Cumberland Council (formerly Carlisle City Council)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £1.5-2 million (through various grant schemes)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Varies by scheme - 4-8 weeks typical for Community Panels
• Grant Range: £500 - £50,000 depending on scheme
• Geographic Focus: Cumberland area (covering former Allerdale, Carlisle, and Copeland districts)

Contact Details

Main Contact:

• Website: www.cumberland.gov.uk
• Phone: 0300 373 3730 (general enquiries)

Community Grants:

• Email: community.funding@cumberland.gov.uk
• Contact for pre-application support and informal discussions about project eligibility

Address:

Cumberland Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG

Overview

Carlisle City Council was abolished on April 1, 2023, as part of Cumbria's local government reorganization, becoming part of the newly formed Cumberland Council. Cumberland Council serves approximately 330,000 residents across the former Allerdale, Carlisle, and Copeland districts. The council has maintained and expanded community grant-making activities, with a strong emphasis on localized decision-making through eight Community Panels. In its first year, the Community Panels invested almost £410,000 in grassroots projects, reaching 11,500 people through 149 organizations. The council's approach focuses on health and wellbeing, community resilience, economic development, and social inclusion. Cumberland Council is led by Chief Executive Andrew Seekings and Council Leader Mark Fryer (Labour), who emphasize putting resident wellbeing at the heart of all council activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Panels - Neighbourhood Investment Fund

• Amount: £500 - £12,000+ per project
• Total Fund: £750,000 annually split across 8 panels
• Method: Rolling applications with quarterly panel meetings
• Awards decided by local ward councillors based on community priorities

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Grants 2025-26

• Healthy and Inclusive Communities (Revenue): £10,000 - £50,000
• Volunteering/social action projects
• Local sports facilities/teams
• Cultural/heritage/arts events
• Thriving Places (Capital): £20,000 - £50,000
• Enhancing cultural/heritage institutions
• Social Economy (Revenue): £10,000 - £25,000
• Supporting social enterprises
• Total Available: £930,000
• Method: Fixed deadline (April 25, 2025 for current round)

Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)

• Amount: £10,000 - £50,000
• Focus on green space improvements and local social economy growth
• Method: Expression of interest process

Priority Areas

Cumberland Council Community Panels have identified four key priorities through community consultation:

1. Community Health and Wellbeing - Projects that improve physical and mental health, support for vulnerable groups, health initiatives
2. Community Resilience - Building sustainable community facilities, emergency preparedness, social infrastructure
3. Community Involvement - Volunteering activities, social inclusion, civic participation
4. Transport for the Community - Improving accessibility and connectivity in local areas

Additional priorities through UKSPF funding include:

• Arts, cultural, creative and heritage organizations
• Sports and leisure activities supporting health and wellbeing
• Visitor economy and tourism promotion
• Business support driving employment growth
• Addressing local skills needs

What They Don't Fund

Based on standard community grant criteria, Cumberland Council typically excludes:

• Individuals (must be voluntary/non-profit organizations)
• For-profit businesses (except through specific business grant schemes)
• Retrospective funding (projects already completed)
• Core running costs and salaries (preference for project-specific funding)
• Projects that duplicate existing services
• Political or religious activities (unless benefiting wider community)
• Projects outside Cumberland boundary

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Andrew Seekings (appointed 2022, prior to council launch)

Council Leader: Councillor Mark Fryer (Labour)

• Portfolio includes strategic direction, economic development, and external relationships
• Key quote on priorities: “We have an ambitious plan for Cumberland as outlined in our Council Plan that puts the wellbeing of our residents at the heart of everything we do. Any new scheme would need to support our objectives for a greener economy that builds wealth locally and provides opportunities for everyone.”

Executive Cabinet Members (2025-26):

• Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Adult Social Care: Cllr Lisa Hinton
• Deputy Leader (Non-Statutory), Children's Services, Family Wellbeing and Housing: Cllr Emma Williamson
• Environment and Planning: Cllr Bob Kelly
• Digital Connectivity and Security: Cllr Chris Southward
• Financial Planning and Assets: Cllr Barbara Cannon
• Lifelong Learning and Development: Cllr Elaine Lynch
• Sustainable, Resilient and Connected Places: Cllr Denise Rollo
• Public Health and Communities: Cllr Justin McDermott

The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 2023.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Community Panels:

1. Submit by the specific panel's deadline (each panel has different quarterly deadlines)

UKSPF/REPF Grants:

1. Email community.funding@cumberland.gov.uk to arrange informal discussion about project eligibility
2. Attend information sessions if available (council hosts pre-application sessions)
3. Request and complete application form
4. Submit by published deadline with all required documentation

Required Documentation (typically includes):

• Minimum of two quotes from independent suppliers
• Detailed budget breakdown
• Recent bank statements for all organizational accounts
• Most recent annual accounts or audited accounts
• Constitution or governing documents
• Last annual report and/or AGM minutes
• Child protection and safeguarding policies (where appropriate)

Decision Timeline

Community Panels:

• Panels meet four times per year (quarterly)
• Decisions made at panel meetings by local ward councillors
• Typical timeline: 4-8 weeks from deadline to decision
• Notification via email

UKSPF/REPF Grants:

• Applications reviewed by investment panel
• Funding available from June 2025 (for current round) pending government confirmation
• Timeline varies but typically 8-12 weeks from deadline to decision

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, performance data shows:

• Year 1 (2023-24): Community Panels awarded £410,000 to 149 organizations
• 2024 examples: More than £3 million invested into Cumberland's communities, including £2 million+ to businesses, social enterprises and community organizations through UKSPF
• Awards range from small grants (£500) to substantial investments (£12,000+)

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. Standard practice for UK councils typically allows reapplication after addressing feedback from previous unsuccessful applications. Recommend contacting community.funding@cumberland.gov.uk to discuss specific circumstances.

