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ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 ACT champions community & rural issues

Celebrating Village Halls! was well represented at the House of Commons launch event for Village Halls Week 2020 - a national week-long celebration of village halls and the volunteers who run them.

Simon Fell MP for Barrow-in-Furness joined ACT’s Hellen Aitken; Tom Speight from the Watson Institute and National Rural Touring Forum; David Anderson from Kirkby-in-Furness Community Centre; and Fran Stott from Community Centre. (More on page 7).

New ACT phone numbers No we haven’t moved, but we do have a new IT system and phone numbers. You can now contact the main ACT office on 01768 425 666. Representing Cumbria at the House of Commons launch: Please see back page for staff direct dial numbers. L-R: Simon Fell MP; Hellen Aitken; Tom Speight; David Anderson; and Fran Stott. Inside this issue: Save the Date:

Communities Community Buildings Event ❖Interview: Kevin McGilloway, Fellrunner Community Bus Sat 27 June, 10am - 2pm Community Buildings Lamplugh Village Hall

❖Case Study: Lamplugh Village Hall, Innovative Approach ACT AGM ❖National 10 year Village Hall Survey Wed 21 Oct 2020 ❖Emergency Funding to help storm damaged facilities Memorial Hall ❖Could Pickleball increase your hall’s income? nr. ❖Community Buildings Event ❖Village Halls Week Celebration 2020 Booking is essential Please contact Dani at ACT on ACT News - Project Updates & Events Tel: 01768 425 666 ❖Neighbourliness Works Email: [email protected] ❖New Officer for South Lakes and Barrow ❖Community Led Housing and Low Carbon CLH Community Led Housing Hub at ❖Community Hero Awards Cumbria Life Home & Garden ❖Transport Update and ‘Mobility as a Service’ Show ❖Building Resilience Together Conference Fri 13 - Sun 15 Mar Rheged, Penrith Other News - Events, Funding Opportunities etc. Visit www.rheged.com/arts/ clhomeandgarden-2020

Use this QR Code and Follow us on Twitter Find us on your smart phone app to @ACTCumbria Facebook ACT go direct to our website.

We recently finished our Princes Countryside Fund supported project on Manging Risks for Hello, Community Buildings. The resource we produced with a group of Village Hall trustees I hope you found our new from across Cumbria is available on our ‘Insight’ policy newsletter website here: www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/ useful when we circulated it Resources-Publications/Toolkits-Workbooks in January? We had some feedback that people would It’s a useful way to prioritise which issues to like more on rural policy so have put Insight deal with and which additional information will together to meet that need. If you didn't see it help. I want to thank those village hall and would like to, please contact us at ACT volunteers who developed this with us and the (see back page for details). Prince’s Countryside Fund for supporting the work. It’s a great example of joint working. A particular story we featured in Insight is about sustaining funding for the Community Another interesting example of joint working is Led Housing Hub and you can read more the Social Prescribing work that Clare about our work and the great things Edwards from Cumbria CVS and the NHS are communities are doing on page 10. developing for North Cumbria. I have been involved in the community workstream, looking Jemma, our Neighbourliness Works Officer, at how to best use, and not abuse, the many and I participated in the Reducing Loneliness skills and opportunities that the third sector and Isolation Open Forum event in Penrith can offer. recently. It was an interesting experience in allowing agendas and discussions to emerge Social Prescribing can be explained as from the people in the room. It worked well in supporting people to be well, by helping them bringing different ideas forward to address the to participate in their community. Issues under significant issue of loneliness and isolation. discussion include: • not medicalising leisure and recreation We will be following up from the event on two activities; fronts: Transport as a route to reducing the • opting in to any referral systems; challenge and Supporting people to ‘just do it’ - being neighbourly. For more information or if • being clear about the expectations and you’d like to get involved please contact reporting requirements of any involvement; Jemma (see page 9 for details). • and not overburdening the system with reporting while being clear about After the success of Kind Cumbria Day last safeguarding. November, we were pleased to see the Brighter Cumbria initiative, promoted by I look forward to the guidance that will be Building Society. Any initiative produced shortly to help us all understand how that encourages people to be kinder and more best to get involved.

considerate is worth promoting. We will Lastly I wanted to let you know that I am now a continue the Kind Cumbria campaign on social member of the Cumbria Local Enterprise media: Partnership (LEP) Board representing the Facebook: @kindcumbria Cumbrian Third Sector. The LEP is the body Twitter: @kind_cumbria responsible for economic development in Instagram: @kind_cumbria Cumbria and one of the Government’s

We also talked about neighbourliness and preferred way to bring new monies into the kindness at the recent Building Resilience county. I am looking forward to working with Together Conference - reviewing the my fellow Directors to make Cumbria the best approach, achievements and learning of the it can be for all residents. three year Rebuilding Together programme (more on page 12). It’s been heartening to see all the support people have been offering one another both nationally and locally after the recent floods.

ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue Remember if you support us - we can better support you! Sign up now! 2

can be time consuming it is very rewarding and I have also got involved with the Community Transport in Cumbria (CTiC) group which hopes to share knowledge, ideas and best practice around all the different Community Transport groups in the County.

Last year was special, why? We purchased a new minibus and named it after long-term member Jill Hay who passed away in 2018. Jill had been involved with the Fellrunner since it started in 1979. Jill had Communities been a driver, a Trustee and the Chairman on Interview: more than one occasion. Jill was a special lady, very active in the community in a range Kevin McGilloway of roles and we wanted to do something Fellrunner Community Bus special in her memory. Fellrunner had never had a named bus before and I am so pleased From “wannabe bus driver” to proud that “Jill” is the first! Chairman of the Fellrunner community bus service, Kevin McGilloway spoke to ACT Future plans? about his involvement with the project. I have the honour of being the Fellrunner The Fellrunner has been in existence for over Chairman now and together with my Board of forty years, currently operating three Trustees we are planning on reviewing all our minibuses, two 17 seat Mercedes Sprinters services to ensure they are still going to the and a 15 seat Fiat Ducato on timetabled right places at the right times. We want to see services across the Eden valley area. They if there is the need for some kind of “dial a operate Tuesday to Saturday every week of ride” service that we could run alongside our the year - weather permitting! There is a team timetabled services and finally, we need to of about 30 volunteers who keep the raise some sponsorship to help us fund our Fellrunner service going, there are no paid replacement buses. Low floor, wheelchair staff, and they are very proud of the space minibuses cost around £90,000 each contribution the Fellrunner makes to their local and that is an awful lot of money for a small community. volunteer group like ours.

How did you get involved? To find out more about the Fellrunner please visit: www.fellrunnerbus.co.uk/index.html My parents, Peter and Stella, had retired to Penrith from Whitley Bay and were using the Thanks to Kevin for sharing his passion. Do Fellrunner Bus for trips out. They told me the you have a passion that makes a difference in Fellrunner was short of drivers so I your community? If so get in contact (see volunteered and am still driving 22 years later! back page for details) and we may feature you Apart from driving the bus I became the in a future edition. in-house trainer and after I retired from a career with Cumbria Police I joined the Board

of Trustees. I’ve always been interested in

driving and transport so it was a comfortable fit.

What motivates you to stay involved? In the beginning I think I was just a wannabe bus driver! You soon see, however, just how important the bus service is to our passengers. If the bus doesn’t come to get them into town then many of them are well and truly stuck, no food, no medicine and so

ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue on. I couldn’t let them down now! Although it The first Fellrunner bus in 1979 3

The kitchen refurbishment included a larger cooker and fridge (big enough for caterers) and crockery, cutlery etc. to cater for 100 people. A bar can now be set up for events and larger bookings with catering needs can be accommodated.

A good quality projector was fitted in the ceiling and the sound system has been updated with a microphone, amplifier and Case Study: hearing loop. These provide better facilities Lamplugh Village Hall and have helped support the already successful film nights being run by the hall. A An Innovative Approach phone line and WiFi router have been fitted to provide internet access at the hall and a Lamplugh is located to the north of computer club has also been set up. Copeland district, midway between Egremont and , off the A5086. A new website, Facebook page and email for The parish lies partly within the Lake bookings has been created, with the web Community Buildings Community District National Park, with a total address: www.lamplughvillagehall.org.uk population of approximately 805. clearly displayed on the main sign on the front of the building. An online calendar makes it The building was originally built in 1934 for easy for everyone to see what’s on at the hall Lamplugh Women's Institute and in 2008 in the coming months and for anyone looking was given to the community to become to book to check availability. Lamplugh Village Hall. ‘An Evening With’ events, including a meal, Background drinks and entertaining speaker, have proven When Lamplugh Village Hall committee took popular. Tickets for events can now also be over the building in 2008, only the necessary bought online, with many being purchased this health and safety improvements were made. way. 60 of the 80 tickets available for sell out In 2011 the committee decided to continue event ‘An Evening With Malcolm Wilson’, a improvements by installing insulation, local rally driver, were sold this way. changing the heating system, and a complete interior redecoration. Within a year, use of the An exhibition attracted new members to join hall had increased significantly. the art group, which hires the hall for its classes. Other groups include: WI, Parish The Project Council, Heritage Society, Young Farmers, Over Sixties Club, Yoga, and Karate. Events The committee recognised that the building such as ‘Bangers and Beans’, dominoes had its challenges, including limited parking, nights and coffee mornings have also helped when many access the hall by car (10 parking to attract people to the hall. spaces, plus 8 informally on a grass verge). An ambitious new build project would give the Lamplugh Village Hall pens and key chain opportunity to address these issues, however, torches, with the email address engraved / it was decided that first the focus should be on printed, have sold really well. These generate increasing use of the hall and securing it as a a small income and also help promote the hall. central part of the community.

