EIGHT projects in Barrow will share a £135,000 Government pot of money.

In partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Government's Know Your Neighbourhood fund provides up to £30 million to create volunteering opportunities and increase connections across the country.

Cumbria Community Foundation is distributing more than £1 million of the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund over the next two years.

The money will support initiatives in Barrow to boost volunteering and tackle loneliness, help participants improve their mental and physical wellbeing, develop new skills and form social connections.

Eight projects have received a share of £135,000.

The Well Communities received £47,663 to develop a trauma-informed volunteer training programme.

Senior Development Manager Ged Pickersgill said: “We are reactive to the changing needs of the community and this funding will drive social activism and behavioural health change activity in Barrow with a professional and robust approach to volunteer engagement and development. 90% of our staff in Barrow started their journey as volunteers.”

Love Barrow Families received £17,673 to encourage more fathers in the area to join its Community Dads’ Group.

Volunteer Penny Forrest said: “This grant will enable us to publicise and grow the group, and we are excited about being able to involve more dads and extend the range of activities we can offer.”

A Stitch Different CIC provides meaningful activities and real-life work experience for people living with disabilities.

A grant of £3,788 allowed the social enterprise to run a ten-week pilot to work with older adults who have anxiety or other mental health issues, and to encourage parent carers to volunteer and reduce the feelings of isolation, while learning new skills.

Founder Amanda Bland said: “The project is proving a big success especially with carers and individuals struggling with anxiety. Those attending are saying how they are loving trying new things, meeting new people, accessing support, gaining confidence to be more involved in the community ad not feeling so lonely or isolated.”

The College House Community Hub, run by Groundwork NE & Cumbria, received £22,453 to expand the services on offer.

The second round of funding will re-open for applications in April.

Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships, said: "We're delighted to be able to support meaningful and impactful activities in Barrow that encourage volunteering and tackle chronic loneliness. Our first round of grants from the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund have supported a diverse range of activities tackling social isolation and improving wellbeing through the power of volunteering. We welcome applications from organisations in Barrow for the next round in April."

Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships, said: "We're delighted to be able to support meaningful and impactful activities in Barrow that encourage volunteering and tackle chronic loneliness. Our first round of grants from the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund have supported a diverse range of activities tackling social isolation and improving wellbeing through the power of volunteering. We welcome applications from organisations in Barrow for the next round in April."

For more information visit, www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/dcms-know-your-neighbourhood-fund/ or call the grants team on 01900 820827 or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org.