2026 Annual Review
2 Annual Review 2026 3 About Cumbria Community Foundation Since 1999, Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) has been working to counter the county’s most difficult problems through targeted, expert grant making. Cumbria is a unique, special place. Behind its beautiful landscape, many people face poverty, hardship and a lack of opportunity. These aren’t easy issues to solve, but together with our supporters, we are making a real difference. We connect people who care with causes that matter, bringing together individuals, businesses, charitable trusts and organisations to support local charities, community groups and individuals when and where help is needed most. THESE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING CUMBRIANS TODAY: 1 in 10 households are in fuel poverty 1 in 5 have no formal qualifications Cumberland has the 3rd highest suicide rate in England 1 in 4 are over 65 Life expectancy in Cumbria varies by 12.5 years between the richest and the poorest areas Welcome from our Chair One year on from my appointment as Chair of Cumbria Community Foundation, I continue to be amazed at the scale of the work undertaken by the Foundation across the county. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year, meeting so many wonderful charities and organisations that we support. It has been humbling and sobering to hear of the challenges they face as they work hard to improve lives and strengthen our communities. I must pay tribute to the army of volunteers who give their time freely, without whom many of these organisations would be unable to function. In truth, I did not fully appreciate the breadth of social issues affecting communities across Cumbria. The challenges are many and varied. And in terms of solutions, one size does not fit all. Local people know best what their communities need; our job is to enable those changes. That goes for the whole county – we must continue to offer our support wherever it is needed, from the urban populations of Carlisle and Barrow to the farming communities of the Eden Valley, the coastal towns of West Cumbria and everywhere in between. I want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of our donors, fundholders and supporters who enable us to run such impactful programmes and make vital grants to those in need. While the economic environment continues to be challenging, the need is only going to increase. Cumbria has some extremely successful businesses, many of which are very generous in their support of our work. I would encourage all companies to think about what more they could do to help their local communities, whether by becoming a member of CCF, setting up a fund or supporting in some other way. I would also like to thank my fellow trustees for their support and dedication to the Foundation. We have seen a few changes to the board this year; I want to thank those who have moved on and welcome our new recruits. We are continuing to develop and strengthen our board in line with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a number of new appointees will be announced in the coming months. Thanks also to all the CCF staff and volunteers. The continuing success of the Foundation would not be possible without their hard work and dedication. It was wonderful to see their efforts recognised with a number of awards – both national and regional – in 2025, for work on the Transforming West Cumbria programme, Age Friendly South Lakeland, and the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal. In 2025/26, we awarded more than 700 grants to groups and individuals across the county, each with a story to tell. While we cannot feature all of these in our Annual Review, it offers a good snapshot of our work 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 look forward to the ongoing success of Cumbria Community Foundation in the year ahead – connecting people who care with causes that matter. Myles Thompson Chair Nearly 2 in 3 adults and 1 in 3 11-year-olds are overweight or obese 56% of pensioners live on their own 1 in 4 people have a long-term health problem or disability Front cover: Karl, Men Make and Mend, Artworks Art4All, Barrow
4 Annual Review 2026 5 In 2025/26, the support provided helped clients access £1.6 million they were entitled to, including through benefit claims.“That’s money that’s being put back into the local economy,” said Karen.“The impact is huge.” The charity received £20,000 over two years from the Dowker Bindloss, Pappagallino and Cumbria Funds. One client explained the difference the support of South Lakes Citizens Advice had made: “My advisor was amazing! She had such a perfect understanding of my anxiety and PTSD. “She was so knowledgeable about what support I could apply for and how to do that on my behalf, as I have dyslexia, so I struggle largely to communicate, both written and verbal. She made this process so much easier and took off the burden. This reduced the level of stress that I felt. She isn't even paid!” South Lakes Citizens Advice A huge amount of the amazing work done to improve lives across Cumbria would not be possible without the thousands of unpaid volunteers who give up their time week in, week out. Nowhere is that more true than at South Lakes Citizens Advice. Alongside a team of nine paid staff, 25 volunteers offer their expertise and empathy to make life a little easier for thousands of people every year. In 2025/26, the charity helped 2,749 clients with 10,149 issues, from advice with managing debt and applying for benefits to problems with housing, employment and relationships. Chief Officer Karen Evans said: “We couldn’t deliver our services without our volunteer team. There’s a lot of strength in having a volunteer team and the volunteers are really good at supporting each other. They have a broad background; some have lived experience of the issues they are helping others