Cumbrian estate - March 2009

DIRECTOR’S BLOG
Andrew Beeforth’s latest Cumbria Life article

see also the website http://www.cumbrialife.co.uk

March 2009

Last month I shared the secret to long life and happiness. If you didn’t read the article, get in touch and I’ll let you have a copy.

This time I’m going to share my experience of an evening walking the beat with a Community Police Safety Officer on one of the county’s less salubrious estates. Not my normal Thursday evening pursuit, but part of an important exercise to get a real feel for the issues that face such a place. This was part of a day where staff and trustees of the Community Foundation spent time with schools, community groups in cafes and on the streets.

Firstly, I’m not going to disclose the location. Many of the people living on the estate are very proud of their community and I don’t believe anything is gained from shining a spotlight on a place and telling people they’re ‘disadvantaged’.

I’m sorry to say that I can’t titillate you with tales of people ‘shooting up’ in alley ways or of burnt out cars in drug filled ghettos. That’s not because these things don’t happen, they just don’t happen at that time of the year. A Cumbrian winter, and especially the cold wet night we were out, is clearly not conducive to high visibility anti social behaviour. We were harangued by a small group of teenagers, but the Police Community Safety Officer (despite her limited stature) soon
sorted them with a combination of wit and directness.

For many of the residents life is hard. There is relatively high unemployment, local pay rates are low, and there are severe problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse. Domestic violence, high teenage pregnancy rates and poor performance at secondary school all influence aspiration and life chances.

But we also found staff in schools showing the most incredible love and dedication.

We met local councillors engaged and committed to making a difference. The police actually had a good relationship in the community and most importantly people choose to live there.

Some of the most important work was being done by self help groups. Quite fragile organisations made up of local people wanted to keep the local park clean, build a new playground or run activities for the kids. Other charities were working with young mums and dads, supporting them in their parenting roles.

It may surprise you to learn that as many as 10% of the people in Cumbria live in similar communities to the one we visited.

What did we learn as a grant maker? Nothing new is the answer, but it did help affirm the importance of backing local people who want to make a difference and improve the life for their friends and neighbours. It was also heart warming to meet people who are so dedicated in their professionalism. And finally it doesn’t harm to be reminded that Cumbria is not all about beautiful mountains and lakes.

For more information visit www.cumbriafoundation.org

Cumbria Grassroots Endowment Challenge Update – Year two begins

The Grassroots Endowment Challenge is seeking to raise money to build permanent grant making funds at the Community Foundation. What’s better is the Government is matching all local donations. These permanent funds are invested and the income used to make grants to local charities – in perpetuity. We welcome donations of all sizes to our main Cumbria Fund and for people able to donate larger sums they can create their own fund.

We’re seeking to raise £1m by March 2011. Year two of the appeal has got off to a good start with a donation of £10,000 from the steel stockists Thomas Graham. Thomas Graham is building a grant fund to support children and young people’s activities throughout Cumbria.

How the scheme works

For every £2 you give the Government will add £1 through the Challenge. If you pay tax and use Gift Aid then £2 becomes £2.56. Add in the match and the fund receives £3.82.

For more visit www.cumbriafoundation.org
© Copyright 2009 Cumbria Community Foundation
All rights reserved 28/05/2009
Registered charity 1075120