Whilst making improvements to the current building, the committee thought about how to encourage a wider range of activities, to provide for the local community, and to increase income from more hall bookings.

What Has Been Achieved? Improvements have been made in planned and manageable stages, each one building on ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue the success of the last. Art Workshop 4 (Title photo: Motor Club Classic Car Run)

The committee want to continue to organise events that are popular with local people and also create income which can be reinvested into future events and development.

The hall is well used and central to community life. The new-build project is well underway, with plans to build on land behind the current hall creating much needed additional parking National 10 year Village and space where the current hall stands. Most of the funding needed has been secured and Community Hall Survey building work is due to start later this year. ACT and the wider ACRE Network needs your Village hall committee member Bob Marshall help for a crucial census. Carried out once every was named Copeland’s Person of the Year at ten years the survey will provide up to date the 2019 West Cumbria Community Heroes information about halls and the social and Awards, in recognition of his commitment and economic impact they deliver for their vision for the charity. communities.

Community Buildings Community This information is vital to secure funding for The Learning halls, funding for Network services, and to • Ensure your village hall is working well and ensure our services and the information we make the most of what you have before hold adapts to the ever-changing challenges starting an ambitious rebuild. facing halls and communities.

• Promoting the hall online with a good Responses are invited from all community website, and keeping it up to date, is vital. buildings: rural village halls; community centres; sports pavilions; church halls; • Good advertising helps increase bookings churches providing community use; Miners and the amount of local support for events. Welfare Institutes; or WI halls that provide The monthly Parish magazine publishes meeting facilities for the community. what’s on and people also keep up to date with the posts on Facebook. This is an online survey but a printable PDF is available to help you discuss and prepare • The current building is not fit for purpose. your answers in advance. Visit: acre.org.uk/ Lack of storage is a problem (mainly for our-work/national-village-and-community-hall- tables and chairs when not in use), as is the survey lack of parking and not having a separate meeting room. These restrictions, together Please complete the survey by with the hall’s successes have made it clear 31st March 2020 that they need to rebuild and expand in order to offer the community what they need. • Providing a range of events and activities and increasing use by the community has improved the hall’s financial sustainability Village Hall Improvement and helped support funding bids for the rebuild project. The increased community Grant Fund

support also gives the committee confidence This fund is now closed to new applications, to develop such a project. but please complete an Expression of Interest form so ACRE can contact you if further Contact Details funding should become available. This will For further information please visit also help to demonstrate future demand to www.lamplughvillagehall.org.uk or contact Defra and support the case for continued Government funding. Paul Twyford (Chair) on Tel: 01946 861033, Email: [email protected] Visit: acre.org.uk/our-work/village-hall- improvement-grant%20fund ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue 5

Emergency Funding to Help Storm Damaged Pitches and Facilities

Sport has announced that community, voluntary and social enterprises can request up to £5,000 of emergency funding which could be awarded in just a few Could Pickleball increase weeks. your hall’s income?

The funding will be awarded through Sport Would you like to make extra income for your England’s Community Asset Fund, which was hall by introducing Pickleball in your