with. They offer empathy, rather than sympathy. Volunteers are asked to commit eight hours a week, with most doing a full day at the Kendal office. Three volunteers are based at the Ulverston hub which is open two days a week. A typical day sees volunteers arrive for a briefing at 9.15am, where they are given updates on any changes in guidance or legislation and any fundraising income, and cases are allocated. Volunteers carry out different roles, with some answering phone and email queries and others carrying out specialist work, such as on the Macmillan Cancer Support team, helping those with cancer and their families. General advisor volunteers have appointments with clients from 10am to 1pm, then spend the afternoon writing up notes, sending follow up emails, making phone calls and doing all they can to get the best outcomes for people in need. Karen said: “I don’t like to hear people saying ‘I’m only a volunteer’. They provide a vital service.” Susan Maingay and Chris Tribble, both retired academics, have been volunteering as advisors for 10 years and eight years respectively. “It’s a very good volunteering job,” Susan said. “It’s interesting. It keeps your brain active. "You don’t have to know everything to start with – you just need to know how to find it out. I had no idea how the benefits system works. I’ve learned a lot about how things work. “Part of the job is to get clarity. It’s talking to people who bring their problems and issues here, with a lot of teasing the information out of them, finding out what their situation is. “People take notice of a letter from Citizens Advice when they’ll quite happily ignore clients’ letters. “Sometimes there’s a limit to what you can do but people feel better just for having been listened to.” Chris explained how emotionally challenging the role could be. “People come in desperation, at their wits end with the bailiffs at the door. There’s huge hidden poverty in South Lakeland. The relief you can see flowing away from people as they talk to you is enormous.” REDUCING POVERTY Providing opportunities to support people on low incomes Volunteers Chris Tribble and Susan Maingay FUNDHOLDER SPOTLIGHT We were delighted when the owners of one of Cumbria’s most iconic brands got in touch to say they would love to set up a fund with CCF. We worked with the team at Grasmere Gingerbread® to create the Sarah Nelson Fund, named after the woman who invented the worldfamous treat. The fund was launched in 2025 and supports projects that help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; improve education for children and adults; encourage creative and sustainable business ideas; or tackle food poverty. These four themes reflect the life of Sarah Nelson, who overcame poverty through resilience, creativity, and community spirit. Co-owner Andrew Hunter said: “We cannot think of a better way to honour Sarah Nelson’s wonderful legacy and we hope that our contribution will help to sustain projects in areas close to our hearts in the months and years to come.” Projects funded so far include a community dropin centre run by homeless charity Carlisle Key, a cooking club at Calderwood House homeless hostel in Egremont, and staff costs at Kendal homeless charity Manna House. Some of the volunteers at South Lakes Citizens Advice
6 Annual Review 2026 7 Pears Cumbria School of Medicine Cumbria has some of the greatest health challenges in the UK. The county has a super-ageing population, with a quarter of people aged over 65. Life expectancy varies by more than 12 years between the richest and poorest areas. Around twothirds of adults, and more than one-third of 11-year-olds, are overweight. Step forward Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM) developed in partnership with Imperial College London,the University of Cumbria and generous philanthropic support from the Pears Foundation. The graduate-entry medical school based at the Fusehill Street campus in Carlise welcomed it’s first cohort of students in 2025 Professor Vassilios Papalois, Head of Professional Development Tutoring at PCSM & Professor of Transplantation Surgery at Imperial NHS Trust, explained: “The purpose of this medical school is not to give the UK another 50 or 100 doctors. It’s to give Cumbria 50 or 100 doctors, the majority of whom will stay in the area, practise in the area, and help the area get an advanced healthcare system.” Five Cumbrian students joining the first cohort received a total of £25,000 in bursaries to help with the cost of their studies, thanks to support from the Beeby Family Fund, Beverley Charitable Trust Fund, Moorhouse Grassroots Grants Fund and Pappagallino Fund. Mary Skelton, Admissions Officer at PCSM said: Around a third of our medical students are either first-generation university students, care experienced, or in financial hardship. A £5,000 bursary provides a much-needed financial boost, helping to remove barriers and ensure they can focus on their education and training to become doctors. Student Jess Thompson, of Silloth, said: “As someone who has lived here all my life, the opportunity to be able to study medicine in the region is incredibly meaningful to me and I'm really proud to be in the first cohort. “My goal is to use the education skills that I gain on this course to help improve the health and wellbeing of the communities that I have lived in all my life and understand so well. Ultimately, PCSM has the potential to transform Cumbria’s medical landscape REACHING POTENTIAL Providing skills, education and training The Farmer Network If you’re looking for a slice of rural peace and quiet, head to Borrowdale and hang a right. Tucked away down an easy to miss single-track lane, Hollows Farm is a peaceful a spot as you could hope to find. Ruby Nicholson and Matthew Fearon became National Trust tenant farmers in late 2024. Farming is in their blood: Mathew’s parents were the previous tenants and Ruby’s