Cumbria Tourism have welcomed the Government’s announcement of a change to a grant scheme which will throw businesses a lifeline. Cumbria's Destination Management Organisation has worked to secure financial support for tourism businesses since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. However they found that the Small Business Grant Fund failed to cover businesses paying Council Tax as eligibility was calculated on Business Rates Payments. Lobbying led to the government announcing a Local Authority Discretionary Fund but the provision was believed to be inadequate as grants excluded anyone eligible for the Self Employed Income Support Scheme. Cumbria Tourism resumed discussions with local and national Government contributing to a change in the scheme making it available to more businesses. Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism said: "We await further details but on the face of it this additional funding appears to be the answer we have been fighting for. "We are grateful for all the support Cumbria Tourism has had and to the Government for listening.”

"Whilst the Chancellor has brought forward a welcome wide range of support, we have been deeply distressed by the plight of many of our members who have found themselves outside the schemes through no fault of their own.