More than £36,000 has been funneled into community projects in South Cumberland this quarter.
The area's Community Panel, which channels investment from Cumberland Council, funded seven amazing projects - including women's rugby, gardening, support for the elderly and a project using LEGO to encourage young people into engineering.
- Egremont Rangers ARLFC were awarded £10,000 towards two changing cabins for female teams.
- Millom Town Council received £8,000 for solar lighting and waste bins in the renovated gardens beside Millom Palladium.
- Cumbria Wildlife Trust received £7,740 towards the ‘People and Pollinator’ project. This will involve the community in creating three pollinator-friendly sites in the South Cumberland area.
- The React Foundation was awarded £5,729 towards ipads and LEGO to loan to schools taking part in the First Lego League.
- Citizens' Advice Copeland received £2,478 towards training two new volunteers to offer advice in communities.
- Copeland Age and Advice Service was given £1,400 towards refurbishing its new premises in Kells, Whitehaven. It will create more space for the storage, display, testing and fitting of aids to help people live independently.
- Drigg Parish Council was allocated £1,116 for planters and protective netting at its community growing project.
Cllr Justin McDermott, Cumberland's Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Communities, said:
"I'm proud we are funding projects that benefit our residents in such different ways. We are lucky to have an active and innovative third sector who are keen to meet our communities' priorities - helping them to do that is exactly what Community Panels were created for."
Community Panels support stronger, more connected communities by listening to local voices and acting on what matters most to them.
Each of the eight panels is led by local councillors, and sometimes includes other community representatives. They work alongside residents, businesses, and local groups to make sure decisions and investments reflect what the community really needs.
The South Cumberland Community Panel covers the wards of Gosforth, Millom, Millom Without, Cleator Moor East and Frizington, Cleator Moor West and Egremont.
The application deadline for the next round of Community Panel support for the South Cumberland area is 27 August. If you are an organisation looking for support, email southcumberland@cumberland.gov.uk for more information, or visit Community Panels | Cumberland Council