grandmother farms near Thirlmere. But taking on the running of a farm is not a decision ever taken lightly by those who have any understanding of the pressures involved. Data from the Office for National Statistics in 2025 showed a record number of agriculture, forestry and fishing businesses in the UK had closed down – 6,365 in just 12 months – and pressures on farmers continue to mount. The Farmer Network is a not-for-profit membership organisation offering support and training opportunities across Cumbria. It is run by farmers, for farmers. With funding from the Rankin and Barker Funds, and private individuals, the Farmer Network was able to offer a bursary scheme to the “next generation” of Cumbrian farmers. Esme Jackson from the Farmer Network explained: “Farm business incomes are lower, and environmental and climate challenges are often greater in Cumbria than in the rest of England. The support we offer through the next generation programme can make a real difference to a fledgling farm business. “Feedback from previous beneficiaries shows that a grant of up to £750 can have a huge effect. Ruby and Matthew were keen to access the support to help diversify their income streams which already included a 50 pitch campsite, two camping pods and a holiday cottage, They saw an opportunity to sell meat from the farm to visitors and applied to the Farmer Network for a grant to buy a large chest freezer for storage. “That enabled us to cull our first cow for sale, which kickstarted that side of the business,” explained Ruby. “Having the grant made it a lot easier. If we’d had to spend £600 or £700 on a freezer, the money from the first cow would be gone. Ruby is passionate about promoting the benefits eating locally produced, high welfare meat too. “We’re putting so much effort into producing meat sustainably,” she said. “We really want people to know where it came from. Our cows are grass-fed, grazing on the lakeshore." The meat is sold from a shed which acts as a shop selling cake, eggs and other goods produced within the county. Ruby and Matthews' long-term goal is to run educational talks on farming and monthly farm visit events for the public to help people better understand our food supply chain. Ruby added, My dream is to get everyone thinking about where their food is from. Pears Cumbria School of Medicine students Iona Reilly, Jess Thompson and Patrick Hughes Ruby Nicholson with some of the meat for sale at Hollows Farm. Borrowdale
8 Annual Review 2026 9 Woodland Wellbeing at Leslands It’s a little piece of heaven. It’s magical. It’s a hug. Helen is one of the volunteers at Woodland Wellbeing at Leslands, and it’s hard to disagree with her description of this innovative Barrow project. Tucked away on farmland, Woodland Wellbeing is a social enterprise aiming to boost emotional, physical, and mental health. Small groups of adults and volunteers meet once a week to grow produce, upcycle furniture, and take part in other activities such as arts and crafts. Debbie is a regular attendee but had her doubts when she was first invited. “I hadn’t left the house for two years so I was a bit dubious. But now I love coming here. If I’ve had a stressful time at home with my children, coming here is my de-stress. I can rant at Helen and Elaine. They’re good listeners and give me some good advice.” With a renewed focus on her health Debbie added. “I’ve got COPD and people kept saying to me, ‘you’ve got to stop smoking’ but I get annoyed when people tell me I’ve got to do something. “Since coming here, I’ve really cut down. I’m down to less than 10 a day, from 30 a day. And I’ve lost weight.” The project was the brainchild of Elaine Carter, who previously worked in adult mental health and children’s services for 30 years. “I wanted to do something that really made a difference, taking into account what people said they needed and wanted,” she explained Participants are offered transport to and from the site and given lunch. The project received £6,932 from the People Helping People Fund, the participatory grantmaking element of the Barrow Social Impact Fund, provided by Team Barrow and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation. The grant contributes towards staff and volunteer costs. Elaine explained: “Our goal is to create a safe, inclusive, and sustainable community space where individuals can develop confidence, resilience, and transferable skills to lead fulfilling, independent lives. We’re all really passionate about it.” Claire, a former heroin addict and group member said,“I come here because I’ve got mental health problems and I’ve got a lot going on, but I can talk to Elaine. I’m clean now, and this helps me with that. Some names have been changed at the request of those featured. IMPROVING HEALTH Helping people live healthier, happier lives People Helping People Fund The People Helping People Fund represented a new way of working for Cumbria Community Foundation: participatory grant making. The funding – £85,000 – was provided by the UK Government and Team Barrow’s Delivery Board through a grant from the Social Impact Fund, aiming to make Barrow a better place to live, work, study, visit, and invest in. But all of the decisions about what shape the fund would take were made by ordinary Barrow folk. A community panel was formed in the summer of 2025; residents were invited to sign up and go along to workshops, armed with local knowledge and ideas. The panel decided what the money should fund; who should be eligible to apply; even what the fund should be called. Drop-in sessions were held for potential applicants to ask questions and once the applications were in, the panel decided which projects to fund. Panel member Verity Gardner explained why she got involved. “I’d just moved back to Barrow, having lived away, and I was really keen to build up my network and get to know what’s going on. I was struggling to get involved in the