Are you planning a project that could have a real impact in West Cumbria?

Community Choices aims to give not-for-profit organisations across Copeland and Allerdale the chance to shout from the rooftops and promote their cause while seeking support through a public vote.

Groups can put forward their projects against set criteria through the application part of the process, which is open until February 12.


A shortlist will then be drawn up and the public will be invited to vote for the projects that they feel should receive the support to help make our communities an even better place to live and work.

The scheme is being launched by Sellafield Ltd and supported by its partners CN Group ā€“ publishers of The Whitehaven News ā€“ CFM, Phoenix Enterprise Centre, of Cleator Moor, and Cumbria Community Foundation, where staff have a wealth of experience of dealing with charitable funding.

The website is opens for applications.

Th ere are five categories:

  • Supporting the Younger Generation

Projects giving children and young people the opportunity to achieve their full potential, and which help families to become more resilient and have better relationship within their networks. These could include after school and youth groups, young carers projects and activities which increase educational attainment.

  • Improving Health and Wellbeing

Projects that improve health and wellbeing of vulnerable and disadvantaged people. These could include increased access to sport, exercise and leisure or tackling health related issues including emotional well-being from groups such as sports clubs, healthy living initiatives and support organisations.

  • Improving Social Inclusion

Projects that increase access to services and address the needs of people who face social exclusion and isolation. These could include services which provide advice and guidance, support groups, and activities which encourage the community to get together such as befriending.

  • Improving Cumbria

Projects that provide a community benefit to the county with measurable outcomes in Allerdale and Copeland. These include projects which offer training and learning, increase employability and those which offer practical and holistic support.

  • Supporting Strong Communities

Projects that provide a community benefit to the county with measurable outcomes in Allerdale and Copeland. Schemes around the county will be considered providing they offer their services to residents in west Cumbria. Activities supported should fit within the other four categories.

Your project is considered suitable for the Community Choices programme if:

  • It is of a proactive nature and will create a positive impact in the community
  • You know how the full project will be funded. If you are relying on match-funding or other funding sources, make sure that those funds are in place before submitting your Community Choices application
  • It will be completed or well under way by March 31, 2018
  • It will have a measurable impact on the communities of Copeland and Allerdale.


For the finalists, Community Choices is designed to be a platform that offers an online presence, supported by a print and radio media campaign, to raise awareness of the issues being tackled and to show how the project will have a positive impact on people within the community.

The power to decide which shortlisted projects receive support will be in the hands of the people.

Everyone will get the chance to vote up to 10 times for those they feel best address the issues within their community. All 10 votes can be used on a single cause or spread over multiple recipients.

Helen Fisher, head of social impact for Sellafield Ltd, said: "Community Choices is all about local people taking the future of their area into their own hands.

"This is an opportunity to support the charities and community groups people value most.

"It also gives those charities and community groups a fantastic platform to
showcase the great work they do.

"Iā€™d urge everyone who cares about their community to get involved."

All potential applicants need to visit the website decidingtogether.org for further details and to complete the online application form.

Phoenix Enterprise Centre will be running a number of IT centres throughout the process where people can call in to use a computer to visit the website, access the application form and seek technical support if they are unfamiliar with modern technology and completing online forms.

And when it comes to the crowd-polling process, the IT centres will be open again for anyone without access to a computer who wishes to vote.

People will also be able to use their local library to register or vote if they don't have access to their own computer or the internet.

Where to apply

Visit decidingtogether.org or go to one of the IT centres in Allerdale and Copeland, which will be open on the following days between January 16 and February 10:

  • Cleator Moor: Phoenix Enterprise Centre, Jacktrees Road, Wednesday and Thursday, 9am-4pm.
  • Egremont: De Lucy Centre, Market Place, Thursday, 10am-4pm.
  • Maryport: Ewanrigg Community Centre, Ennerdale Road, Monday, 10am-3pm.
  • Millom: Millom Network Centre, Salthouse Road, Friday, 11am-3pm.
  • Whitehaven: Harbour Youth Project building, Swingpump Lane, Monday and Tuesday, 9am-3pm.
  • Wigton: Market Hall, Church Street, Tuesday, 10am-3pm.
  • Workington: Bradbury Independent Living Centre, Oxford Street, Wednesday, 10am-3pm. Northside Community Centre, Trinity Drive, Thursday, 10am-3pm.

Centres will reopen for the voting stage from February 27 to March 24, with the same opening days and times as above.