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Grants for Community Groups in Eden (2)

Today, Cumbria County Council's Eden Local Committee ratified over £2,500 for community groups in Eden. The grants, given by Neighbourhood Forums across Eden, are to support local community activities and projects. County Councillor Mary Warburton, Chair of Eden Local Committee, says, 

"I am pleased to support community groups and projects in Eden. The grants provided by Neighbourhood Forums give people the chance to participate in community activities of all kinds. This promotes rural life and social inclusion for people in rural communities. Some of the type of projects funded by the community grants programme have included social care projects, setting up of play groups and improvement to play areas; setting up an I.T. group and funds towards Community festivals and celebrations. Community projects enable people to get together, avoiding the isolation that can result from living in a rural area like Eden. 

One of the projects funded today is the Armathwaite First Responders. The first responders scheme is an exciting initiative designed to save lives and improve the recovery of anyone collapsing from a medical collapse. Volunteers are trained and supported by Cumbria Ambulance Service. They are taught basic life support skills and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to keep the patient in a viable position until an ambulance crew can get to them. The service is vital in rural communities like ours where ambulances have difficulty attending in the the essential time of eight minutes." 

Elaine Alston, Community Co-ordinator for the First Responder Scheme says, 

"I am delighted that Eden Local Committee has given £500 towards the setting up costs for this worthwhile project. The Cumbria Community First Responder scheme is gaining a reputation as one of the strongest, most sustainable organisations of its kind in the country, respected by many other ambulance trusts, the British Heart Foundation and the Resuscitation Council. The Community First Responder scheme saves lives. Many thanks to Cumbria County Council for all the support with grant aid." 

The following grants approved today are; 

Upper Eden Forum (Appleby and Kirkby Stephen)   

  • £500 towards a disabled toilet at the Warcop reading room. 
  • £250 to create a sheepfold Centre at the Appleby Training centre    

Vale of Eden Forum (Greystoke and Hesket with Lazonby and Great Salkeld)   

  • £500 towards the setting up costs for Armathwaite First Responders    

Alston and East Fellside Forum   

  • £243 to Langwathby Community development Centre to produce a community directory.    

Eden Social care Budget   

  • £1,000 to Penrith MIND towards the rural Cumbria project 
  • £100 to Voluntary Action Cumbria towards disabled access.    

Anyone interested in knowing more about community grants can contact Sally Orrell, Area Support Team, Cumbria County Council on (01434) 382128 for more information.