Discover Funding Opportunities

Westmorland Community Fund

The Westmorland Community Fund focuses on supporting the communities in which Westmorland Ltd colleagues live. Grants are available for projects that help these communities thrive, create a legacy and deliver long term benefits. The fund was established in 2009 by the Dunning Family of Westmorland Ltd, which includes Tebay Services, Rheged, Westmorland Hotel and J38 Truckstop. Priority is given to projects that help named communities to thrive, support young people to reach their potential, improve mental health and wellbeing, have synergies with the Westmorland Family's business interests around sustainable development and awareness of the value of local produce, farming and craft, and have the potential to grow and have a real legacy. The fund serves the communities of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Brough, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Stainton, Shap, Tebay and Kendal. In addition to providing grant funding, Westmorland aims to build lasting, supportive relationships with the groups it supports. The goal is to create a two-way connection to ensure a circular benefit – where funded organisations, local communities, and Westmorland colleagues can share ideas, learn from each other, and grow stronger together over time. Examples of supported projects include skills training programmes boosting young people's confidence and employability, mental health workshops offering peer support, community building renovation, youth clubs offering creative and active sessions, and enterprise projects supporting new ideas through mentoring and training. Grants range from £500 to £10,000, with multi-year grants considered for projects that show strong potential to grow their impact over time. The fund supports community groups that work with young people, manage community facilities, or operate community-based services in the eligible area.

The Sarah Nelson Fund

Inspired by the values of Sarah Nelson who created Grasmere Gingerbread® in 1854, this fund puts people before profit. It supports charitable organisations across Cumbria that help individuals reach their full potential. The fund's priorities reflect the life and values of Sarah Nelson, who overcame poverty through resilience, creativity, and community spirit. Grants prioritise projects that help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, improve education for children and adults, encourage creative and sustainable business ideas, and tackle food poverty. The fund honors Sarah Nelson's legacy: she was raised in poverty by a single mother, taught local schoolchildren to read using letters made from Grasmere Gingerbread®, used her creativity and entrepreneurial flair to build a business and lift her family out of poverty, and invented Grasmere Gingerbread® as a way to generate income and support her family. Priority is given to projects that address more than one of the priority themes.

SWEF Enterprise Fund - Start-Up Grants

The SWEF Enterprise Fund provides start-up grants of up to £500 for young entrepreneurs in Cumbria who are launching new businesses. This funding opportunity supports individuals aged 18 to 30 who are either planning to start trading within three months or have been trading for less than two years with monthly revenue below £500. The fund aims to help young people overcome financial challenges that are preventing business development. Eligible applicants must demonstrate that their business idea has the potential to be profitable and become their sole work focus, possess relevant experience or training to succeed, and have specific plans for how grant funds will be spent. The grant can be used for business-critical expenses such as equipment, materials, stock, prototypes, website development, training, and other costs that will significantly impact business growth. All shareholders must be aged 18-30, and applicants must have or be setting up a business bank account. The fund prioritizes supporting UK-sourced goods and services and excludes certain expenses including salary, living costs, debt repayment, new electronic devices (though refurbished versions may be considered), software/app development costs for unlaunched products, and invasive beauty treatments. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, making this an accessible opportunity for young Cumbrian entrepreneurs seeking to launch or grow their early-stage businesses.

SWEF Enterprise Fund – Business Grants

The SWEF Enterprise Fund provides grants to young entrepreneurs in Cumbria who are running new businesses. The fund supports businesses to make transformational changes or take significant steps forward in their development. Eligible applicants must be aged 18-30, currently reside in Cumbria, and operate as a sole trader, limited company, or CIC limited by shares that has been trading for less than two years. The business must be generating a minimum profit of £500 per month and experiencing financial challenges that are limiting development. The grant can be used for equipment to increase profit, prototypes and product development, building websites or booking systems, training, and other business costs that will make a significant impact. Applications involving match funding or purchase of second-hand items are particularly welcome. Successful applicants receive one business grant only, and repeat applications are not permitted. The fund is currently closed and will not accept applications again until April 2026.

Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund

The Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund provides grants to charitable groups supporting young people who reside in Cumbria, with preference for disadvantaged young people aged between 14-25. The fund aims to improve their life skills, education, employability and enterprise. Education includes academic, occupational or social education, the acquisition of life or employment skills, physical, sporting, music or other artistic skills. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and donated by CN Group Limited (proprietor of Cumbria Newspapers). Priority is given to activities that support equipment for further education, employability programmes, bringing businesses and young people together to equip them for work, interview training, and programmes for young people studying music, sport or the arts. Multi-year funding may be considered.

Positive Enterprise

The Positive Enterprise programme aims to give young people aged 14-25 years from disadvantaged backgrounds in West Cumbria and Furness the opportunity to have their ideas and ambitions heard and the potential to have them realised. The programme challenges young people to think creatively and in more enterprising ways, empowers them and gives them a voice, supports them to test out their enterprising ideas, and breaks down barriers for aspiring young entrepreneurs by developing an enterprising culture based on encouragement and support. Successful applicants receive expert support, funding and learning opportunities to bring their ideas to life. This includes a grant of £1,000, a learning programme including coaching, mentoring and workshops to help young people develop their enterprising ideas and themselves as leaders. They also have the opportunity to learn from local entrepreneurs who've created successful initiatives, work alongside a peer group of young people committed to creating positive change, and are linked to other organisations to help them put their plan into action. The programme is delivered in partnership with the Centre for Leadership Performance, a not-for-profit organisation that shares ambitions for young people in West Cumbria. Several of its existing programmes align with and complement the aims of Positive Enterprise to support, nurture and empower leaders of the future.

CCL Secure Fund

The CCL Secure Fund provides grants for small voluntary and community groups and organisations providing activities that benefit people and communities in the former districts of Allerdale and Copeland in Cumbria. The fund prioritizes projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged children and families, improve life skills, education, employability and enterprise for disadvantaged people, support vulnerable older people, improve the health and wellbeing of people, and strengthen and support fragile communities. Examples of supported projects include improvement of facilities for disabled people, staff salaries for youth clubs for disadvantaged young people, drop-in services for people with mental health problems, advisory services on tackling debt and benefit entitlement, and access to services which tackle social isolation for older people. Grants will normally be between £500 – £2,500 over one year, although there is no maximum award amount.