Discover Funding Opportunities

Winter Warmth Fund

The Winter Warmth Fund is an annual appeal run by Cumbria Community Foundation since 2010 to help vulnerable older people in Cumbria stay warm and healthy during winter months. The fund addresses the critical issue of excess winter deaths, which can be as high as 500 older people in a bad winter in the county. Grants are provided to older people aged 60 and over who struggle to heat their homes and feed themselves properly, helping them afford heating costs during the cold winter months. Last winter, the fund raised £486,260 and made 1,227 household grants benefitting 1,570 vulnerable older people across Cumbria. The grants are distributed through delivery partners Age UK and Copeland Age & Advice Service. The fund has raised more than £3 million since its inception to support Cumbria's most vulnerable older residents.

Winter Warmth Fund (Individuals)

The Winter Warmth Fund provides grants to help older people in Cumbria stay warm and healthy during winter months. The fund is designed to assist individuals aged 60 or over who reside in Cumbria and receive a state pension and/or pension credit, or who struggle to maintain a basic acceptable standard of living during the winter due to the cost of heating their home. The program is funded by voluntary donations of winter fuel allowance payments, individual and local business donations, and community fundraising. Priority is given to those aged 80 and over, individuals with comorbidity or chronic underlying health conditions (particularly respiratory or coronary), those who live in hard-to-heat homes such as solid-walled properties or properties with poor insulation, and those dependent on heating oil, solid fuel, or without central heating. Additional priority is given to those who use electrical medical equipment, have savings of less than £10,000, and who have not previously received a grant. Applicants must apply through designated partner organizations including Age UK South Cumbria, Age UK North Cumbria, or Copeland Age & Advice Service. These organizations also provide free benefit checks and advice on tariff switching, energy efficiency measures, and other support services. The normal grant amount is £250, with £350 available in exceptional circumstances.

The Janet Hartley Fund

The Janet Hartley Fund provides grants for charitable, not-for-profit organisations delivering projects that benefit communities within the towns and surrounding areas of Appleby, Brough, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Sedbergh, and Tebay in Cumbria, England. This fund was created for Out of Eden in 2016 and renamed The Janet Hartley Fund in 2025 in honor of Janet Hartley, who founded the company with her husband in 1993. Janet was a committed Christian who believed in community service and supporting organisations that strengthened local society. The fund continues her legacy of supporting local charities and organisations that strengthen local communities and help those in need. Grants support projects including support for workers helping vulnerable families with young children, youth mentoring and skills development programmes, activities for rurally isolated older people, and vocational training and education for people with disabilities.

Rowan Community First Fund

The Rowan Community First Fund provides grants to charitable, not-for-profit grassroots groups supporting social action at a local level in Cumbria. The fund focuses on supporting young people, elderly individuals, and providing training for unemployed individuals. Priority is given to projects that support the education of children and young people, provide training to help people get back into employment, support social action at a local level, and are run by groups in the Eden area. Past supported projects include computer classes for adults, drop-in clubs for older people in rural areas, activities and running costs for youth organizations, and nursery provision which allowed parents to return to work.

Roselands Trust Fund

The Roselands Trust Fund provides grants to charitable groups that help and advise people who live with disabilities or groups that provide activities and facilities to enable inclusivity. The fund particularly supports older adults and people with learning difficulties facing disadvantage. Typical projects include interactive music workshops for adults with severe physical and learning disabilities, equine therapy courses for socially or physically disadvantaged people, electrically-assisted tricycles for older people, and sailing sessions for groups of adults and children with visual impairments. Grants normally range up to £1,000 over one year, though there is no maximum award amount. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and does not support individual applicants.

Pappagallino Fund

The Pappagallino Fund provides grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations in Cumbria to improve health and wellbeing by addressing social and rural isolation or for projects that protect the environment as well as support the farming and rural community. Priority is given to projects that improve mental health, make long-term strategic investment in people or the organisation, offer inclusive activities and reduce isolation, support older people, and leverage additional funds. This fund is supported by an anonymous donor and aims to support organisations making a meaningful impact in the rural and farming communities of Cumbria while addressing critical issues of isolation and wellbeing.

Laurel House Brampton Fund

The Laurel House Brampton Fund provides grants to charitable organizations and volunteer groups that work with elderly people in the Parish of Brampton and the surrounding area. The fund prioritizes projects that support older people aged 60 and over, tackle disadvantage and address hardship, reduce isolation, and improve health and wellbeing. Supported activities include social inclusion events such as regular meetings, meals, coffee mornings, and outings, as well as activities that improve health and welfare of those with mobility issues and disabilities. The fund also supports sessions that provide advice and guidance to older people on topics such as benefits. Grants normally range from £500 to £2,000 over one year, though multi-year grants may be considered depending on the project. The fund was established by the Laurel House Management Committee and is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation.

Kipling Fund for Older People

The Kipling Fund for Older People provides grants to individuals and charitable not-for-profit groups helping older people facing disadvantage in Cumbria. The fund was established through a legacy from a Cumbrian farmer and prioritizes projects supporting older adults, people with mental health needs, and people on low incomes. Examples of supported projects include social inclusion activities for isolated older people, local support groups for older people affected by heart conditions and strokes, support groups for people with dementia, and mobility aids for older people. Grants will normally be £1,000 or less over one year, though there is no maximum award amount.

