30/03/04 - New County Council backed project will enable communities to bid for more cash

Voluntary and community groups in South Lakeland will soon have more support in making bids for funding, thanks to Cumbria County Council. 

The Authority is making a grant of almost £10,000 to South Lakeland Council for Voluntary Service to enable them to employ a part time funding advice worker. 

The project, which starts in May, will target Low Furness and Ulverston, High Furness East and High Furness West and is being 100 per cent funded by the Council’s ‘Voluntary/Community Sector Infrastructure Development Fund’.

And this Thursday, April 1, the project will be officially launched at a Funding Fair in Welfare State International at The Lantern House, Ulverston, where the County Council will officially hand over the money to South Lakeland CVA.

Councillor Alan Bobbett, who represents the County Council on the South Lakeland CVA Board, said:

“The money will enable South Lakeland CVA to employ a funding advice worker and that is very good news for voluntary and community organisations in the area. Knowing how to prepare a funding bid and where to target your efforts can be a daunting affair and this new post will help steer organisations in the right direction.”

The project worker will be hosted by the Council for free in its offices at Cross Street, Ulverston. If  successful the scheme will be funded by the County Council for up to three years.

The post will provide an outreach advice service to particular areas and this will be achieved by: 

Regular outreach surgeries in Ulverston and Coniston 

• Targeted publicity in Ulverston, Coniston and surrounding villages
• Working in partnership with other agencies involved with Community Development to coordinate resources and services
• Initiating and supporting a network for fundraisers, initially in Ulverston
• Organising one Funding Fair in Ulverston during 2004