People and businesses are hoping to inject kindness into the county on the most gloomy day of the year – and break a record too.

Brighter Cumbria is a campaign to spread joy on January 20, a day known as Blue Monday.

Schools and businesses, from Whitehaven to Barrow, and Kendal to Carlisle, are getting involved in the hopefully-record-breaking event that is being led by The Cumberland Building Society.

Brand manager Phillip Ward said: “The Cumberland is all about making people’s lives brighter, from helping people to buy a home to saving for those big life goals.

“What better way to make people feel brighter than for the whole county to come together and do something kind for someone else?

“The response to our Brighter Cumbria initiative has been truly amazing and we’re thrilled so many schools and businesses want to take part.”

Almost 20 schools countywide are already signed up to get involved in the project.

Pupils from Victoria Junior School in Workington are creating backpacks to be sent to children in Malawi.

Others are giving out sweets and performing songs to strangers.

Lorrayne Hughes, chief executive of Cumbria Education Trust, said: “We are delighted to be part of this initiative as it reinforces our values of respect, resilience, and responsibility.

“Our students and pupils have some fantastic ideas and we look forward to seeing their random acts of kindness making a

difference to others, both in school and within their local communities.”

In Carlisle, Inglewood Primary School has been designing a leaflet full of reasons to be cheerful which will be delivered to 3,000 homes in the city with the help of local businesses.

David Grimshaw, the headteacher at Inglewood, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in Brighter Cumbria.

“It’s such a positive thing for the children to be involved in, and helps them learn about the positive impact we can all have in helping others to be happy and doing good in our community.”

The previous world record for the most random acts of kindness in one day is held by Derby with 20,070 acts of kindness.

More than 4,500 Scouts in Cumbria are getting involved too.

Eddie Ward, the Scouts county commissioner, said: “Cumbria Scouts are proud to support Brighter Cumbria – good deeds are part of our DNA.

“As Scouts, we believe every act of kindness has the power to transform society and make it easier for everyone to get the help they need.”