OVER the coming year Cumbria Community Foundation will be distributing £350,000 through the Local Network Fund, on behalf of the Government's Children and Young People's Unit - twice as much as the fund for Cumbria last year, which assisted 42 organisations.

Cumbria Community Foundation is a charity dedicated to funding community and voluntary organisations across Cumbria. Launched in August 1999, the Foundation is seeking to secure a significant endowment to form the basis for sustainable grant-making and has been supported by a founding donation of £1m from British Nuclear Fuels.

If you are involved in running activities for children and young people aged nought-to-19 years, a portion of this money could be yours. The fund can provide grants of between £250-£7,000 for small voluntary and community groups in the county.

Cumbria Community Foundation wants to hear from groups who have good ideas for activities that would make a real difference to disadvantaged children and young people. Perhaps you live in a small village with very little for young people to do; the foundation may be able to provide a grant to establish a youth group. Or, you may want to set up an advice service on your estate that distributes information about benefits for families on

low incomes. Maybe you are a group of young people with disabilities who want to get together to improve facilities in your community for people with disabilities? Could you benefit from additional resources to run your parent and toddler group for an extra session?

The foundation can be contacted on 01900-825760 and David Andrews or Clare Edwards will be available to talk though your ideas and possible funding.

Grants officer Clare Edwards said: "We know there are lots of people and groups with good ideas that just need an injection of cash to get going. We are looking forward to funding a host of great projects this year and ensuring that children and young people really benefit from this money".

Last year the Foundation gave £6,200 to Chofhs Youth Group in Brough for the reading room project to develop into a dedicated youth centre for a variety of groups. The Foundation also gave £2,130 to North Stainmore Nursery to take children from an isolated rural area to Barnard Castle Leisure Centre for swimming and soft play.

As part of awareness-raising for this grant programme, the Foundation will attend Children and Young People's Funders' Fairs across Cumbria. They give applicants the opportunity to meet funders face-to-face and find out more about the grants. A fair will be held on July 10 at Voluntary Action Cumbria in Penrith from 6pm until 8pm.

May 14, 2003 08:30