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Winscales Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund
The Winscales Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provides grants for charitable activities benefiting communities located close to the Winscales Moor Wind Farm. Administered by Cumbria Community Foundation with support from donor Gravis Capital Management Ltd, this fund supports volunteer-led community groups and local partnerships in the parishes of Winscales, Great Clifton and Little Clifton. The fund prioritizes environmental, educational, and community-related charitable activities that create lasting benefits for local residents. The fund particularly encourages projects that promote sustainable use of energy and resources, biodiversity and habitat conservation, and increased use of renewable energy. Eligible activities include improvements to community buildings, energy conservation projects, hedge restoration and wildflower planting schemes, and free information events about domestic or solar power. Both capital items with tangible lasting benefits and running costs are supported, though salary funding is limited to a maximum of four hours per week. There are no minimum or maximum award amounts, providing flexibility for projects of various scales. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with specific deadline dates published on the Cumbria Community Foundation website. The fund will not support individuals or activities covered under the foundation's normal exclusions.
Wing Cdr. H. Thompson MBE & Rev. J. L. Green Grassroots Grants Fund
This fund provides grants to charitable volunteer-led grassroots groups in the Barrow-in-Furness area that support young people's personal development, education, and involvement in the community and environmental initiatives. The fund is established by a private individual donor and administered through Cumbria Community Foundation. Priority is given to projects supporting training in leadership, self-discipline, and life skills for young people, respect for the environment, and supporting disadvantaged young people. Examples of supported projects include Ocean Youth Trust sailing trips for disadvantaged young people, equipment for judo or karate clubs, training costs for Scouts or Guides, and running costs or building repairs for Sea Cadets. The fund specifically serves charitable volunteer-led grassroots groups in the Barrow-in-Furness area of Cumbria, England.
Ullswater Trust Grassroots Fund
The Ullswater Trust Grassroots Fund provides grants for small voluntary and community groups to address local needs and/or create opportunities that make a real difference. Priority is given to groups in the Eden area, particularly in Ullswater and Penrith. The fund is donor-advised and administered by Cumbria Community Foundation. Grants will normally be less than £1,000 over one year, though there is no maximum award amount. Examples of supported projects include refurbishment of community centre training rooms, respite for young carers, disabled toilets and kitchen units for community centres, and playground equipment. The fund specifically targets volunteer-led grassroots groups which support their community.
Thomas Graham Grassroots Fund
The Thomas Graham Grassroots Fund provides grants for voluntary-led groups and organisations for projects involving sport and young people in the areas of Carlisle and West Cumbria. The fund is donated by Thomas Graham & Sons Limited and administered by Cumbria Community Foundation. This fund specifically supports volunteer-led groups and organisations working with children and young people, as well as groups providing sporting opportunities. Examples of supported projects include uniforms for children's rugby teams, gymnastic equipment for youth centres, and coaching courses for volunteer coaches. Grants typically range from £500 to £2,000 over one year. The fund does not support individuals in addition to the foundation's normal exclusions.
The Solway Fund
The Solway Fund provides grants to volunteer-led and community groups helping children and young adults in the Maryport and Workington areas. The fund aims to enable children and young adults to develop skills that equip them for adult life. Supported activities include personal development, activities that improve confidence and life skills, accredited and non-accredited training, mentoring and peer support, and activities that prevent children and young people from developing problems that lead to difficulties later in life. The fund does not support individuals, in addition to the foundation's normal exclusions. Grants normally range from £500 to £2,000 over one year, supporting youth development initiatives in the local community.
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.
Strummer Calling Community First Fund
The Strummer Calling Community First Fund provides grants for small voluntary and community groups to address local needs and create opportunities that make a real difference in their communities. The fund prioritizes volunteer-led grassroots groups that support their community, with particular focus given to groups in the Carlisle and Eden areas. Supported projects include community cinema initiatives, camping activities for Scout groups, expenses for volunteers and room hire for radio broadcast training, and improvements to village halls. Grants are administered by Cumbria Community Foundation through an anonymous donor and are designed to strengthen grassroots community organizations throughout the region.
Moorhouse Grassroots Grants Fund
The Moorhouse Grassroots Grants Fund provides financial support for small voluntary and community groups and organisations to enable them to continue or expand their work in advocacy, community voice, and service provision for local people in Cumbria. The fund was established by donor James Carr, a former Trustee of Cumbria Community Foundation. Preference is given to groups in North Cumbria, with priority for projects that support disadvantaged children and young people and tackle disadvantage in rural communities. The fund supports small, volunteer-led grassroots or community groups helping people facing disadvantage. Grants normally range between £500 and £5,000 over one year, though there is no maximum award amount. Examples of supported projects include creative arts therapy for children, staff costs for family support groups, counselling costs for people with mental health issues, engaging residents in river maintenance and habitat work, and wellbeing environmental work.
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.
Lord Egremont Fund for West Cumbria
The Lord Egremont Fund for West Cumbria provides grants to charitable organisations offering activities that benefit people in the towns of Egremont and Cockermouth and their immediate surrounding areas. The fund prioritizes projects that are volunteer-led or make effective use of volunteers, and initiatives rooted within the local community and led by local people responding to local need. Support is directed toward the provision of facilities for recreation and reducing isolation, addressing child poverty and educational participation of young people, providing advice and guidance particularly around dependency issues, and promoting and enhancing the local area. The fund does not accept direct applications; instead, Cumbria Community Foundation works with Lord Egremont to identify potential projects for support, and all relevant applications from projects within the beneficiary area are considered.