Application Success Factors

Key Factors for Success

1. Alignment with Local Priorities - Projects must clearly demonstrate how they address priorities identified by the specific Community Panel or UKSPF objectives. Review the Community Panel's stated priorities before applying.

1. Community Consultation Evidence - Strong applications show genuine community need through consultation, surveys, or letters of support from residents and local organizations.

1. Value for Money - Provide detailed, realistic budgets with multiple quotes. Show how the funding will make a tangible difference relative to the amount requested.

1. Sustainability - Demonstrate how the project will continue to benefit the community beyond initial funding, or how it addresses a specific one-off need.

1. Reach and Impact - Clearly articulate how many people will benefit, who they are (especially vulnerable or underserved groups), and what measurable outcomes will be achieved.

1. Pre-Application Contact - The council actively encourages informal discussions before applying. Use this opportunity to test your idea and get feedback.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

Community Facilities and Accessibility:

• £10,000 to All Saints Church Cockermouth for accessible hall improvements (toilets, kitchen, access)
• £8,410 to St Bees Village Hall for essential building maintenance
• £8,810 to Time to Change West Cumbria for flooring improvements

Health and Wellbeing:

• £3,687 to The Happy Mums Foundation for maternal mental health support groups
• £6,000 to Whitehaven Community Trust supporting young people leaving care
• £8,000 to Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project for building improvements

Community Assets and Activities:

• £12,000 to Proud and Diverse Cumbria for equipment and furnishings
• £3,029 to Friends of Fairfield Primary School for a sensory hub for children with SEN
• £3,000 to Whitehaven District Amateur Boxing Club for competition boxing ring

Green Spaces and Recreation:

• £670 to Cockermouth Town Council for town centre planters and signage
• £1,073 to Keswick Town Council for bicycle parking in Hope Park
• £1,500 to Stanwix Rural Parish Council for play equipment

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without pre-application contact with the grants team
• Insufficient budget detail or single quotes rather than multiple
• Failing to demonstrate clear community need or benefit
• Missing required supporting documents
• Not clearly linking project to panel/fund priorities
• Unrealistic timescales or sustainability plans

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Cumberland Council replaced Carlisle City Council in April 2023 - Ensure you reference Cumberland Council in applications, though the Carlisle area is still served through specific Community Panels and geographic targeting.

1. Pre-application engagement is strongly encouraged - Contact community.funding@cumberland.gov.uk before applying. The council emphasizes making the application process “easy to understand” and offers guidance to improve applications.

1. Know your Community Panel - For smaller, locally-focused projects (under £12,000), target the Community Panel system. The eight panels have distinct priorities based on local consultation, so tailor applications accordingly.

1. Match the right scheme to your project - Community Panels for local grassroots work; UKSPF for larger strategic initiatives; REPF for rural capital projects. Using the wrong scheme reduces success chances.

1. Health deprivation data drives funding allocation - Community Panel funding is weighted using Standard Mortality Rates, meaning areas with greater health challenges receive more resources. Applications addressing health inequalities are particularly valued.

1. Evidence and accountability are essential - Prepare comprehensive supporting documents including quotes, financial records, governance documents, and safeguarding policies. Applications lacking these are unlikely to progress.

1. Decision-making is localized - Community Panels comprise elected ward councillors who understand local needs. Frame applications in terms of tangible community benefit visible to local representatives and residents.

References

1. Cumberland Council - Applications now open for new community grants (2025). Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2025/applications-now-open-new-community-grants [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - Community Panels: a year of investment (2024). Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2024/community-panels-year-investment [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - Investment in Cumberland's communities (2024). Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2024/investment-cumberlands-communities [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - Community projects funded (2024). Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2024/community-projects-funded [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Local Government Association - Community Panels: Cumberland Council case study. Available at: https://www.local.gov.uk/case-studies/community-panels-cumberland-council [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - How to apply for investment from a Community Panel. Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/your-council/community-panels/how-apply-investment-community-panel [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - Apply now for new Cumberland Council business and community grants (2023). Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2023/apply-now-new-cumberland-council-business-and-community-grants [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - Council agrees £1m investment into its communities (2023). Available at: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/news/2023/council-agrees-ps1m-investment-its-communities [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Cumberland Council - Local Government Reorganisation Update. Available at: https://www.carlisle.gov.uk/planning-policy/Latest-News/local-government-reorganisation-cumberland-council-update [Accessed: November 2025]

1. Times and Star - Chief executive appointed for Cumberland Council (2022). Available at: https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/20588125.chief-executive-appointed-cumberland-council/ [Accessed: November 2025]