve had.” Claire Price, of CYA, said: “The progress Carlianne has made is exponential. She’s matured so much, and made so much progress on independent living, running her own flat now.” Carlianne, supported by the Brighter Futures programme FUNDER SPOTLIGHT Brighter Futures is part of the national Care Leavers Programme, managed by UK Community Foundations, a £3.6m match fund scheme funded by the Local Authorities’ Mutual Investment Trust (LAMIT), a shareholder of the UK’s biggest charities asset manager, CCLA. Match funding has been provided by a number of charitable trusts, companies and private donors, including BAE Systems, Francis Scott Trust and John Laing Charitable Trust. We are currently seeking partners to extend the programme to five years and support more young people across Cumbria. We would welcome discussions with anyone able to offer support.
Annual Review 2025 8 Dignity in Dementia table tennis group Howling winds and lashing rain batter Arnside Educational Institute but inside the only sound is of gentle chatter, laughter and the unmistakable tap of ping pong bats on balls. Every other Wednesday morning, this community hall plays host to the Dignity in Dementia table tennis group. Around 30 people regularly attend: those with dementia, their partners and carers. Sessions officially start at 10.30am, but by just after 10 o’clock, the first players are already arriving, eager to get started. The sessions, along with a regular dementiafriendly walking group, are funded by the Community Foundation, through the myLakeland Fund. Dignity in Dementia Director Lesley Gill said: “We know that many individuals with dementia, as well as their family, experience overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and fear. They can quickly lose confidence and stop trying to participate in ways they have previously. “People that come to our table tennis group get so many benefits from being here. There are the physical benefits of being active, and the benefits to their mental health of friendship and laughter. There’s evidence to suggest the more active you are, it can slow down the progression of dementia. The impact of the sessions stretches beyond the individuals with dementia themselves. Lesley explained: “Everybody that comes that has dementia is accompanied by somebody that doesn’t have dementia, and that’s become a support group amongst themselves. It’s really nice to see the husbands and wives forming friendships, having a cuppa together and being able to have a little bit of respite while our volunteers and staff and the people with dementia play together. We just have rallies; we don’t score, to keep it simple because otherwise it would get too complicated and confuse people." IMPROVING HEALTH Helping people live healthier, happier lives Table tennis - spreading a bit of happiness The Dignity in Dementia table tennis group
9 Peter, of Kendal, brings his wife Deborah, who has dementia, to the group. “Deborah really looks forward to it,” he said. “It’s something she enjoys doing and can do without the impediment of her dementia interfering with it. It’s also good for me – it’s always cheerful and a nice atmosphere – and it gives a structure to our week.” The group is well attended, with people travelling from Windermere, Levens and Kendal, as well as the local area. When the weather is better, a group of residents from one of the nearby care homes walks round to join in. Table tennis was chosen for its accessibility to those with limited mobility. Lesley explained how they convinced one man who walked using sticks to give it a go. “I said to him ‘Just come and have a cup of tea, you don’t need to play.’ But then he met Brenda, who’s our amazing volunteer, and she persuaded him up, and he said, ‘I never thought I’d be able to do this.’ And it’s just fantastic to see him smile and get a sense of satisfaction from something he didn’t think he could do.” Jenny Connor, Dignity in Dementia Manager, explained how table tennis is a real leveler. “They leave their dementia behind when they get on the table,” she said. “When I first started working at Dignity in Dementia, I came to this group and I couldn’t tell who had dementia and who hadn’t. Everyone is just having fun together.” Malcolm is one of the regulars at the group – one of several bereaved partners who continue to join Dignity in Dementia sessions after the death of their husband or wife. He summed up the sessions perfectly: “This is a group of people who get together to play ping pong and spread a bit of happiness, even on a miserable day like today.” iCan Wellbeing Group iCan is a health, wellbeing and social support charity with a clear mission: helping people in Cumbria overcome barriers to fitness and wellbeing -turning ‘I can’t’ into ‘iCan’. They operate a dedicated fitness and wellness centre in Carlisle, and also offer outreach activities across the county. Last year, iCan worked with more than 5,500 people. Services are open to all ages, genders and backgrounds and sessions are accessible and affordable, if not free. There’s a community gym and wellness centre offering programmes tailored to older adults, people with disabilities, and those managing long term health conditions. The centre offers specialised fitness classes, rehabilitation support, and mental wellness workshops, all designed to promote overall wellbeing, led by mentors with lived experience. Participants often report increased mobility, enhanced strength and a greater sense of community belonging. One participant shared that “joining iCan has been life changing; I have regained my confidence and feel healthier both physically and mentally.” Another said: “iCan is my happy place, it helps me daily feel better and I can now walk without an aid which is life changing.” In 2024-25, iCan received two grants from the Community Foundation. They received £30,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the WeCan Live Well and Work programme to support 20 unemployed people with long-term health conditions to increase their wellbeing and employability; and £500 from the NHS NENC Northern Cancer Alliance Community Connectors Fund towards the cost of a venue for the Living With and Beyond Cancer Group in Carlisle. A group walk in Bitts Park benefits physical and mental health
Annual Review 2025 10 Asylum Seeker Friendship Group Once a week, in a community hall in West Cumbria, a group of men of all ages meet to play dominoes and Connect Four. They drink tea, laugh together and try not to think of the horrors they have left behind in their home countries. For these are asylum seekers. From Eritrea and Vietnam, Iran and Afghanistan, they have fled persecution and sought safety in the UK. They have been housed in West Cumbrian communities - Mirehouse, Moor Row, Cleator Moor – while the authorities decide whether they will be allowed to remain. The Asylum Seeker Friendship Group meets every Wednesday morning at Egremont Market Hall. It was set up in the summer of 2024 by Rachel Holliday, founder of Time to Change (TTC) West Cumbria – a social enterprise supporting homeless people and those living in poverty. Rachel explained: “Time to Change were contacted by a local councillor, asking for urgent help. Three asylum seekers had been placed in a house in Egremont, but they had no food, no internet, and no mode of transport. One bedroom had been flooded so one man was sleeping in the kitchen. Two of the three men had no bedding. They didn’t speak English and they were afraid.” TTC began supporting the men with practical help, from meeting their basic needs by providing food and second-hand bicycles, to more complex help with issues around the process of seeking asylum. Rachel explained: “We started out thinking we needed to provide support with housing problems, English lessons, legal advice, but what we soon realised was, what these people needed first and foremost was trust. “We thought, what can we do to help these people settle into our community?’” And so the Friendship Group was born. Now TTC supports around 20 asylum seekers in the area at any one time. They come to the group to socialise, play games and chat (with the help of Google Translate) and also to seek practical support. As well as Rachel and a team of local volunteers, Cumberland Council staff are on hand to help with housing and asylum queries. Alan Alexander is Chair of West Cumbria Refugee Support Network and a regular volunteer. He said: “With the Friendship Group, we try to help people learn English, to help them integrate, and make them feel welcome. We give them support as human beings. The support they’re getting here is wonderful. This is a safe space for them. The Community Foundation has made two grants to Time to Change to help local asylum seekers. A grant from the Welcome Fund, which is funded by public donations, was made to provide essentials such as clothing, food or transport. Asylum seekers save their bus tickets from any journeys made that week and are reimbursed at the Friendship Group. TACKLING SOCIAL INEQUALITY Promoting equality and The group helps tackle digital isolation