community, a bit isolated and didn’t have many friends. Being on the panel was really empowering for me. Meeting all sorts of people opened my eyes in terms of what’s needed in Barrow. I learned so much. I’ve worked for charities and completed funding applications, but looking at it from the other side was really interesting. Projects funded included wellbeing walks, community gardens and food projects. The scheme returned in 2026, this time named the Barrow Helping Barrow Fund, with a whole new raft of volunteers giving up their time to back their town. Verity said she would encourage anyone given the chance to be involved in participatory grant making in the future to go for it. What a great opportunity it is to have your say on the future of Barrow, and where quite a big chunk of money goes, it's such a good idea. Members of the People Helping People Fund panel Elaine Carter founder of Woodland Wellbeing
10 Annual Review 2026 11 TACKLING SOCIAL INEQUALITY Promoting equality and inclusion FUNDER SPOTLIGHT Better Tomorrows was launched in 2021 with the aim of substantially increasing the number of young people able to access quality youth work and the number of trained youth workers across Cumbria. To date, the programme has trained more than 100 accredited youth workers, funded 60 new youth work roles, and engaged more than 7,000 young people across Cumbria. David Beeby, former CCF Chair and founder of the Better Tomorrows programme, said: “The feedback we have had from the newly trained youth workers, the young people they support and the organisations they work in tells us that Better Tomorrows is making a huge difference across the county.” In 2025, the Better Tomorrows Awards were launched, celebrating the best of the county’s youth work across three categories: Youth Worker of the Year, Youth Project of the Year, and Young Volunteer of the Year. More than 60 funders have contributed to Better Tomorrows, including CCF, Francis Scott Trust, Four Acre Trust, Nuclear Waste Services, many local businesses and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at CCF, said: “We know that early intervention and positive relationships can have a lasting impact on a young person’s future, yet too many communities still lack access to quality youth provision. “Donations to Better Tomorrows help us invest in local youth work provision that responds to the needs of young people, creating opportunities where they are needed most. Every contribution helps to expand access to youth work and ensure that more young people can benefit from the guidance, encouragement and opportunities that help them thrive.” The winners and shortlisted at the 2025 Better Tomorrows Awards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion The trustees of Cumbria Community Foundation have made a commitment to embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles into all aspects of our work. Like many organisations we are on a journey to becoming more inclusive and improving how we serve our communities. This is reflected in how we recruit staff and volunteers, design and deliver our grant making programmes, and invest our funds. We also collect information that benchmarks our board and staff against the wider Cumbrian population, supporting us to identify voices that we need to strengthen our work. This and our DEI Statement are available on our website. Some names have been changed at the request of those featured. Anti Racist Cumbria Aaargh, they’re back! Behind you! There’s zombies everywhere! A teenage girl shrieks with laughter, gripping tightly to a flashing weapon, a VR headset transporting her to a world where an advancing undead army is her most pressing worry. She is one of around 20 Black and Brown young people taking part in the ARC (Anti Racist Cumbria) summer outing to Levels, Whitehaven’s immersive gaming centre. The trip is led by youth worker Faniri Maidment, who is funded by the Better Tomorrows youth work programme to run dedicated youth groups for Black and Brown people in Cumbria, including weekly sessions for 11-18 years old at Carlisle Youth Zone. Jess Butler, Youth Lead at ARC, explained the need for the role. “The need’s been there for as long as I can remember. For young people, the youth clubs are a way to find peers that experience the same things as them, and understand what that feels like without explanation or quantifying it. And as the youth workers facilitating the sessions are Black and Brown, there's a shared understanding.” Sessions include activities found in any youth club, from basketball to jewellery making. Once the young people start to relax in an environment where they feel safe and supported, they begin to open up about the racism they have experienced elsewhere. Twelve-year-old Georgie said: “Things have happened at school in the past and I can come to ARC and talk about it. Things like people calling me the N-word. I can feel I’m not the only one who’s experienced it. At school, you can feel quite alone. Here, everyone can relate to what you’re going through.” Jess said: “We are able to challenge schools because of what young people are telling us is happening there. So because of our young people letting us know what's happening at one school, we've managed to secure a week of assemblies to talk to pupils about anti-racism. “Things are happening every day. The other day, one young person was called the N-word and because she's mixed, the teacher told her, ‘You shouldn't be upset. You're not even really black.’ That's what we're dealing with. It's no wonder she's angry because she's been told to ignore racism.” Georgie added: “I’ve made some really good friends through ARC. We all go to different schools so I wouldn’t have met them otherwise. If I didn’t have ARC, I wouldn’t feel as open to telling people about what’s happening at school. I just feel like I can be myself at the group. I don’t have to act cool.
