MORE than £75,000 has been awarded to community projects across Cumbria - which will help tackle mental health issues, rural isolation, financial wellbeing and improve access to sport and recreation.

A further £12,616 will go towards educational and vocational training fees for 18 people. The £89,760 pot was awarded during Cumbria Community Foundation’s recent grants panel, with the £77,144 shared among 26 charitable organisations.

Administered by the foundation, the money came from 24 grant-making funds, including those set up by the William Milburn Charitable Trust and Westmorland Family Community Fund.

Among those benefitting from the scheme is Penrith Cricket Sports and Social Club, which will be awarded £1,500 from the Rowan Fund.

The money will be used to increase the number of coaches and help deliver more sessions during both the winter and summer, and introduce female and disability sessions.

Andy Hall, chairman of the club, said: “We currently run nine teams and have plans to significantly increase the number of junior and senior teams, with women’s, girls and disability cricket being at the heart of the planned development over the next three years.

“To be able to maintain and significantly develop participation, we rely on volunteers giving their time to coach our players.

“The support of Cumbria Community Foundation is absolutely crucial to enabling us to develop and go a long way towards securing our long-term sustainability at the very heart of our local community.”

Carlisle Society for the Blind received a total of £5,000 from Abbeyfield Carlisle Society Over 55 Community First Fund and Janetta Topsy Laidlaw Trust Fund.

The grant will support its regular, monthly home-visiting service to 80 members with different levels of visual impairment and sight loss across the Carlisle district.

This support to predominantly elderly people includes, general advice, demonstration of household adaptations and help in reading mail and writing letters.

Ellen Clements, senior grants and donor services officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our fundholders we are able to support many worthy community organisations around the county. These organisations are vital for tackling issues affecting our communities.”

The closing date for Cumbria Community Foundation’s next main grants panel is September 27. For more information, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org or call a member of the grants team on 01900 825760.