11 inclusion The second grant was from the Fibrus Community Fund, to provide IT equipment such as Wi-Fi-loaded dongles and refurbished laptops. Volunteer Piers Jones said: “It very soon became apparent that these people had lots of pressing concerns: connectivity, isolation, not being able to keep in touch with family. They are without what most people take for granted. The way housing has been allocated, they have no internet or phone. “They need to be able to print out material or access videos for English lessons. We help them with that.” Yousef was placed in Moor Row when seeking asylum from Iran. He has been granted permission to stay and now lives in Whitehaven. “I like it here,” he said. “I would like to stay in Cumbria. The people are very friendly and it’s a beautiful place. “These people are very helpful for us. When we arrived here, we didn’t know anyone. We were depressed. These people very helped us. This group is very good for our mental health. “Actually, I love Rachel like a sister. We haven’t any family here. They are like our family. They always support us.” I will always be grateful to the people of Cumbria Abdullah arrived in the UK from Afghanistan in May 2024. After two nights in Basingstoke, then two months in a hotel in Liverpool, he was placed in a house in Egremont. "I left my wife and son, who is 26 months, behind to come here. I have had anxiety and depression for the last four months. I started coming to this group and they helped me to go to English classes in the library. Two or three times a week, I go into Whitehaven on the bus to go to the mosque and buy halal food. It costs £6 each time and we only get £49 a week. Rachel helps with bus fares. They help us with everything. I’m alone here. I don’t have my wife or child or other family members. Rachel is like my mum. These people are my family. I thank everyone for the wonderful help they have given me. In March, my asylum claim was refused but recently I had a positive decision, so I can stay in the UK. I was a farmer back home. I’m moving to Sheffield to start a job with a recycling company. I have one friend in Sheffield; he has helped me find a job and I can share a house with him. If I’m successful, then I will help others. I will always be grateful to the people of Cumbria. They helped me so much. They are my family." Rachel Holliday with asylum seekers and volunteers Abdullah, from Afghanistan
Annual Review 2025 12 Western Dales Community Bus Service In some of Cumbria’s more remote communities, a regular, reliable bus service means the difference between isolation and independence, between loneliness and a good catch-up with pals. Western Dales Community Bus Service was set up in 2012 after public funding was withdrawn for the Saturday bus service connecting Dent station with Sedbergh and Kendal. As operators have cut more services over the years, the organisation has stepped in to fill in the gaps. It now runs buses five days a week, connecting Sedbergh with Dent, Ravenstonedale, Newbiggin-on-Lune, Kendal and Kirkby Stephen. Incredibly, the service is almost entirely volunteer run, with just one paid member of staff. Rebecca Atkinson is the part-time Operations Manager, a post partly funded by the Community Foundation with a grant from the Pappagallino Fund. She is supported by a team of 23 volunteers, including 16 volunteer drivers, plus others who give up their time to help with marketing, finance, timetabling and more. “The funding that’s provided is vital because these are routes that don’t turn a profit,” said Rebecca. We are only able to run these services because of the funding support from organisations like the Community Foundation, and because we have volunteer drivers. “The volunteers get to know the passengers who use the bus on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. They’re a great team. “Having this service really does make a difference to people who can’t drive, or who have limited mobility.” Zander Skill of Sedbergh catches the community bus several times a week. He uses sticks to help him walk but is able to climb aboard without too much trouble. The two minibuses both have low floors, meaning a wheelchair or buggy can be wheeled on, with a dedicated wheelchair space onboard. “I use it to come into Kendal from Sedbergh – there’s more to do here,” Zander said. “I use it mainly to go to the library, but people use it for all sorts – to go shopping, get an eye test, go for medical appointments.” His wife Elizabeth said: “It’s really well used. Sometimes you can’t get on – it’s full. The drivers are wonderful.” Linda Johnstone has been giving up her time to drive the community bus for more than five years. “I’ve always loved driving and I wasn’t working full time, so I thought, why not? It’s nice to do something for the community.” Older people can use their concessionary bus passes for free on the Western Dales routes, and a large number of passengers are from this demographic. But the service also has a growing number of paying passengers, with a big increase since the national price cap on bus fares of £2 (now £3) a journey was introduced. Rebecca said: “We’ve had a lot of growth in the last 18 months of teenagers and young adults, particularly on a Saturday to go to Kendal, which is good. You’ve got to get people using buses at a young age for them to then go on to use them throughout their lives.” NURTURING SENSE OF PLACE Creating stronger, inclusive Volunteer driver Linda Johnstone
