5th November 2024
In its first year, Eden Housing Association’s Eden Rural Community Fund (ERCF) has awarded grants to 6 projects which will all help improve the lives of people throughout Eden. The projects benefitting were Newbiggin Village Hall, Armathwaite Old School Hall, Great Salkeld Village Hall and Reading Room, Upper Eden Linking Lives, Alston Town Hall Trustees and Citizen’s Advice Carlisle and Eden. A contribution was also made to the Cumbria Community Foundation Winter Warmth fund helping to keep older people in Eden warm.
Earlier this year, ERCF were surprised to receive a bequest following the death of Penrith man George Walker. The bequest has been added to the Fund and will result in more money being available for grants in future years.
One of the projects benefitting from the funding is Citizens Advice Carlisle and Eden. At first glance, the Eden area as a whole fares similarly to the national average for indicators of deprivation such as low income. However, this hides the real picture as there are some wards where levels of child poverty are well above the national average with the proportion of children in relative low income in the Warcop ward being 33.3% compared to the national average of 19.1%.
Access to services is poorer in Eden than elsewhere in Cumbria with transport links to rural areas being inadequate to access services. Accessing advice remotely is therefore key to helping people in a timely manner.
This grant was used to help equip the Penrith Citizens Advice office with up-to-date IT including laptops. The laptops are available for advisers to use on home visits and when staffing outreaches in Eden. This makes the advice process more efficient, saving time when completing case write-ups, freeing up interview rooms more quickly, etc.
CEO Andy Auld commented that the new IT equipment “will mean that we will be able to assist and advise more clients face-to-face and remotely in Eden. We will also be better able to train, support and retain staff and volunteers.”
Paul Foote, Panel Member of ERCF and Vice-Chair of EHA who established the fund, said “EHA Board felt strongly that it was right to set up a Fund that would benefit older, vulnerable people and improve people’s health and well-being in Eden. The Association wished to preserve the legacy of the valued Eden Community Alarms service. We would like to encourage local groups and organisations providing services and assistance for older and vulnerable people to see if ERCF can help support them”.
The ERCF is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, a charity dedicated to meeting community need by grant aiding community and voluntary organisations in Cumbria. It was launched in 1999 and has given out more than £60 million in grant aid. It is an award-winning charity dedicated to improving community life by making grants to local charities. For further information visit: www.cumbriafoundation.org.
Ellen Clements Senior Grants & Programmes Officer said: “Community groups across Cumbria do an amazing job of supporting those in need, alleviating loneliness and social isolation. We are very pleased to be able to support those efforts through our grant making.”
Upper Eden Linking Lives who benefitted from the Eden Rural Community Fund