Community Buildings Community designed to help communities quickly respond community? Pickleball is an addictive game to emergencies or unexpected events that played with a paddle and an airflow ball on a stop people from being active. badminton court over a low net. It is suitable for all ages, fitness and mobility levels but at The Sport England team aims to provide quick the moment is increasing in popularity in this responses to those sports clubs most badly country amongst older people. affected by the recent storm. The grants could typically be used to restore grass pitches, to Pickleball is an active sport but lends itself to repair and decontaminate flood or wind- being played at a less physical level if damaged clubhouses, replace damaged required. The relatively small court, the light electrical systems or dredge blocked drains. paddle and ball, the tactical game of cat and mouse at the net, the underarm serve and the Applications should be made using the fact that the ball bounces combine to make Community Asset Fund online application the game accessible for all fitness levels. which is available on the Sport England website. The game’s current popularity with older, retired people - perhaps not as fit as they Commenting on the emergency funding, Sport used to be but who still want to keep active - England Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth could help to boost weekday daytime said “When flooding happens, the priority bookings in your hall. must be making sure people are safe, they can get back into their homes and vital public Where Pickleball has been introduced, clubs services are back up and running, but we are booking halls up to 5 times a week for 2 to know from the floods in 2013 and 2015 that 3 hour sessions and the Pickleball community flood water can cause significant damage to is growing as more and more players enter sports pitches and pavilions, changing and tournaments and discover the delights of this social facilities. game and the community of players

countrywide. “We’re making emergency funding available now so when the time is right sports The game can be played using a lowered organisations can pay for rebuilds and repairs badminton net and equipment is relatively quickly. We want to ensure that the sports inexpensive. New players can learn the basic facilities in local communities that help keep rules quickly in a single session. people physically active are not forgotten in the floods so they are ready to use as soon as If you are interested in starting a group at your people want them.” hall please contact Jane Portnell who runs free taster sessions, with equipment provided. Visit www.sportengland.org/news/victims- storm-ciara-helped-emergency-flood-relief- Email: [email protected] ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue fund for details. 6

Celebrating Village Halls

Village Halls Week this year launched in style at The House of Commons on Monday 20 January. ACT’s Hellen Aitken was delighted to Community Buildings Event attend, with Cumbrian hall volunteers David Newbiggin Village Hall Anderson (Kirkby-in-Furness Community 25 January 2020 Centre) and Fran Stott (Hunsonby Community Centre) - both halls recently having been We had another great turnout for our latest awarded grants from the national Village Hall Community Buildings Event, held during Improvement Grant. Village Halls Week at Newbiggin Village Hall. 25 village hall volunteers from 16 halls across The launch was sponsored by Utility Aid and Community Buildings Community the county came together for a mix of Allied Westminster, and supported by Defra presentations, workshops, networking - and and the National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) cupcakes! whose Chairman Tom Speight was also there representing The Watson Institute, a Cumbrian The day began with top tips from a recent hall in Castle Carrock. Websites and Social Media workshop - organised in partnership with the growing Lords and MPs were in attendance, including Cumbria Village Halls Network. Delegates Simon Fell MP for Barrow-in-Furness, to hear were also encouraged to join the Network about the important role village halls have in group on Facebook. Other topics covered our communities, and the need to support them were: How Accessible is your Village Hall?; - such as a continuation of the Government Dementia Friendly Village Halls; funded Village Hall Improvement Grant. The Neighbourliness Works; and a summary of fund has closed to new applications, but halls national news and updates. can still register an interest and help evidence demand (see page 5). Special thanks to Allied Westminster Insurance Ltd for supporting the event and The event gained much Bozena Bien for an informative presentation media attention; was about the importance of an accurate rebuilding featured across 18 BBC valuation - the simple route to ‘removing’ channels; 10 Broadcasters trustee liability. proudly tweeting pictures with their ‘I Village Halls’ To find out more about this and future events, badges; 18 MPs supported please get in touch (details on back page). the week by visiting events, halls and tweeting; and numerous articles appeared in local and national press including The Times, The Telegraph, Country Life

Magazine, and the Daily Mail.

A big thank you to everyone who got involved in Village Halls Week. The increased media attention this year helped raise a substantial and positive profile for village halls all over the country, and provided a focal point for local celebrations and activity.

Next free Community Buildings Event: And of course a huge thank you to all the Saturday 27 June 2020 10am - 2pm village hall volunteers for your hard work and commitment for your village halls year round. ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue Lamplugh Village Hall Contact us at ACT to book your free place. 7

Community Buildings Community

ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue

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Neighbourliness Works ACT welcomes new

Neighbours, everybody needs officer for and Barrow good neighbours

From time to time we all appreciate having ACT is pleased to welcome Carole Barr, who ACT News ACT someone nearby who can look out for us, and joined the ACT team in January. Carole will be there may be times when we’re in greater supporting us on a part time consultancy basis need of a friendly face or a helping hand. As as the Development Officer for South part of our Neighbourliness Works Lakeland and Barrow, as Fran is now leading programme, we have begun the ‘Looking Out the Community Led Housing Hub for Cumbria For Your Neighbours’ project which is about and Lancaster (see page 10 for update).

