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New initiative allocates £50,000 in grant funding to groups across Lancaster and Cumbria

Wednesday, 10 January 2024 14:40

An initiative by two local groups has resulted in a distribution of grants worth a total of £50,000 across Lancaster and Cumbria.

Led by Lancaster District Community Voluntary Solutions (LDCVS), and Cumbria Youth Alliance, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Francis Scott Trust in 2023, the Break the Mould project, led by 16 to 24-year-olds, selected seven projects from 47 applications across the Lancaster district and Cumbria.

To mark this milestone year, the Trust asked local young people to distribute funds on its behalf. Between June and September 2023, a group of 14 young people came together to design the framework for a new grant scheme. Launching last September, the scheme was available to constituted organisations that worked directly with young people aged 16-24 living and working in Lancaster and Cumbria.

Grants were made to St John's Hospice, Lancashire Youth Challenge, Kent Estuary Youth Project, Always Another Way, Kendal Brewery Arts Centre, North Allerdale Development Trust, and iCan Wellbeing Group. Now with funding, their projects will deliver activities across the Lancaster District and Cumbria.

St John's Hospice will establish a Young Persons’ VOICE Group, integrating youth in decision-making for child bereavement strategies. Kendal Brewery Arts offers 'Future Creatives – Young Music Producers,' inspiring 16-24-year-olds in music production, mental health improvement, and creative career pathways. 'Always Another Way' in Egremont will focus on low-level preventative mental health support for vulnerable youth aged 16 and over.

Find out more about the scheme here

A spokesperson for LDCVS said: ‘’The group of young minds behind the programme showed incredible commitment and innovative vision during the process towards shaping a brighter community offering for young adults in the region.

‘’The collaborative efforts of Lancaster District CVS and Cumbria Youth Alliance brought to life a trail-blazing initiative that has enabled young people to take the reins, to make pivotal decisions in funding crucial projects across Lancaster and Cumbria.

‘’This transformative and unique approach, backed by the unwavering support of the Francis Scott Trust in their 60th birthday year, has revolutionised a new standard for grant-distribution, propelling a fresh perspective on youth-led initiatives and nurturing the potential of young leaders.

One of the decision makers, 17-year-old Layla, said: ‘’Making the final decision was really difficult but also very rewarding.

‘’There were so many great applications that we struggled to pick which ones to go with. I think we came up with the right decisions in the end and we can't wait to see the difference we make.’’

Lancaster District Community Voluntary Solutions (LDCVS) is a registered charity founded in 1972, with a strong history of supporting the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector (VCFSE) and ensuring these organisations are visible, valued and heard.

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