13 Kettle Calling, Kirkoswald “I come here for a coffee and a craic,” says Daniela Wilby, cradling a steaming mug. “It’s nice catching up with people.” “Here” is Kirkoswald Village Hall, home every Friday morning to Kettle Calling, the drop-in session where everyone gets a warm welcome. Nestled in the beautiful Eden Valley, KO as it’s known locally, may seem a picture-perfect village at first glance. But many, especially older people, struggle with isolation – both physical and digital. Rikki Carnegie is a regular at the sessions. “When I had my stroke, people in the village helped me out. Kettle Calling was my only chance to get out by myself, as I had to give my car away. “Coming to the group – you’re sitting round the table and it’s like family. When I get back to the house, I’m by myself.” The group is run entirely by a team of seven volunteers and free to attend. Donations – in the form of cash or sweet treats – are welcome but not expected. Vicky Morgan and her husband Peter help lead the sessions, which aims to run 52 weeks of the year. “It’s important there’s something for people to attend regularly,” Vicky explained. “There’s no café in the village and the pub isn’t open every day.” As well as providing refreshments and company, the volunteers try to help people with whatever issues they might be struggling with that week. Volunteer June Mills explained: “A number of the people who attend the coffee morning are elderly and not particularly tech savvy. They will come and ask questions and we try to help them out – whether that’s filling in forms online, finding out what allowances they might be entitled to or researching the best energy suppliers. “Generally, there is no or not very good internet signal in the village but we have superfast broadband at the village hall.” The group applied to the Community Foundation for funding to buy a laptop, iPad and printer, and were awarded a grant from the Fibrus Community Fund. June said: “Having the laptop and iPad make it much easier to read than trying to look on a mobile phone, and we can print information off for people to take away with them.” Daniela added: “I think having the laptop, iPad and printer is a brilliant service. It might encourage more people to come along. I’m not computer literate at all so it’s great to have somewhere you can come to ask for help.” Using the new laptop at Kettle Calling FUNDER SPOTLIGHT Colin Hutchinson, Group Managing Director at Fibrus, said: “We are really pleased to hear the laptop, iPad and printer are making a big difference to the community in Kirkoswald, particularly to older people who might not otherwise have access to this technology. That’s very much what the Fibrus Community Fund is all about – helping to bridge the gap in becoming a fully digital inclusive society.” communities
Annual Review 2025 14 Climate Leaders – Cumbria Development Education Centre Young people across the county are taking action and leading the way in educating others on sustainability and the climate crisis, thanks to a project funded by Cumbria Community Foundation. Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) developed ‘Climate Leaders – the future is now’ to empower young people to take social action. The project received £51,866 from the Foundation over three years, from multiple funds, to work with schools, youth groups and other organisations. Heron Hill Primary School in Kendal is one of the schools taking part. It has a well-established programme of environmental action, including an Eco Council, made up of 24 pupils from across the school who meet once a week. One of the oldest members, Evie, explained what the funding has enabled them to do. “We were having a lot of fruit for snacks, which is good, but all of the banana peels and orange skins were just going in the normal bins. We decided we wanted to use this waste to make compost. So now each yard has two bins, one for all the ordinary litter and one for the composting. “And then we realised that the staff needed a compost bin as well. So we put one in their room so that they can do the same as all the children.” The compost is used on the school’s vegetable patch, feeding pumpkins and courgettes which will be used to make school dinners, further reducing the school’s carbon footprint. The teacher in charge of the Eco Council, Emma Patrick, explained: Now we have the eco councillors established, we are trying to embed the programme through the whole school so everybody can contribute. This is key to the ethos of the programme – that young people will pass on what they have learned to others. Laura Goad, Director of CDEC, explained: “The idea is that a core group of young people will upskill others and build a movement of young and older people across Cumbria whose actions will make a difference locally and globally for our planet, people and place.” ACTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE Creating stronger and more Composting Members of the Heron Hill Primary School Eco Council
