A Cumberland Council initiative is celebrating a year of delivering hyper-local investment.
Community Panels were set up to direct funding to very specific issues in each of their eight patches. The aim was to be extremely responsive to the particular needs and aspirations of each individual community.
Now Cumberland Council’s Executive committee has endorsed the panels’ annual report, showcasing their achievements.
Cumberland Council's Director for Public Health and Communities, Colin Cox, said: “The work of the panels this year has been phenomenal. For our communities, it helps us fund exactly what they tell us they need – rather than what we think they should have.
“And for the council, it helps us achieve tremendous value for the tax payer. The projects funded have all been life changing for someone, in some way. Whether it’s a ramp that helps isolated people take part in village events, or an entire long-term project supporting people with a particular need – sometimes a relatively small amount of money, spent wisely and with local knowledge, can make a huge difference.”
During their first year the Community Panels, made up of ward councillors and some co-opted members, invested almost £410,000 in grass roots projects. This was used by 149 organisations who reached 11,500 people through their projects.
Mr Cox added: “We don’t call them grants, we call them investments and that’s very deliberate. We see this funding as a direct investment in our amazing third sector - one which will give our residents a great return and improve lives. Together, all these projects are collectively improving the quality of life in Cumberland.”
There are eight Community Panels covering the whole of Cumberland. Each consulted with their residents to decide what should be the particular priorities for their area. All the funded projects support those priorities. The panels are all in the process of creating Neighbourhood Investment Plans, which will further crystallise their communities' needs and guide the panel's actions.
Mr Cox said: “We spoke to residents in detail to make sure each panel’s funding priorities were serving that community in the most effective way possible. That engagement with our residents, businesses, third sector and others, continues.
“The panels hold regular events where people can find out more about the council’s work, or give their view on a specific issue. For instance, we’re currently planning several events to seek people’s views on our local food system. Panels often have an informal session before their meeting ‘proper’ to meet residents, have a cuppa together and hear their concerns.”
A few examples of projects funded, wholly or in part, by Cumberland’s Community Panels:
- A community radio station for the Carlisle area
- Planters and furniture for a new community garden in Bransty
- A Carlisle project around nutritional education and affordable food
- Proud and Diverse Cumbria’s LGBTQ+ celebration, Colours.
- Boxing sessions for young people in Morton
- A fitness trail next to Silloth promenade
- A community orchard in Brampton
- A climbing wall for scouts in Seaton, Workington
- A Millom project that supports children back in to school
- Dozens of projects offering support and activities for children and young people
- Many schemes focusing on supporting people with particular needs
The panel distributes Cumberland Council funds, but they were also recently asked to distribute £387,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Applications are being assessed and awards will be made over the coming weeks.
As well as funding projects, the panels have a role in spotting funding ‘gaps’ in their area, sometimes teaming up with other funders to make schemes happen.
The council has released a video explaining more about the Community Panels, and looking at one of the investment recipients: Cumberland Community Panels (youtube.com)
You can find out more about community panels here: Community Panels | Cumberland Council and sign up to receive newsletters from your local panel here: Cumberland Council (govdelivery.com)