12 Annual Review 2026 13 Distington Community Trust Distington Community Trust led a project to transform a piece of wasteland in the middle of the village into a lively community allotment. Their vision was to create “a community hub for residents to meet in a central place, to strengthen social skills, encourage physical activity, promote creativity, combat loneliness and bring the community together as a whole.” The first plots were allocated in June 2025 and all 22 were soon full, with several people on the waiting list Distington Community Trust recieved a grant from the Matson Ground Fund to pay for a community horticultural worker to offer expert guidance, and the more experienced plot holders have also passed on their own tips to novice gardeners. The local community have given their time and materials whilst also holding fundraising events to buy equipment for the project Trust secretary Joy Jones said: “It’s been overwhelming, the response from the village. I’ve lived in the village for 19 years and would never have met all of these people if it wasn’t for the allotments. The Legion Community Garden, as the site is known, is much more than just a place to grow produce. It has become a new social hub for the village. A further grant, from the Fairfield Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provided picnic tables, a covered gazebo and litter bins. Local resident Hugh, 76, explained how having an allotment plot has helped him. “It’s got me out the house. If I wasn’t here, I’d be sitting at home. It gets me some fresh air. We’re a big happy family. Everybody’s enjoying it here. NURTURING SENSE OF PLACE Creating stronger, inclusive communities FUNDHOLDER SPOTLIGHT In 2026, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of one of our most important relationships . The Roselands Trust Fund was established in 2006 to support disabled people and older people in Eden and South Lakeland. Since then, it has made over 80 grants to projects enabling disabled and older people to take part in activities such as sailing, art classes and swimming, as well as supporting carers and families. Andy Beeforth, CCF Chief Executive, said: “In 2006, the family behind the Roselands Trust became a pioneer in Cumbrian philanthropy when they chose to establish a fund with us. We do not underestimate the role this played in building confidence in our work, which laid the foundations for others to follow their example.” The Roselands Trust was also an early supporter of our annual Winter Warmth Appeal, investing in its development and leading to us raising and distributing millions of pounds in support of thousands of vulnerable older people. Thank you so much to Ken and all at Roselands Trust for your incredible continued support. Hesket Newmarket Community Shop As friends chat over freshly brewed coffee at a polished wooden table in Tethera Tearoom, it’s hard to imagine this cosy space was a shop storeroom just a few months ago. Local residents took ownership of Hesket Newmarket Community Shop in early 2026. It provides a vital service for people struggling to access towns and supermarkets, with a team of volunteers delivering goods to those who are housebound. It also houses the only post office and banking facility in a 200 square mile area of Cumbria’s rural Northern Fells. The management committee was keen to expand the shop’s role as a hub for the village to help combat rural isolation, loneliness and become a social space that could host events to support the community such as IT coaching sessions and dropins with healthcare professionals Twice a week throughout September, Tethera Tearoom hosted drop-in sessions for anyone looking for help with using the NHS app. Liv Tarraque, IT, Data and Quality Lead at Caldbeck Surgery was on hand, along with Patient Participation Group volunteers, to guide people through setting up and getting the most out of the app, using laptops provided by a CCF grant from the Fibrus Community Fund. Jean, who attended the first session said. “If you’re a certain age, unless you’ve got a grandchild to help you, you’re lost,” she said. “I’ve downloaded the app but I wanted to come along to check I’d done it right. She’s shown me extra things I can do with it so it has definitely been worth my while coming along.” Liv explained the challenges involved. “Some people didn’t even have an email address so I had to set that up for them first,” she said. “You don’t need a mobile phone to access the app, you can access it on a laptop or tablet so they can come and do that here. Local resident Liz said she found the session really useful too. She added: “I hope they will have sessions on other subjects – other technical things that older people can’t get to grips with. “It’s a social thing too. You come to have a good crack with people and catch up with everybody.” Chair Philippa Groves said that as well as more opportunities for older people to get together, she would also like to open up the hub to younger people. “What would be really nice would be to do a homework club, when kids get off the bus,” she said. “There’s not a lot for 14-16-year-olds to do so we’d like to organise pizza nights, that kind of thing.” The shop building has a huge amount of potential for further development. With their mission to ensure no one is isolated or left behind, they aren’t done yet. Jean gets advice from Liv Tarraque of Caldbeck Surgery Hesket Newmarket Community Shop committee Chair Philippa Groves, right, with local residents Hugh tending his allotment
