Cumbria Constabulary is making small grants of up to £2,000 available to churches so they can set up projects to help residents who are most in need.

The Cinnamon Network – a collective of churches, social enterprises and charities working together - helps run social action projects across the UK.

It supports projects such as night shelters, job and employment clubs, street pastors, befriending schemes to help the lonely, money and debt advice sessions, and youth programmes.

Now it is joining forces with Cumbria Constabulary and the county's police and crime commissioner (PCC) Peter McCall.

Through the partnership, the PCC office will fund three £2,000 micro-grants to enable churches to establish projects that will tackle key local issues.

Churches can choose from a list of tried and tested Cinnamon projects that can be replicated locally.

The new partnership aims not only to ease the strain on police services but provide a more sustainable and effective way of supporting those in need.

Cumbria's PCC Mr McCall is attending today's launch of the new Cinnamon Network partnership at Carleton Hall, the headquarters of Cumbria Police at Penrith.

He will be joined by Chief Constable Jerry Graham and local church leaders, as well as representatives from the Cinnamon Network.

Mr McCall said: "Cinnamon has a great reputation for delivering fantastic projects and together I believe we can make our communities not only safer, but happier places."

According to research carried out by the Cinnamon Faith Action Audit in 2015, faith groups contribute at least £3 billion worth of social and welfare support to the UK every year, helping 48 million beneficiaries in the process.

Matt Bird, founder of Cinnamon Network, said: "This partnership offers a chance to address needs on a local basis, which churches are well equipped to do as they serve their local communities."

Cinnamon began in 2010 in response to growing social need, public sector reform, increasing recognition of the role of voluntary organisations and economic cuts.

In 2014 Cinnamon pioneered their Demand Reduction Partnership work.

It enables churches to set up one of its "recognised projects" that contribute to local policing initiatives.

By partnering with Cinnamon, police forces provide resources to enable 10-15 local churches to access a micro-grant, training and support to set up a tried and tested project that meets a local need.