encouraging people to carry out neighbourly Carole has lived in the all her life activities for those who need it most in your and has been involved in community projects local area. ACT can support you to make a such as supporting her local village hall; difference. housing for locals; Community Led Planning;

Neighbourly actions, big or small, can and opening the old railway line in Torver as a bridleway. She currently runs a smallholding make a huge difference supporting rare breeds. You may have seen Making time for someone else, even for just a her in the show ring at the couple of hours a month can benefit them (and County Show with her British Lop pigs. you) in such a positive way. The actions don’t have to be big, for instance you could help Carole said “I’m really pleased to be working someone with the shopping, gardening, with ACT, to help support and develop ideas reading, baby sitting or computer. Or you that keep communities alive and sustainable might want to organise something larger such for future generations". as a shopping trip or a regular social event for a group. For South Lakeland and Barrow queries, please contact Carole on Tel: 01768 425666 If you are keen to get involved, think about or Email: [email protected] who in your local area might appreciate a good neighbour. They may, for instance struggle to get out due to a lack of transport, personal mobility or even a new baby. Or they may be ACT AGM & Zero Carbon ill, frail or lacking in confidence. Talk to them to Rural Communities Event find out what involvement they might like. Wednesday 21st October Then get in touch with us to see how we can Preston Patrick Memorial Hall help you to get your neighbourly deeds off the ground. The ACT AGM is a brief meeting, but the event around it is a celebration of community What do you do for your neighbours & activity and good practice. This year we will what do they do for you?

have a keynote speaker on zero carbon in a We are also on the look-out for examples of rural community setting and we want to invite good neighbourly activity, whether it’s you to share what you are doing in your increasing neighbourliness in existing groups community to work towards zero carbon. and Neighbourhood Watch schemes or starting up a new project - to give people a In the afternoon we will have a particular focus helping hand, organise shopping trips, local on travel and mobility and are also looking for lunches etc. examples of low carbon solutions to travelling around our dispersed rural areas. Please get in touch with Jemma at ACT on Tel: 01768 425643 or Email: jemmametcalfe- Please contact us at ACT if you have ideas to share (see back page for details). ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue [email protected]

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Low Carbon Community Led Housing

With thanks to our partner, Cumbria Action for Sustainability, the Hub offered two events in Next Phase for Community Led January for groups and individuals to find out Housing Hub development how to minimise the unwanted carbon impact of housing development and what to consider As we go to press ACT ends our first year of when designing and developing a scheme. ACT News ACT the Community Led Housing (CLH) Hub for Cumbria and Lancaster, and steps into Both events were very popular with attendees another exciting phase of development! We hearing two very different approaches to are enormously grateful to the partners who tackling the climate emergency through have supported our work since March 2019 housing design. and will continue to work with all our District and Borough Council colleagues as the Hub develops and flourishes.

Since March last year we have introduced the concept of Community Led Housing to a wide audience of grassroots activists, planners and councillors all of whom are pivotal in bringing new projects to life. We’ve also been working with funders interested in helping groups to Delegates learn about low carbon building. achieve their goals, and the Registered Photo: Rhona Pringle. Providers who currently manage much of the affordable housing stock in the area. For hands-on lived experience, Chris Coates, founder member of Lancaster Co-housing, We have spoken with over 500 individuals and spoke with energy, honesty and commitment are aware of almost 30 active community about the choices his group had made while groups working to provide their own local they established their Passivhaus standard housing solutions. homes in Lancaster. Making the most of on- site renewable energy sources; diligent project Last week we ran our first Advice Surgery for supervision; super insulation to keep heating groups to meet with a range of professionals costs down; and the sharing of space and and advisers. resources to reduce waste all feature in Chris’s narrative of one of the pioneer CLH projects in the country.