Janetta Topsy Laidlaw Trust Fund

The Janetta Topsy Laidlaw Trust Fund was established from a bequest from the estate of Janetta T Laidlaw, who died in January 2007. Janetta was an occupational health specialist who worked for the Cumbria Health Authority before her retirement. As a compassionate and generous person, she expressed her wish that a trust be created to assist older people to remain in their own homes and to provide additional care for them. The Trust seeks to assist people experiencing significant hardship by supporting activities or costs which enable older people to remain in their homes and the provision of additional care. Her particular concern was the importance of retaining older people's dignity. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and serves the former Carlisle City Council area. The fund accepts applications from charitable groups helping older people in the former Carlisle City Council area, as well as from individuals in the area who are supported by health professionals or social workers. Applications from individuals must be supported by a health care professional such as a general practitioner or district nurse, or by a social worker. The maximum grant is normally £500 over one year, and individuals will normally only qualify for one award from the Trust.

Genesis Homes Community Fund

The Genesis Homes Community Fund provides grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations to enable them to support their local communities. Priority is given to projects in communities where Genesis Homes have building sites. The fund supports organisations dedicated to helping people facing challenges and making a positive impact in their communities. Priority areas include improving the lives of children and families in need of extra support, providing care and connection for older people, promoting health and wellbeing, and building stronger, more resilient communities. Examples of previously supported projects include equipment for sports training to encourage participation and wellbeing, environmental improvements to enhance community spaces, inclusive activities that bring people together and foster social connections, and projects that create new opportunities for young people in rural areas.

Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria

The Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria was established by Fibrus in 2023 to address digital poverty and support the work of communities in particular areas of Cumbria, providing access to digital technology for the most vulnerable. Fibrus recognises that the most vulnerable in our community can sometimes get left behind when it comes to accessing modern technology. Having the ability to access the internet can open a range of opportunities for individuals and communities especially when it comes to education, employment, and socialising. The Fund offers technology grants to enable people to stay connected, whether it is young people staying connected to online resources for school, or elderly people ordering groceries and video calling family. Grants support community groups and organisations in eligible areas to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable in their community, with a particular focus on older people aged 60 years and older and young people aged 18 years and under. Projects may include providing access to digital devices such as laptops, tablets, iPads, and smartphones through community loan facilities, strengthening the ability of individuals to use digital services through training workshops or courses, and providing access to enhance connections with others through community-use internet hubs or internet cafés.

Evening Hill Grassroots Fund

The Evening Hill Grassroots Fund provides grants to groups throughout Cumbria to enable them to continue or expand their work in advocacy, community voice, and service provision for local people. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and funded by private individuals. Priority is given to projects which support groups and organisations benefitting children and young people, improve the quality of life for elderly people, support the priority age group within disadvantaged communities in Cumbria, support disadvantaged people where the grant will make a difference to their lives, and projects along the west coast and high deprivation areas. Examples of supported projects include improvements to community buildings, education and building life skills programs, woodcraft classes for older people in rurally isolated areas, and IT classes in rural areas. The fund is currently closed and will not be accepting applications again until April 2026.

Education Fund (Cumbria)

The Education Fund (Cumbria) provides grants to support all types of educational activities for disadvantaged people of any age in Cumbria. This fund is managed by the Cumbria Community Foundation and comprises various trusts that have been transferred to the Foundation. Priority is given to projects which support academic or social skills, life or employment skills, and sport or artistic skills. The fund supports a wide range of educational needs including course-related costs such as books, computer equipment, and travel expenses, as well as training and development opportunities for individuals and community groups. Examples of supported projects include kit and training costs for aspiring athletes, voucher schemes for training courses for young farmers, community gardens helping young offenders develop social and employment skills, and arts workshops for older people to develop independence and increase learning. Grants are available to both individuals who reside in Cumbria and voluntary and community groups based in Cumbria, with household income taken into account when assessing applications from individuals.

Eden Rural Community Fund

The Eden Rural Community Fund provides grants for charitable and not-for-profit organisations to deliver services benefiting residents of Eden District and surrounding rural areas who are in need due to frailty, age, ill health, mental or physical disability. The fund supports projects that enable people over 18 years old to live independently and safely in their own homes, improving quality of life for beneficiaries, their families, and carers. Priority is given to projects supporting older people (particularly vulnerable and isolated older people), adults aged 18 or over with physical disabilities, mental health needs, and/or learning disabilities, carers, and community and volunteer-led initiatives to deliver or improve access to services for rural areas. The fund was established by Eden Housing Association using charitable funds held following the dissolution of Eden Community Alarms.

Cumbria Grassroots Fund

The Cumbria Grassroots Fund provides grants for small voluntary and grassroots groups to enable them to continue or expand their work in advocacy, community voice, and service provision for local people throughout Cumbria. The fund is aimed at groups helping people facing disadvantage, with priority given to projects which support disadvantaged children and young people, tackle disadvantage in rural communities, and tackle disadvantage in the 20% most deprived wards of Cumbria. Examples of supported projects include refurbishment of community centres, safety equipment, recruiting and training of volunteers, and drop-in clubs for older people. Grants will normally be less than £1,000 over one year, although there is no strict minimum or maximum award amount. The fund is managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and is supported by various individual donors. It aims to strengthen grassroots community organizations serving disadvantaged populations across Cumbria, England.

Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Fund

The Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Fund provides grants to charitable not-for-profit groups benefiting people living in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald's main circulation area. This geographic area includes Penrith, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Kirkby Stephen, and Alston. The fund was established by the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald newspaper and is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation. The fund supports a variety of community projects that improve the quality of life for residents in the circulation area. Past grants have supported diverse initiatives including riding workshops and sessions for people with disabilities, improvements to community buildings, exercise classes for older people, camping equipment for youth groups, and sporting activities for people with disabilities. Grants typically range up to £1,000 over one year, though there is no maximum award amount specified. The fund does not support individuals or projects that fall under the foundation's normal exclusions. Applications are accepted on a periodic basis, with the fund currently closed until April 2026. The fund represents a partnership between local media and community philanthropy, enabling charitable organizations to deliver important services and activities that benefit local residents across the rural communities of Eden and eastern Cumbria.

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.