15 resilient communities YOUTH CLIMATE SUMMIT Another key strand of the Climate Leaders programme is the Youth Climate Summit, which was held in Barrow in 2025. Secondary age students led workshops for younger pupils on topics such as fast fashion. Two of those taking part were Marley Brafield and Lucy Grecic, both 18. The pair first got involved with the work of CDEC in 2023, helping to organise a litter pick in Kendal. At the most recent Youth Climate Summit, Marley ran a workshop on biodiversity mapping, while Lucy interviewed other young people to create a film about the event. Marley said being involved with Climate Leaders has really boosted their confidence, particularly when it comes to public speaking, and helped them decide which career path to follow. “The programme has inspired me to to take ecology and conservation at uni. I want to make my impact; I want to do stuff for the planet and I think the best way to do that is being knowledgeable and hopefully be able to inspire other people.” CONNECTED CUMBRIA Lucy also led on a project called Connected Cumbria, visiting businesses and charities across Cumbria to photograph the work they are doing to build a fair and more sustainable world, then displaying these images in an exhibition. She agreed that being involved with the programme has increased her confidence and made her more optimistic about the future of the planet. I was really anxious but now I feel more hopeful. CDEC put me in touch with so many people and groups doing good things. Marley Brafield Lucy Grecic 15
Annual Review 2025 16 West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership The need for mental health support for people in West Cumbria is greater than ever. The West Cumbria: Opportunities and Challenges 2025 report, produced earlier this year by the Community Foundation, shone a light on some grim statistics. The suicide rate for Cumberland is the third highest in England, and hospital admissions for mental health conditions and self-harm are far higher than the national average. West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership (WCMHP) was launched in 2021 as part of the Transforming West Cumbria social investment programme, funded by Sellafield Ltd and delivered by the Community Foundation. Since the WCMHP programme began, more than 20 charitable organisations have been funded by Sellafield Ltd, through the Social impact, multiplied (SiX) programme, to deliver accessible, low-level mental health services that prevent mental ill health and promote emotional wellbeing. More than 6,500 adults and 2,200 children and young people have benefited from this support so far. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP Groundwork North East & Cumbria manages the overall programme and coordinates mental health service delivery for both young people and adults in West Cumbria. Together We CIC leads the Recovery College which provides courses and workshops to improve wellbeing and aid recovery. Partners funded to deliver services and enhance provision include: Always Another Way, Citizens Advice Allerdale, Citizens Advice Copeland, Cumbria Youth Alliance, Mind in Furness, Together We and the Windmill Trust. SOMEONE TO TALK TO Chris Young received counselling from Together We to address mental health problems he has faced throughout his life as a result of sexual abuse as a child. He said: “I’ve had a lot of issues within relationships. I’ve done a lot of soul searching and I came back to the fact that there was something that I hadn’t really addressed which was my childhood sexual abuse. “There’s a huge importance in speaking to people. Sometimes you don’t even necessarily need answers or solutions. “The counselling sessions allowed me to unload and to speak about things which I haven’t spoken about in detail before, just to try and move on past them.” HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE As part of the partnership, care experienced young people in West Cumbria can access mental health support and help with issues such as low confidence through Cumbria Youth Alliance (CYA). Claire Price, In Care and Leaving Care Project Manager at CYA, said: “A lot of care experienced young people have massive trust issues. They’ve had so many different adults in their lives who often move on, sometimes without warning and they don’t understand why. So their mental health can come in massive dips and massive highs. “I would be very, very surprised if I met a young person who’s been in the care system that said to me, ‘I don’t have any issues with my mental health’. “They lack confidence in themselves and our job is to boost that confidence, build their self-esteem and give them belief that they can do whatever they want.” Mental health services delivered in partnership
