Good causes across Furness have received a major cash boost to help keep their services afloat during the pandemic.

Cumbria Community Foundation awarded £12,317 at its recent Furness grants committee, with money coming from funds set up by local people and businesses including the Roselands Trust Fund, Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and the Brian and Ann Clark Fund.

Six community groups have benefited from the funding, which will support running and project activity costs. One woman who has experienced domestic violence also received a grant from the Cumbria Victims Charitable Trust Fund.

Barrow-based Drop Zone Youth Project provides a safe and supportive environment for young people to access services, gain new skills and have fun. It received £3,780 from the Barrow Community Trust Fund to continue offering detached youth work across Dalton.

Sue Johnson, project manager of Drop Zone Youth Projects, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Foundation and funders for their ongoing support for our youth work. We will continue to reduce anti-social behaviour and keep young people safe in the community.”

Wellness at Greenacres, a newly-formed mental health community group, received £500 from the Barrow-in-Furness Grassroots Fund to support children and young people with anxiety. The funding will benefit 20 youngsters who will receive one-to-one support through an outdoor wellbeing programme.

Barrow and Districts Society for the Blind, based on Cavendish Street in Barrow, received £3,850 from the Roselands Trust Fund to continue offering group activities once lockdown restrictions ease.

Chief executive Carl Hodge said: “A lot of our clients like to take part in more daring sporting activities, and we have previously offered walking with alpacas, indoor skydiving, skydiving, curling, horse riding, bowling, cricket, sailing, kayaking, basketball and riding tandems.

“We have seen a change in some of our clients' mental wellbeing and this would have a detrimental effect if these types of activities were to stop.”

Ellen Clements, senior grants and donor services officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are grateful to the generosity of our fundholders to enable us to support these vital services, especially during times when local services are under pressure and struggling to meet local needs.”