And, if that weren’t inspiring enough, a presentation about the Living Building Challenge set the scene for truly aspirational carbon negative housing in the future. This standard integrates principles of ‘place, water, energy, health and happiness, materials, equity and beauty’ - asking the challenging We end this year with a high footfall event at question ‘what if every single act of design the Cumbria Life Home and Garden Show at and construction made the world a better Rheged between 13-15 March. We’ll be place?’ This is the most rigorous benchmark sharing our enthusiasm for community led of sustainability in the built environment. With solutions with as many people as we can. thanks to Rod Hughes of 2020 Architects for Why not come along? Visit: www.rheged.com/ presenting.

arts/clhomeandgarden-2020/ for details. With thanks to funders and supporters of

the Community Led Housing Hub. Follow us on twitter @CLHhub1 or visit our

ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue website www.clhhub.org

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West Cumbria Awards Transport Update and ‘Mobility as a Service’ ACT is pleased to continue our sponsorship ACT News ACT for the Community Heroes Awards into 2020. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) puts users at the Lorrainne Symth, ACT CEO attended the core of transport services, offering them tailor- West Cumbria awards ceremony to present made mobility solutions based on their the ‘Community Project of the Year’ award to individual needs. You can read more about Mind Ya Marras, for their work suporting men this in a recent Government research paper suffering with mental health issues. here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/ future-of-mobility-mobility-as-a-service The support group was set up on the Mirehouse estate by councillor Carl Walmsley Cumbria Mobility Network (CMN) is ACT’s and a handful of dedicated volunteers, who new social enterprise partner, looking at are trained mental health first aiders. Together community solutions and strategic the team put all their efforts into providing a relationships to help people get around space for men to talk, play games and enjoy Cumbria. This is ‘Mobility as a Service’. This food and non-alcoholic drinks. relatively new phrase that Government are committed to at present will see additional Men in the area who have experienced mental funds in Cumbria for travel solutions. These health issues can share stories or simply get emerging solutions will also need to look at out of the house and feel a part of their reducing carbon. community, socialising and supporting others and receiving the same treatment back. For rural communities, the carbon footprint of travel is a significant issue, but there is also a Emma Baughans from Mind Ya Marras said real opportunity for rural areas to be carbon “We’re really overwhelmed. We have only sinks. been going for a short amount of time. To be up against these projects, we feel really Working with the Mobility Network, ACT is humbled” supporting 10 communities to explore local solutions like lift/car sharing, better information ACT sponsors the awards to raise the profile and assessing travel patterns to build a needs of the great things communities do across the case for new and different services. It is really county. Look out for the and Eden interesting the range of ideas local awards in your local press and make a communities are considering as low cost, nomination. Not only does it bring your reduced-carbon solutions for their area. volunteers the recognition they deserve, it also brings your organisation into the limelight and CMN seeks to generate enthusiasm, reminds people of the work you do. commitment and pride in communities finding new ways to approach transport and

connectedness. It intends to significantly improve access but also in the longer term to enhance community viability, vitality and better balance the social profile of communities.

When starts consultation on the Transport and Travel Strategy later this year we will be responding and encouraging you all to do so and promoting Cumbria Mobility Network as part of the answer. For more information, please contact us at ACT (see back page). ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue ACT’s Lorrainne Smyth presents award to the Mind Ya Marras group 11

ACT News ACT

Rebuilding Together: We are grateful that the National Lottery Community Fund were willing to trust us, A summary of the approach, allowing the flexibility to work in this way. achievements and learning ACT worked with 170 communities during the This three-year, £1 million programme of work project, supporting them to think about their funded by the National Lottery Community risks, their future and ways to support each Fund, ran from October 2016 until September other. 2019. Key learning shared on the day included: The ‘Building Resilience Together’ event on 7th February 2020 shared learning from the • Be flexible - there were many different needs programme with people from across Cumbria and ways people chose to respond and and the UK. We heard how the main project request support. partners: Cumbria CVS; ACTion with • Create resources and promote independent Communities in Cumbria (ACT); and Cumbria support - so that when the time is right Action for Sustainability (CAfS), worked with people can take action. communities and a range of other partners to:

• Relationships were as important as formal Better connect existing activity and to structures - working with policy makers as fill gaps in capacity, resources and skills, well as local people, encouraging links and to support community resilience post opportunities to understand each other. .

The programme was responsive, to both the You can find out more about the event here: https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/rebuilding-together/ different communities we worked with, and to the learning that occurred during delivery. We planned this approach to improve the long- term sustainability of the work, embedding Funded by: resilience more effectively than a traditional

ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue training programme could have. 12

Your Local Citizens Advice needs YOU! Free ‘Safe and Well Visits’ The Citizens Advice service offers free and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service offers free impartial advice for people and communities ‘Safe and Well Visits’ to help people live across Cumbria. We are a charity and rely on OtherNews independently and deal with any potential fire grants, donations and community volunteers to hazards in their homes. keep us active and independent.