17 Carlianne, now 21, was in the care system for eight years. Working with Claire and the CYA team has given her the confidence to move into her own flat and undertake work experience placements. “I didn’t want to really speak to Claire at first,” Carlianne said. “But now she has brought the confidence out in me. “They’ve also helped me with my ups and downs. I was going through a hard time through loss – I lost someone really close to me. Not just meeting me once a week but messaging me every day, when I’ve not wanted to get out of bed. “It’s given me the confidence to go out there, to go to events, to speak to people. I’ve had the opportunity to go to Leeds and speak in front of 100 people. Without this help and support, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do that.” WEST CUMBRIA MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP MATCH FUNDING CHALLENGE The vital services provided by the WCMHP are non-statutory and rely on local fundraising and donations to be delivered. People across West Cumbria now have the chance to show they are taking the mental health crisis seriously and really make a difference to those who need support. Cumbria Community Foundation and Sellafield Ltd are running a match funding challenge, giving businesses, community groups and individuals the opportunity to help fund this vital, communitybased mental health support for local people. Sellafield Ltd has generously pledged a match funding pot of £200,000 to support future mental health service delivery. For every pound donated to the appeal, Sellafield Ltd will match it £1 for £1, offering businesses, groups and individuals the opportunity to make double the difference. To find out how you can take part, visit our website. Tracey West, Head of Social Impact for Sellafield Ltd, said: “Sellafield has been proud to fund the West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership since its launch in 2021, demonstrating our commitment to fostering resilience and wellbeing in our communities. “Now we are calling on businesses across West Cumbria to demonstrate their commitment to addressing one of our region’s highest priority needs – mental health and wellbeing support. By backing the match funding challenge, organisations can make a real and lasting difference to local people in need of support. This is more than a one-off initiative; we’re working to build a sustainable partnership that delivers long-term impact, and we need others to join us in securing the future of this vital project.” Awards success The positive impact of the Transforming West Cumbria programme was recognised at several prestigious award ceremonies in 2025. The Foundation’s collaborative working with Sellafield Ltd was shortlisted for the following: • Charity Awards - Grantmaking & Funding category (Highly Commended) • Charity Times Awards – Corporate Community Local Involvement and Corporate Social Responsibility Project of the Year • Institute of Economic Development Awards – Social Value category (Winner) • Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster Awards – Partnership (Winner) and Social Value categories • Institute for Collaborative Working Awards – Social Impact category (Winner) The Foundation was also honoured this year for two other pieces of partnership working. Age Friendly South Lakeland, which we helped to set up, was highly commended in the Organisation Champion category at the Diverse Cumbria Awards. And the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal Partnership was named Fundraising Feat of the Year at the Cumbria Life Awards. Fundraising Feat of the Year for the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal Partnership