14 Annual Review 2026 15 I want to engage with as many people as possible, and we hope to have a Carlisle-wide plan in place by the beginning of 2027, Niall said: “We’ll have regular training, acting out real life scenarios in a realistic but fun way. I’d love to create a board game, where you can work through the plan, so it won’t just be a written document. “Carlisle is a continually growing city, with an increasing diversity, but a community that comes together to help each other when needed. I feel like this project provides opportunities to bring people together, provide reassurance and collectively prepare for any future crisis.” Carlisle resident Susan agreed: “We always get things sorted in an emergency and look out for each other, but it’s good to be really prepared, and having someone bring us together with other residents to talk about developing a plan is going to mean we are ready for whatever might happen in the future.” Carlisle Community Resilience Officer Images of Brunton Park, Carlisle Civic Centre and other landmarks marooned by acres of floodwater live clear in the minds of most Cumbrians. Between 2005 and 2015, three major floods devastated communities across the county. Lives were upended – and in some tragic cases, lost – and the scars run deep. Since Storm Desmond flooded more than 5,500 Cumbrian homes, 1,000 businesses and 600 farms in December 2015, much has been done to prevent and mitigate against future disasters. For many communities building their resilience to future flooding has been key. Helen Fisher, Manager of Botcherby Community Centre in Carlisle, was surprised to discover that this long-term response varied across the county. “I went along to an event to hear more about local resilience work and was surprised there wasn't an emergency plan in Carlisle. “It felt important that, as a community centre that has been directly affected by flooding, we did something to help Carlisle be ready for future shocks.” Helen applied to Cumbria Community Foundation and secured funding from CiFR Community Flood Resilience Fund for the role of Carlisle Community Resilience Officer. The fund forms part of the wider Cumbria Innovative Flood Resilience Programme. that is funded by DEFRA, managed by the Environment Agency and delivered locally by Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils. Niall McNulty was appointed to the role earlier this year and is wasting no time in getting out and gathering opinions from people across the city. “The main point of this new role is to draw up a Carlisle Emergency Resilience Plan,” he explained. “Other communities across Cumbria affected by flooding have not just emergency plans but emergency response groups. Although Carlisle residents meet emergency challenges face on, the city doesn't currently have any formal response groups or emergency plan in place.” Working from a central base and reaching people through local community locations, Niall will develop a city-wide flood resilience plan, followed by tailored plans for each area most affected by flooding. Botcherby and Warwick Road will serve as the pilot areas, helping to test and refine the approach before it is rolled out more widely. He explained: “I’ll be asking communities what they need to respond to any future shocks, as we want the new plan to be led and owned by the voices of the people who live in the local areas.” One Botcherby resident, Graham, is fully on board with the idea. “I was surprised that we haven't got an emergency plan in Carlisle, but I really like that we, as residents, are going to be part of developing it,” he said. “We are the people who are affected so it feels right we get to inform what the plan looks like.” Niall will ask residents questions such as “Where do you feel the safest?”, “Where do you get your trusted information from in an emergency?” and “Who would be the trusted community leaders you would listen to in a crisis?” As well as geographical communities, the consultation will also involve communities such as young people, the refugee population and church groups. The emergency resilience plan will not only help communities prepare for flooding, but also for other emergencies such as food shortages, power outages and future pandemics. ACTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE Creating stronger and more resilient communities FUNDER SPOTLIGHT Cumbria Local Resilience Forum is made up of a wide range of organisations, working together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies or incidents in Cumbria. The Forum launched the new £300,000 Cumbria Community Resilience Fund this year to strengthen how communities support one another before, during and after an emergency. Ben Ryder, Chair of the Local Resilience Forum, said: “Community resilience is a crucial part of how Cumbria prepares for and responds to emergencies. “This grant programme recognises the knowledge, commitment and leadership that already exists in our communities, and provides practical support to help strengthen local preparedness.” The grant funding will enable communities to build practical resilience to emergencies, strengthen local response and test innovative ideas. The Fund is funded through the Local Resilience Forum Trailblazer Programme by the UK Government, led by the Cumbria Combined Authority, and managed by Cumbria Community Foundation. Niall McNulty
16 Annual Review 2026 17 Since taking part in Positive Enterprise in 2024, business is booming for Aaron Groggins, of Whitehaven. The programme allowed him to develop Lakeland Life, an event management social enterprise that has staged events from birthday parties and corporate gatherings. He has also created pop up streetfood festivals celebrating worldwide cuisine from Cumbrian makers, Eat Street Cumbria, which supported Whitehaven Pride Festival, attended by more than 10,000 people with over 80 stalls. A further grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has enabled him to buy a marquee, tables and other event equipment that are hired out to local businesses and community groups at a subsidised rate. Here he tells us about the impact the Positive Enterprise programme has made, "Without Positive Enterprise, I honestly don’t think I would have started Lakeland Life. I had the idea, but didn’t know who to speak to, where to go or even how to properly start a business. The initial £1,000 also made a huge difference. It allowed us to cover those early start-up costs, purchase small pieces of equipment and put some of the foundations in place that helped us get off the ground, massively derisking the start-up process. I was paired with a highly experienced business leader and mentor, James Batchelor, who guided me through the process and shared what he had learnt from his own experience. Having someone who I could talk things through with, challenge my ideas and learn from was a huge factor in the success we have had over the last two years. The biggest thing I learnt was