Laidlaw Fund for the Environment
The Laidlaw Fund for the Environment provides grants for volunteer-led, community, and charitable groups undertaking projects that benefit wildlife habitat protection and education of the natural environment in Carlisle and the surrounding area. Eleanor Laidlaw created the fund in recognition and memory of her parents who instilled in her a lifelong love of nature, with the goal of educating future generations in the wonder and beauty of the natural world. The fund supports local environment and habitat initiatives, activities that inform and educate such as forest schools, environmental and habitat workshops, and activities that encourage involvement in protection and enhancement of the natural environment. Grants are designed to help community organizations promote conservation and protection of the natural environment in the Carlisle region. Grants will normally be between £500 – £1,000, though there is no maximum award amount. Organizations interested in applying should contact the Cumbria Community Foundation for further information about eligibility and the application process.
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.
Johnson Fund
The Johnson Fund provides grants to support individuals and volunteer-led and community organisations that support disadvantage in the Cumbria region. Applications are accepted from the former local authority areas of Allerdale, Carlisle, Eden and South Lakeland. The fund supports projects aligned with Cumbria Community Foundation's top funding priorities including reducing poverty, reaching potential, improving health, tackling social inequality, nurturing sense of place, and acting on climate change. Priority is given to projects that help carers of people with dementia and support young people to fulfil their potential. For individuals, applicants must be under the age of 30, with household income taken into account. The fund has supported diverse projects including music therapy sessions for disabled children, training materials for students to increase employability, respite trips for carers of those with mental health issues, and contributions to living costs for students pursuing advanced degrees. Maximum grant awards are typically up to £2,500 over one year.
Jeffrey Bond Memorial Fund
The Jeffrey Bond Memorial Fund provides grants to support nature conservation and environmental projects in Cumbria. Established through a legacy gift from Jeffrey Bond, the fund prioritizes small, volunteer-led charitable and not-for-profit groups working to protect and enhance the natural environment. The fund supports a range of environmental activities including habitat creation and restoration, species conservation, upland path repair and maintenance, hedge restoration, and wildflower planting schemes. Grants are typically awarded up to £2,000 over one year to organizations working on practical conservation projects that involve volunteers and benefit Cumbria's natural heritage.
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.
Geoffrey Blake Architectural Heritage Fund
The Geoffrey Blake Architectural Heritage Fund provides grants to volunteer-led and charitable groups for community-based projects of architectural merit in Cumbria that enhance people's experience and understanding of the built environment. The fund was created by a private individual in memory of her father, who had a long-standing interest in historical architecture. Projects must have full public access and demonstrate clear community benefit. Supported projects include renovation of community features and landmarks such as watering holes, crosses and memorials; renovation of features of public buildings with particular architectural merit; creation of new work including sculptures and other built features; and reconstruction of historically significant bridleways. The fund does not support individuals or major building renovations. Grants typically range from £500 to £1,000, though there is no maximum award amount.
Fryer Grassroots Fund
The Fryer Grassroots Fund provides grants to voluntary and community groups and organisations to continue supporting people with disabilities who live in Cumbria. The fund is provided by an anonymous donor and prioritizes small, volunteer-led grassroots groups that support their local community and work with individuals who have disabilities. Priority is given to projects which support individuals with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory disabilities, and help people in fulfilling their potential. The fund also supports priority individuals to attend courses run by The Lake District Calvert Trust, including bursaries to attend these courses. This is a community-focused grant program aimed at strengthening support services for disabled residents across Cumbria through grassroots organizations.
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.
Elizabeth Fell Memorial Trust Fund
The Elizabeth Fell Memorial Trust Fund provides grants for volunteer-led groups and organisations in Kingstown and the surrounding area to address local needs and/or create opportunities that will make a real difference to their community. The fund supports a range of activities including community events, refurbishment of IT rooms, youth activities for summer holidays, and upgrades to community facilities. Grants will normally be £1,000 or less over one year, with a maximum award amount of £5,000. The fund is administered by Cumbria Community Foundation and is designed to support volunteer-led community groups in a specific geographic area of benefit around Kingstown.
Edwin and Anita Mackay Memorial Fund
The Edwin and Anita Mackay Memorial Fund provides grants for community groups and projects that provide activities for children and young people up to the age of 18 in the Seaton parish. The fund was established through a legacy gift to support the development and wellbeing of young people in the local community. Eligible organizations include volunteer-led groups and charitable organisations that work with children and young people in the parish of Seaton. The fund supports a range of activities including coaching costs, social and personal development activities, tools and equipment for educational projects, premises hire for youth activities, drama workshops, and improvements to community facilities that benefit young people. Grants are typically awarded for one-year periods to help organizations deliver meaningful programs and services to children and youth in the Seaton area.
Edmond Castle Educational Trust Fund
The Edmond Castle Educational Trust Fund provides grants to support the education and training of disadvantaged young people under the age of 21 in Cumbria. The fund prioritizes young people who are, or have been, looked after by Cumberland Council or Westmorland and Furness Council. The trust supports activities that help build self-confidence and skills, promote civic engagement and leadership, cover equipment or course fees, and provide new opportunities for young people to train and learn. Examples of funded projects include fees for private tutors, travel expenses to sports training, course-related costs for academic study, and development of employment skills for young people. Both individuals under 21 and volunteer-led community groups and organizations that work with young people are eligible to apply.
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.
CN Group Fund
The CN Group Fund provides grants to charitable and volunteer-led groups which support their communities and help people facing disadvantage. Supported by Cumbria Newspapers, this fund assists community organizations with various projects including improvements to community facilities, equipment and furniture for community centers, activity coordination, children's play areas, and creative projects for people with disabilities. The fund aims to strengthen community infrastructure and services that benefit those who are disadvantaged. Grants are administered through Cumbria Community Foundation, which connects people who care with causes that matter across Cumbria. While grants normally range up to £2,000 for one-year projects, there is no maximum award amount, allowing for flexibility based on project needs and impact.