Annual Review 2025 18 Grant making 2024-25 Full details of our funds, including the grant making criteria, are available on our website. FUNDS HELD BY THE FOUNDATION Abbeyfield Carlisle Society Community First Fund 8 grants £18,305.20 Grants to benefit people living in the former districts of Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden. Abbeyfield Carlisle Society over 55 Community First Fund 7 grants £9,640.08 Grants to benefit people over 55 living in the former districts of Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden. Allerdale Holiday, Activities, and Food Programme 2 grants £32,636.52 Grants to provide activities and address food hunger for children and young people in areas such as Maryport and Workington. Alston Moor Community Fund 3 grants £3,162.50 Grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of Alston. Altrad Babcock Grassroots Fund 1 grant £596.00 Grants for small voluntary, community groups and grass-roots organisations to enable them to continue or expand their work in advocacy, community voice, and service provision in the former districts of Allerdale, Barrow, Carlisle and Copeland. Barker Family Fund 4 grants £6,588.54 Grants to organisations that advance the education of disadvantaged young people, including young farmers, aged 25 and under who live in Cumbria. Barrow Community Trust Fund 11 grants £15,098.20 Grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of the people of the former borough of Barrow-in-Furness. Barrow-in-Furness Grassroots Fund 2 grants £2,269.00 Grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of the people of the former borough of Barrow-in-Furness. Beck Burn Wind Farm Community Fund 65 grants £191,834.63 Grants to community groups and individuals close to the Beck Burn Wind Farm. Beeby Family Fund 16 grants £62,094.80 Grants to community projects that benefit young people across the county but prioritising those in the Wigton area. Better Tomorrows Fund 26 grants £415,897.60 Grants to increase the number of young people having access to quality youth work. This includes accredited training in youth work and funding salaries of new youth workers. Beverley Charitable Trust Fund 5 grants £22,500.00 Grants to young people in West Cumbria to enable access to study or vocational training. Border Fund 3 grants £4,056.00 Grants to projects that address homelessness, hearing loss or other significant life events, and those providing training to build skills and confidence. Brian and Ann Clark Fund 16 grants £60,046.42 Grants to projects working with disadvantaged families and people with disabilities or mental health issues, and assistance for young people in caring roles. Bridget’s Magical Music Pot Fund 2 grants £1,000.00 Grants to support people to come together to make music of any kind in West Cumbria. Broughton Moor Wind Farm Fund 1 grant £46,000.00 Grants for local communities located close to the Broughton Moor Wind Farm. Burnetts Thrive Fund 12 grants £9,536.15 Grants for individuals attending one of three designated schools to help raise their educational attainment and career aspirations. Care Leavers Project (Brighter Futures) 2 grants £ 74,995.00 Carr’s Group Fund 1 grant £2,186.61 Grants to invest in the wellbeing of communities across Cumbria. Castles & Coasts Housing Association Community Fund 15 grants £13,400.00 Grants to support community projects and activities that make a positive contribution to the tenants and residents living in the neighbourhoods serviced by Castles & Coasts Housing Association. Catherine Alexander Grassroots Fund 4 grants £8,200.00 Grants for local communities in Kendal and its immediate district. CCL Secure Community Fund 5 grants £7,240.00 Grants to community organisations providing activities that benefit people and communities in Allerdale and Copeland. Cumbria Health Improvement Funds (CHIF) 5 grants £39,910.00 CHIF are an amalgamation of area and hospital focused funds that cover the geography of the former Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust. We work closely with NHS Trusts within Cumbria to deliver these in partnership. CiFR Community Flood Resilience Fund 6 grants £51,910.15 Grants to groups to develop and test new approaches to resilience tailored to local communities. CN Group Fund 4 grants £3,987.00 Grants to grassroots groups in the Newsquest distribution area. Crofton Trust Fund 3 grants £3,516.92 Grants to promote the education of the public about agriculture, forestry and the countryside. Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Fund 1 grant £952.00 Grants to community based organisations benefiting people living in the Herald’s main circulation area. Cumberland Building Society Community Fund 2 grants £24,199.00 Grants to organisations within the Cumberland Building Society’s operating area that promote and improve financial literacy of disadvantaged people. Cumberland Educational Foundation Fund 13 grants £60,045.52 Grants to widen access to sports and the arts in young people up to the age of 25. Cumbria Communication Project Fund 1 grant £19,000.00 A multi-year programme providing early interventions to promote and improve speech and language development in 0-3 year olds.