that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Positive Enterprise gave us the confidence to try things, learn as we went and not be afraid of getting things wrong. The workshops and mentoring gave us a much better understanding of running a business, from planning and finances through to marketing, networking and developing an idea into something that people actually want. A lot of what we learnt in those early days has stayed with me as Lakeland Life has grown. We’ve had to adapt constantly over the last two years, and having those foundations has helped us make decisions with much more confidence. The next phase for us is about delivering more events, but not necessarily bigger events. We want to grow by delivering more smaller-scale events across Cumbria, creating more opportunities for local businesses and maximising the impact we can have in different communities. We have met so many brilliant people on so many different journeys, supported hundreds of local businesses and created what has become the Eat Street Cumbria family, which is something we are incredibly proud of. The public have embraced what we do and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us, visited our events, shared our posts, traded with us and become part of what we have created. For me, that is what Lakeland Life is all about. It started as an idea, Positive Enterprise gave us the opportunity to make it happen, and two years later we are creating opportunities for other businesses and communities across Cumbria. We couldn’t be more excited about what comes next. Positive Enterprise For the past four years, the Positive Enterprise programme has been turning young Cumbrians’ business dreams into reality. Developed by Cumbria Community Foundation and delivered in partnership with the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP), the programme supports aspiring entrepreneurs aged 14 to 25. Originally launched in West Cumbria, this year it expanded into Furness for the first time. Each year, young people are invited to apply, with a new cohort selected by a panel of previous Positive Enterprise participants. Successful applicants embark on a transformative six-month journey, receiving a grant of £1,000 to start or grow their business, mentoring from local business leaders, and access to training designed to build enterprise skills and confidence. Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at CCF, said: “Positive Enterprise empowers young people to test their ideas, develop their skills and take the lead in creating opportunities for themselves and their communities.” The businesses supported are as diverse as the young people behind them. This year’s ventures included pet photography, a mobile make-up service, a gutter cleaning business, and selling home cooked African food. Rhianna Smith, Project Lead for CforLP, said: Positive Enterprise doesn’t just focus on the business outcomes, the real impact is long-term – supporting participants to build confidence, resilience and essential skills that shape their futures. "It supports alumni beyond delivery too, helping them apply what they’ve learned as they move into education, employment or self-employment.” The programme has been funded by Brian Scowcroft, with match funding from Sellafield Ltd as part of the Transforming West Cumbria programme. Other funders include Nuclear Waste Services, Well Whitehaven, Morgan Sindall, Kaefer, Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd, the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund and a private donor. Aaron Groggins Eat Street Cumbria, Whitehaven Some of the 2026 Positive Enterprise participants Anyone wishing to help fund the programme in future should email annalee@cumbriafoundation.org
Grant making 2025-26 Full details of our funds, including the grant making criteria, are available on our website. Crofton Trust Fund 1 grant £2,688.27 Grants to promote the education of the public about agriculture, forestry and the countryside. Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Fund 1 grant £983.00 Grants to community based organisations benefiting people living in the Herald’s main circulation area. Cumberland Building Society Community Fund 1 grant £5,000.00 Grants to organisations within the Cumberland Building Society's operating area that promote and improve financial literacy of disadvantaged people. Cumberland Educational Foundation Fund 5 grants £34,532.58 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. Cumbria Cultural Fund 14 grants £7,449.00 Grants to promote excellence in the arts and cultural life. Cumbria Direct Grants Fund 6 grants £34,000.00 Donor-directed grants. Cumbria Disaster Fund 2 grants £1,000.00 Grants for charitable purposes in connection with floods, storms and other disasters Cumbria Fund 26 grants £200,524.54 Grants for charitable projects that address one or more of Cumbria Community Foundation’s top six priorities for funding. The following funds contributed income to this fund: • Armstrong Watson Cumbria Fund • Francis C Scott Challenge Fund • Gregg Fund • Handelsbanken Fund • Harvey Family Fund • Hensman Acorn Fund • HSBC Fund • James Cropper Fund • Laing Fund • Nicholson Family Fund • Middlebrook Foundation Fund • MissionCX Fund • Napthens Fund • Northern Rock Foundation • The Crispus Fund • The BG Fund • The Walsh Family Fund • Viscount Whitelaw Fund • Winander Leisure • Gabion Fund • Sharing Fund Cumbria Grassroots Fund 3 grants £7,295.13 Grants for charitable projects that address one or more of Cumbria Community Foundation’s top six priorities for funding. Cumbria Home-from-Home Fund 4 grants £5,560.00 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 £1,282.00 Grants for activities and equipment which support disabled people in the fund priority area of Carlisle. Tourism Talent Fund 3 grants £1,400.00 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 16 grants £8,276.56 Grants to individuals to provide financial support to victims of crime who reside in Cumbria. Cumbria Young People’s Fund 20 grants £37,280.00 Grants to benefit children and young people aged 14-22 across Cumbria. Cumbria Young People’s Grassroots Fund 3 grants £14,000.00 Grants to benefit children and young people aged 14-22 across Cumbria. David and