Solar lighting and an historically themed event are just two of the fantastic community projects supported by the South Cumberland Community Panel recently.

Community Panels distribute Cumberland Council funds to grass roots community projects, as well as bringing together funders, spotting gaps in provision and using a community network to find out what is needed in each area.

At the latest meeting, the Friends of Egremont Castle were awarded £1,645 towards the costs of staging a free medieval-themed event this August. It will include re-enactments, historical crafts, costumes and food, and other family activities.

Gosforth Parish Council received £2,000 towards the next stage of refurbishing the village’s Public Hall. The hall was built in 1628 and extended in 1930, and is used by around 26 groups. It needs work to improve the kitchen and toilets, and provide better access for people with mobility issues. This money will go towards design costs and surveys..

The following projects also received funding from the panel:

• The Shackles Off Youth Project in Millom was awarded £8,800 for a pilot scheme aimed at children with background vulnerabilities leading to non-attendance at school or exclusion.

The funding will support a one-year pilot offering these 11-19 year olds weekly sessions in small groups or one-to-one. Young people will gain life skills, as well as a nationally accredited qualification. Crucially, they will be supported to remain in education, improving their outcomes in later life.

• Millom Network Centre were awarded £5,000 to help upgrade kitchen equipment.
• Millom Town Council received £6,000 towards installing solar powered lighting in Millom Park.

The panel also heard a presentation from Emanuel Flecken of Growing Well, a mental health charity running a new horticutural project in Egremont.

The Chair of South Cumberland Community Panel, Cllr Linda Jones Bulman, said: “These projects are all incredible – we are lucky to have such active communities looking to help themselves and make life better for everyone. And it’s great that Community Panels can fund them and help these things move forward.”

Cllr Lisa Brown, Cumberland’s Executive Member for Adults and Community Health, said: “This is another set of projects with their communities right at their heart. From keeping a young person in education, to making it easier for someone to get into a village hall – these things make concrete differences to people’s wellbeing. I wish all these projects every success.”

Cumberland Council has eight Community Panels, covering the entire council area. Community group representatives wishing to find out more about Community Panel investment should visit How to apply for investment from a Community Panel | Cumberland Council. Those interested are advised to seek advice from the community development officer for their area before making a formal application. Contact details are available at Community Panels | Cumberland Council.

The deadline for the next round of investments from the South Cumberland Community Panel is 24 May.