19 Cumbria Cultural Fund 5 grants £4,757.18 Grants to promote excellence in the arts and cultural life. Cumbria Direct Grants Fund 2 grants £100,500.00 Cumbria Disaster Fund 5 grants £2,100.00 Grants for charitable purposes in connection with floods, storms and other disasters. Cumbria Fund 40 grants £232,803.75 Grants for charitable projects that address one or more of Cumbria Community Foundation’s top five funding priorities. The following funds contributed income to this fund: • Armstrong Watson Cumbria Fund • The Crispus Fund • Francis C Scott Challenge Fund • Gregg Fund • Handelsbanken Fund • Harvey Family Fund • Hensman Acorn Fund • HSBC Fund • James Cropper Fund • Laing Fund • Martyn and Carole’s Community Fund • Middlebrook Foundation Fund • MissionCX Fund • Napthens Fund • Northern Rock Foundation • Sharing Fund • The BG Fund • Viscount Whitelaw Fund • Walsh Family Fund • Winander Leisure Cumbria Grassroots Fund 4 grants £5,000.00 Grants for charitable projects that address one or more of Cumbria Community Foundation’s top five priorities for funding. Cumbria Home-from-Home Fund 6 grants £11,700.00 Grants to organisations that help sustain and improve the quality of community life in and around the Lake District. Cumbria Industries Amenities Fund 1 grant £1,000.00 Grants for activities and equipment which support disabled people in the fund priority area of Carlisle. Cumbria Tourism 50th Anniversary Fund 3 grants £984.00 Grants for people aged 16 and over to help raise educational attainment and career aspirations in the Cumbrian tourism and hospitality sectors by enabling access to study, vocational training and employment. Cumbria Victims Charitable Trust Fund 17 grants £9,099.92 Grants to individuals to provide financial support to victims of crime who reside in Cumbria. Cumbria Young People’s Fund 16 grants £35,363.23 Grants to benefit children and young people aged 14-22 across Cumbria. Cumbria Young People’s Grassroots Fund 5 grants £19,000.00 Grants to benefit children and young people aged 14-22 across Cumbria. David and Margaret Rankin Fund 1 grant £5,000.00 Grants to support young people into business or employment, or to progress in the field of visual arts or literature. DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund 11 grants £615,461.00 Grants to groups to increase volunteering and reduce chronic loneliness in Barrow-in-Furness. Disability Fund for Cumbria 3 grants £21,894.40 Grants for groups and individuals to support practical interventions that promote the inclusion and integration of disabled people into employment. Dora Beeforth Memorial Fund 3 grants £3,800.00 Grants to help disadvantaged young people participate in sport or foreign travel. Dowker Bindloss Charity Fund 1 grant £695.00 Grants to community based organisations supporting Kendal residents. Eden Rural Community Fund 2 grants £1,730.00 Grants to groups that help improve the lives of vulnerable people. Edmond Castle Educational Trust Fund 10 grants £10,589.00 Grants to support the education and training of disadvantaged young people, prioritising those who are or have been in care. Education Fund (Cumbria) 2 grants £1,346.00 Grants to support all types of educational activities for people of any age in Cumbria. Edwin and Anita MacKay Fund 3 grants £1,500.00 Grants for community groups and projects that provide activities for children and young people up to the age of 18 in the Seaton parish. Elizabeth Fell Memorial Trust Fund 1 grant £1,000.00 Grants to community based organisations supporting the parish of Kingstown, Carlisle and surrounding area. English Lakes Hotels Trust Fund 2 grants £2,500.00 Grants to support English Lakes Hotels employees, and groups delivering community projects in the areas of Windermere, Ambleside, Morecambe and Lancaster. ENWL Storm Arwen Community Resilience Fund 17 grants £132,729.34 Grants to support local communities impacted by Storm Arwen in 2021 in the counties of Cumbria, Derbyshire and Lancashire. Evening Hill Grassroots Fund 3 grants £3,000.00 Aims to improve the lives of 16-25 years olds or improve the quality of life for the elderly. Fairfield Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund 2 grants £10,000.00 Grants for charitable activities for local communities located close to the Fairfield Wind Farm in north Copeland. Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria 34 grants £60,854.58 Grants for community groups and organisations to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable in their community, focussing on older people and young people. Fryer Grassroots Fund 2 grants £4,999.00 Grants to organisations that improve the lives of young people especially those leaving care within Cumbria. Genesis Homes Community Fund 3 grants £4,000.00 Grants to community projects within the areas of the building sites. Geoffrey Blake Architectural Heritage Fund 1 grant £3,544.23 Grants to support community-based projects of architectural merit in Cumbria. Gibb Charitable Trust Fund 1 grant £500.00 Grants to support students and trainees in vocational studies. Gurney Charitable Trust Fund 6 grants £7,501.00 Grants to supports small, locally-focused charities in northern Cumbria, with a priority in and around the village of Ireby. Hellrigg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund 6 grants £26,833.40 Grants for charitable activities for local communities located close to the Hellrigg Wind Farm in north Allerdale.
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