Margaret Rankin Fund 9 grants £7,000.00 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 4 grants £261,111.00 Grants to groups to increase volunteering and reduce chronic loneliness in Barrow-in-Furness. Disability Fund for Cumbria 3 grants £22,520.88 Grants for groups and individuals to support practical interventions that promote the inclusion and integration of disabled people into employment. Dora Beeforth Memorial Fund 2 grants £2,070.00 Grants to help disadvantaged young people participate in sport or foreign travel. Dowker Bindloss Charity Fund 1 grant £788.15 Grants to community based organisations supporting Kendal residents. Eden Rural Community Fund 1 grant £1,000.00 Grants to groups that help improve the lives of vulnerable people. Edmond Castle Educational Trust Fund 8 grants £5,210.00 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 £1,391.01 Grants to support all types of educational activities for people of any age in Cumbria. Edwin and Anita MacKay Fund 1 grant £3,000.00 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 2 grants £5,896.31 Grants to community based organisations supporting the parish of Kingstown, Carlisle and surrounding area. English Lakes Hotels Trust Fund 1 grant £1,000.00 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 6 grants £50,636.90 Grants to support local communities impacted by Storm Arwen in 2021 in the counties of Cumbria, Derbyshire and Lancashire. Evening Hill Grassroots Fund 4 grants £3,396.82 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 35 grants £60,536.71 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 1 grant £3,000.00 Grants to organisations that improve the lives of young people especially those leaving care within Cumbria. Genesis Homes Community Fund 6 grants £13,500.00 Grants to community projects within the areas of the building sites. FUNDS HELD BY THE FOUNDATION Abbeyfield Carlisle Society Community First Fund 12 grants £21,442.23 Grants to benefit people living in the former districts of Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden. Abbeyfield Carlisle Society over 55 Community First Fund 8 grants £23,505.24 Grants to benefit people over 55 living in the former districts of Carlisle, Allerdale and Eden. Age Friendly Activities Fund 4 grants £15,360.00 Grants for projects that reduce social isolation, promote physical and mental wellbeing for older people in the former South Lakeland area. Alston Moor Community Fund 2 grants £3,500.00 Grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of Alston. Altrad Babcock Grassroots Fund 1 grant £548.13 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. Amentum Grassroots Fund 1 grant £1,000.00 Grants for small voluntary and community groups and organisations providing advocacy, community voice, and service provision in West Cumbria. Barker Family Fund 4 grants £3,978.55 Grants to organisations that help empower young people and support education, and to individuals aged 25 and under, including young farmers, living in Cumbria. Barrow Community Trust Fund 8 grants £16,074.28 Grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of the people of the former borough of Barrow-in-Furness. Barrow Rising: Work and Health Fund (Adult Support) 8 grants £106,518.78 Grants for charitable organisations to support adults experiencing healthrelated challenges to employment. Team Barrow Social Impact Fund 13 grants £85,000.00 Resident-led fund that supports community groups to deliver projects that respond to local priorities and make a positive difference in Barrow. Barrow-in-Furness Grassroots Fund 2 grants £2,088.47 Grants for charitable purposes for the benefit of the people of the former borough of Barrow-in-Furness. Beck Burn Wind Farm Community Fund 62 grants £207,219.09 Grants to community groups and individuals close to the Beck Burn Wind Farm. Beeby Family Fund 28 grants £118,622.80 Grants to community projects that benefit young people across the county but prioritising those in the Wigton area. Better Tomorrows Fund 23 grants £370,889.99 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 14 grants £55,248.63 Grants to young people in West Cumbria to enable access to study or vocational training. Bewcastle Valley Farmers Fund 1 grant £3,500.00 Grants to address hardship in the north of Cumbria, especially in the Bewcastle parish. Border Fund 2 grants £3,278.06 Grants to projects that address homelessness, hearing loss or other significant life events, and those providing training to build skills and confidence. Borron Pratt Fund 1 grant £3,000.00 Grants to relieve hardship in the Workington and Whitehaven area of West Cumbria, down the west coast of Cumbria to St Bees, Seascale, and the village of Holmrook west of the River Irt. Brian and Ann Clark Fund 15 grants £64,783.19 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 6 grants £3,500.00 Grants to support people to come together to make music of any kind in West Cumbria. Broughton Moor Wind Farm Fund 1 grant £22,740.00 Grants for local communities located close to the Broughton Moor Wind Farm. Burnetts Thrive Fund 14 grants £17,937.16 Grants for individuals attending one of three designated schools to help raise their educational attainment and career aspirations. Care Leavers Project 2024 2 grants £ 96,900.00 Grants to help care experience young people benefit from mentoring, work experience placements and life skills development. Fevara Group Fund 3 grants £3,872.94 Grants to invest in the wellbeing of communities across Cumbria. Castles & Coasts Housing Association Community Fund 9 grants £9,000.00 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 1 grant £3,970.00 Grants for local communities in Kendal and its immediate district. CCL Secure Community Fund 7 grants £9,173.00 Grants to community organisations providing activities that benefit people and communities in Allerdale and Copeland. Cumbria Health Improvement Funds (CHIF) 18 grants £254,416.47 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 12 grants £126,309.58 Grants to groups to develop and test new approaches to resilience tailored to local communities. CN Group Fund 4 grants £4,113.96 Grants to grassroots groups in the Newsquest distribution area.
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