During the visit, we will carry out a home fire In order to continue to improve and enhance safety assessment, where we can help you our services, we are looking for volunteers to design a fire escape plan so that you and your support our service in , Copeland, family will know how to react and escape if you South Lakes, Carlisle and Eden. Why not have a fire. We’ll provide you with a free consider making this valuable contribution to smoke alarm if you haven’t got any working your local community? smoke alarms in your property. The roles available vary depending on which We’ll provide a health questionnaire with local Citizens Advice you join but all involve simple questions on social wellbeing, helping local people to address their problems preventing slips, trips and falls at home, and and give them the support they need. Whilst advice on smoking cessation and reducing specific qualifications or experience are not alcohol consumption and where to get further required to train for the role, volunteers need support if you need it. We also provide atrial to be committed to coming in regularly, be fibrillation testing to identify your heart rate and good at listening, have a good manner when will refer you to the GP if necessary. talking to people, be open-minded and non- judgmental and enjoy helping people. It is also To book a Safe and Well visit please contact necessary to have competent skills in using a Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service on: computer. All volunteers are given free training Tel: 0800 358 4777 appropriate to their role which might include Email: [email protected] how to assess people’s needs (face-to-face or over the phone) and identify the most appropriate course of action.

Cumbria County Council Our volunteers say volunteering with us is Community Grants varied, hugely rewarding and often challenging and you will be part of an enthusiastic, The County Council's Area Support Teams supportive team. Volunteer Expenses are manage a range of grant funds that are used paid. to invest in communities to bring about a positive and lasting change for the benefit of If you are interested in volunteering, full details the whole community. of available roles and application processes can be found on the websites of the relevant Grants are available for projects that organisation: demonstrate lasting community benefit. Funding can be used to support the cost of the Allerdale Citizens Advice - Tel: 01900 604735 purchase of new equipment, the refurbishment www.citizensadviceallerdale.org.uk of village halls and/or community centres, the Copeland Citizens Advice - Tel: 01946 693321 set up costs of a new group or community www.citizensadvicecopeland.org.uk initiative and a variety of other purposes. South Lakes Citizens Advice - For details visit: www.cumbria.gov.uk/ Tel: 015394 46464 www.southlakescab.org.uk yourcommunitysupport/communitygrants.asp Carlisle and Eden Citizens Advice - or contact your local Area Support Team for a Tel: 03300 563037 www.ca-ce.org.uk ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue pre-application discussion. 13

Lottery funding for people and nature in the North Pennines Surveying Traditional Farm Buildings A major project that will conserve, enhance and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage Traditional farm buildings make a very strong of a special part of the North West of England contribution to the distinctive landscape of the OtherNews has received four years of funding from the Westmorland Dales area, but these structures National Lottery Heritage Fund. are often overlooked and can be poorly understood. A major survey is now planned to The North Pennines Area of Outstanding build a more detailed picture of the number Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership has been and type of farm buildings that exist in the awarded over £2million of National Lottery Westmorland Dales. funding to support the £3.4million Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme. The Training events have been held for volunteers scheme focuses on the fellside and valley who have signed up to start the survey in landscapes between Hallbankgate and 2020. The work forms part of a ‘Traditional Melmerby. The area covered includes a large Farm Buildings’ project, one of 21 projects section of the Cumbrian part of the North being run as part of the Westmorland Dales Pennines AONB, but also brings in the villages Landscape Partnership Scheme, supported by and settlements of the lowland area, to the the National Lottery Heritage Fund. east of the River Eden. It will bring together management and restoration of habitats such Volunteers will undertake two levels of survey. as woodland, peatland and grasslands, with The first level will be conducted from public community archaeology, conservation of rights of way and roads, and will include historic buildings, community arts and recording the location of the farm building and education. taking photographs from their viewpoint. The second level will involve a more detailed Scheme manager, Fiona Knox, said: “We’ve survey of buildings; only carried out after worked with local communities and our partner permission from the landowner has been organisations throughout the development of sought and granted. this project and we’re looking forward to continuing this when we start work on the The survey will not impose any obligation on ground. There will be a strong emphasis on the owners of buildings to carry out works, and community-led activity and public participation the future of these buildings remains almost throughout Fellfoot Forward. entirely at their discretion. The information collected will be added to the Dales “By the time the scheme ends in 2024, we will National Park Authority’s Historic Environment have a more resilient landscape, where vibrant Record, which is their database for all historic communities are better equipped to protect buildings, sites and monuments. A copy of the and celebrate their own particular Eden. We’d survey information collected will be made like to thank National Lottery players who have available to all owners or occupiers upon made this project possible.” request.

