MORE than £128,000 has been awarded to five causes, thanks to the Copeland Community Fund.

Cash boosts have been given to OutReach Cumbria, Time to Change (West Cumbria), West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Fit 4 Life and STEM Cumbria Ltd.

David Moore, CCF Chair, said: "The funding granted goes into supporting a diverse range of Copeland causes from helping to improve the lives of local residents, providing opportunities young people to understand the importance of natural environment and for members of the community to try different aspects of the arts.

"These organisations make a real impact by making the services accessible to many members of the community."

OutREACH Cumbria has been allocated £8,000 towards a pilot programme ‘Elements – Writer in Residence’ project.

The project will run until the autumn and will be part of a new arts festival celebrating age and diversity.

Tonia Lu, project manager, said: "For the centrepiece of the festival, we are working with partners in Copeland - including Age UK West Cumbria, Florence Arts Centre and the Wordsworth Trust to host this writer in residence project."

Time to Change (West Cumbria) has secured £39,263.93 to safeguard eight jobs for the next 12 months while they improve their business development opportunities to remove the reliance on grants and housing benefit income.

Rachel Holliday, managing director, said: "We are thrilled to have such wonderful support from the Copeland Community Fund, not just financially but from the development team.

"Ideally we would have liked to have been self-sufficient by now, however we secured lottery funding to employ a business manager, who will focus solely on developing business opportunities which will bring in sufficient income streams. The funding from CCF and JP Getty provides us with the ability to ensure we have the correct amount of staff to run the facility to its capacity."

West Cumbria Rivers Trust has been awarded £46,600 for a number of projects. It will be undertaking the wild rivers education and outreach project that will link in with guides, scouts and youth clubs and school children.

There will also be events and activities in the community linking to national campaigns.

To help support Fit 4 Life’s move to its new premises in the Senhouse Centre, it has been allocated £3,500 to support it through the transition period. The organisation provides specialist exercise sessions for people over the age of 50 and people who suffer from chronic health conditions.

Copeland Community Fund is set to give Stem Cumbria Ltd £30,000 over five years toward its Lego League initiative.

Tony Gill said: "This project will introduce pupils and teachers in Primary and Secondary schools in Copeland to the FIRST LEGO League. This is an activity that will help them understand the importance and application of the development of computing and coding skills.

"It will also increase the understanding and importance of employability skills such as working in a team, solving problems and being able to communicate effectively."