Discover Funding Opportunities

Tallentire Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Tallentire Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provides grants to volunteer-led community groups and local partnerships that support local, environmental, educational, sporting amenity or other appropriate not-for-profit initiatives close to the Tallentire Wind Farm. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and funded by RES. The fund supports charitable community activities that are community-related, environmental, or educational in nature. Priority areas include activities for disadvantaged young people, community events, improvements to community facilities, projects that support environmental sustainability, projects to improve the energy efficiency of residents on low incomes, and projects identified as needed by the local communities in the Community Investment Strategy. The minimum grant is £500, with exceptional single grants of up to £10,000 available for one year. Multi-year applications will also be considered.

Staff 10th Anniversary Fund

The Staff 10th Anniversary Fund provides grants for projects which support the Foundation's priorities in two main themes: Improving Lives and Strengthening Communities. Under Improving Lives, the fund addresses reducing poverty, reaching potential, improving health, and tackling social inequality. Under Strengthening Communities, it supports nurturing sense of place and acting on climate change. The fund was established by former and current staff of Cumbria Community Foundation to support both charitable groups and individuals in Cumbria. Example projects include specialized equipment for disabled children, travel costs for elderly individuals, hospitality and cooking courses for socially disadvantaged young people, and community sports days. Grants normally range up to £1,000 over one year, though there is no maximum award amount. The fund is currently closed and will not accept applications again until April 2026.

Nuvia Fund

The Nuvia Fund provides grants for voluntary community groups and organisations that promote the long-term sustainability of areas local to the Nuvia site and project activities in the former boroughs of Allerdale and Copeland. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and supported by Nuvia Limited. Priority is given to projects that improve skills for disadvantaged people, improve employability of young people, promote healthier, safer, and more resilient communities, and have environmental or sustainability initiatives. The fund supports grassroots community groups and local partnerships working to make a positive impact in West Cumbria. Grants typically range from £500 to £1,000 over one year to support community-based projects such as wildlife gardens, youth activities and workshops, and educational environmental activities for disadvantaged young people.

Matson Ground Fund

The Matson Ground Fund provides grants for charitable organisations to bring people together to address shared challenges, foster social action, and improve local spaces in Cumbria. The Fund aims to strengthen communities and improve people's lives through local, community-led projects, respond flexibly to emerging needs, and support creative ideas to tackle social or environmental issues while enabling communities to be more resilient in the long term. The Fund aligns with the Cumbria Lieutenancy's Strategy launched in September 2025. Donors Alex and Samantha Scott established this fund to support small, grassroots charitable, not-for-profit, and volunteer-led organisations based in Cumbria. The Fund is particularly interested in projects that support young people in rural and underserved communities, address the needs of vulnerable or underrepresented groups, promote volunteering and civic participation, champion environmental sustainability, and create opportunities for collective action on local priorities.

Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provides grants for not-for-profit or charitable activities for communities located close to the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and funded by Nadara. It supports volunteer-led community groups or local partnerships which benefit communities within eight kilometres from the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm, with priority given to projects located in the core red area. The fund specifically supports charitable community activities that are environmental, educational, sporting, amenity-related, community-focused, or supporting equal opportunities. Priority is given to projects that promote sustainable use of energy and resources, environmental improvements, energy efficiency initiatives, community composting, local food production, and educational events about efficient resource use. Examples of funded activities include projects promoting sustainable energy and resource use, environmental improvements to community facilities, energy efficiency projects for low-income residents and community facilities, community composting schemes, projects promoting local produce and reducing food miles, hedge restoration and wildflower planting schemes, and free educational events on efficient use of resources and energy. Multi-year applications are also considered.

Hellrigg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Hellrigg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provides grants for charitable activities to communities located close to the Hellrigg Wind Farm in Cumbria, England. The fund is provided by RWE Renewables UK Ltd and administered by Cumbria Community Foundation. It supports volunteer-led and community groups in the Parishes of Silloth-on-Solway, Holme St Cuthbert's, Holme Low, and Holme Abbey. The fund focuses on charitable community activities that are community-related, environmental, or educational in nature. Priority areas include activities for disadvantaged young people, community events, improvements to community facilities, projects supporting environmental sustainability, and initiatives to improve energy efficiency for residents on low incomes. The minimum grant available is £500, with exceptional single grants of up to £10,000 available for one year. Multi-year applications are also considered.

Fairfield Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Fairfield Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provides grants for charitable groups providing activities for local communities located close to the Fairfield Wind Farm in Pica, Cumbria. This fund is operated by Fairfield Windfarm Ltd and managed by EDF Energy Renewables in partnership with Cumbria Community Foundation. The fund supports volunteer-led community groups and local partnerships that benefit the Parishes of Parton, Lowca, Distington, and Moresby. Priority is given to charitable community activities that are environmental, educational, or community-related in nature. The fund particularly welcomes projects focused on environmental sustainability, improvements to community facilities, energy efficiency improvements for residents on low incomes, and projects identified as needed by local communities in the North Copeland Partnership Plan. Multi-year applications are also considered under this fund.

Cumbria Home from Home Fund

The Cumbria Home from Home Fund provides grants to organizations in and around the Lake District that improve the health, wellbeing and employment prospects of residents by addressing social and rural isolation or projects that improve the economic outcomes and sustainability of local communities. The fund is supported by donations from holiday and second homeowners, business owners that benefit from visitor income, and visitors to Cumbria who appreciate their Lake District experience and would like to sustain the communities that welcome them. Priority is given to projects that support younger people, offer education and training, address issues facing rural communities, provide opportunities for people to engage in local community activities, and are aligned to the Lake District National Park Partnership Management Plan 2020-2025 where appropriate.

Cumbria Fund

The Cumbria Fund provides grants for charitable projects that address Cumbria Community Foundation's two key priorities: Improving Lives and Strengthening Communities. Theme 1: Improving Lives focuses on reducing poverty by providing opportunities for financial stability including support for financial advice, food and fuel security, and housing stability; reaching potential by empowering people, especially children and young people, through education, skills development, and personal growth; improving health by addressing unmet health needs, reducing inequalities, and promoting wellbeing including mental health services; and tackling social inequality by promoting equality, inclusion, and social justice for those facing systemic barriers. Theme 2: Strengthening Communities focuses on nurturing sense of place by creating stronger, more inclusive communities where people feel connected, safe, and supported; and acting on climate change through local action that builds environmental resilience and empowers communities to respond to the climate crisis. The fund prioritises revenue (operational) costs over capital (infrastructure or equipment) costs for more immediate and sustained impact. Examples of supported projects include advisory services on tackling debt and benefit entitlement, youth mentoring and skills development programmes, community mental health drop-in sessions, language classes for refugees and asylum seekers, digital access support in rural communities, and community-led climate action workshops.