Fellfoot Forward will have a strong emphasis If you have any queries or would like to get on habitat and species conservation, focusing involved, please contact Hannah Kingsbury on the plants and wildlife that help to make this (the scheme’s Cultural Heritage Officer) by area special. Email: [email protected] or Tel: 01539 756624. To get involved contact Emma Wright or Fiona Knox at the North Pennines AONB More information also available at: Partnership, on Tel: 01388 528801, Email: www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/26- [email protected] or traditional-farm-buildings ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue [email protected] 14

Administrator Vacancy This new report explains how it is possible to Cumbria in Bloom charity is looking for an rapidly and radically transform local and Administrator, to support the committee and regional transport systems in response to the handle documentation and communications current climate emergency. necessary for successful outcomes.

OtherNews In the North West, transport accounts for over The charity encourages communities, schools a third of carbon emissions and it is the only and tourism businesses to be assessed sector where emissions are still rising. against criteria that measure good horticultural Switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and and environmental practices and demonstrate electrifying the rest of the transport system is awareness of visual impact as well as the simply not going to happen fast enough to need to conserve resources for our future avert the worst of the climate emergency. vitality. The criteria are linked to the Royal Furthermore, replacing petrol or diesel cars Horticultural Society (RHS) core values. with EVs does little to tackle the inequalities apparent in our current transport system. The Administrator role requires a person with sound office skills and who is comfortable with The report identifies priority interventions that all types of communication, including liaising would be most effective at reducing carbon with a website provider. The position is on a emissions in a way that is fair, while also self-employed basis with the individual improving air quality, reducing social exclusion arranging work to meet schedules and and transport inequalities, and providing new advising the committee accordingly. It is and better jobs. Key findings include: expected that the individual would have • Reregulation of bus services is needed to access to or have their own office equipment. reverse the alarming decline in bus use seen It is preferable for the individual to have their over the last decade. own transport as meetings can take place • A programme of infrastructure investments is around the County. Remuneration is by needed to provide much-needed capacity to the payment on receipt of invoice, usually monthly, rail network. together with reimbursement of expenses incurred. • The state of the climate emergency leaves no room for more road building. Up to £2.9 billion The current Administrator is seeking to has been allocated for road schemes in the North West between 2015-2020, yet free bus relocate away from Cumbria, although no travel for all would cost £0.3 billion per year. timescale has been set. The charity is looking for someone to work alongside the current • Combining e-bikes with an extensive network of Administrator for a period of time, acquiring segregated cycleways in towns and cities could the knowledge to enable a continuation of substitute for significantly more car mileage than commonly assumed. activities, with minimum disruption. • Even with improved public transport and active The role is varied and offers the holder the travel options, many people will still travel by car due to habit and social norms. This must be opportunity to help promote Cumbria in Bloom’s objectives for the benefit of the discouraged through traffic restraint measures County as a whole. Horticultural knowledge is such as road pricing in the form of a mileage- based Eco Levy. This could be combined with not required but an interest in gardening and free local public transport to win public support. sound environmental practices would be helpful, as would experience of dealing with • Achieving these goals could create an estimated bodies and organisations around the County. 37,000 jobs in the North West through the operation and maintenance of buses and trains For more information, contact Colin Cheyne alone, and provide additional added value (Chair) Email: [email protected] through improved air quality, healthier livelihoods, safer neighbourhoods and a fairer or Tel: 07974 361773. society.

ACT Gazette Issue 35 Spring 2020 Gazette35 ACT Spring Issue Please submit applications by email to: Read the full report at: [email protected] 15 https://tinyurl.com/ukmum7b

Contact us:

Carlisle and Eden contact: Community Led Housing Hub contacts: Hellen Aitken - Development Officer Fran Richardson - Development Officer Tel: 01768 425646 Tel: 01768 425647

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Allerdale and Copeland contact: Katie Milburn - Support Officer ACT is appointing a new officer, meanwhile Tel: 01768 425649 please contact the office on Tel: 01768 425666 or Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] To speak with Lorrainne Smyth, ACT Chief Executive, or contact ACT reception: South Lakeland and Barrow contact: Tel: 01768 425666 Carole Barr - Development Officer Email: [email protected] Tel: 01768 425666 Email: [email protected] ACT would like to thank the following for

01768 425666 01768 Neighbourliness Works contact: supporting our Community Buildings Advice Service for 2019-2020: Jemma Metcalf-Gibson - Project Officer

Tel: 01768 425643 Email: [email protected]

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