A FRIENDSHIP bench, gardening equipment, and weekly wellbeing group were among the projects supported by the Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel recently.

The panel, part of Cumberland Council, approved its first investments at a meeting on Wednesday, December 7.

With guidance from residents and a network of local partners, community panels direct funds and investment where it is needed most.

At the meeting it was agreed to fund the following projects: Beck Bottom Community Garden - £2,500 for information panels at the Hensingham site and a friendship bench where people can chat, Healthy Hopes - £7,280 towards an adults’ support group in Whitehaven, focusing on better health and mental wellbeing, and £6,485 towards the cost of piloting a new staff role, Red Lonning Community Centre - £1,800 towards the cost of first aid training, gardening activities and equipment for this community centre in Whitehaven, Keekle Village Hall - £5,000 towards improving drainage and accessibility at the car park of this venue near Cleator Moor.

Councillor Lisa Brown, Cumberland Council deputy leader, said: “It’s fantastic that, at this first Whitehaven and Coastal investment meeting, we’ve been able to fund these incredible grassroots projects.

“I look forward to seeing them all come to fruition, supporting the priorities this community has helped us set.”

The panel also formally agreed on its priorities, set in consultation with the community.

They are a local environment where individuals, households and communities can live well and thrive, with better health and well-being for all, addressing inequalities through improved access to services and opportunities, and a local economy that thrives and benefits everyone

Whitehaven and Coastal Community Panel covers the wards of Bransty, Egremont North, Hillcrest and Hensingham, Howgate, Kells and Sandwith, and Mirehouse.

The application deadline for the next round of Community Panel support for Whitehaven and Coastal is February 12. 

She added: “It’s great to see this new way of investing start to gather pace. We are responding very directly to what residents, businesses and other organisations tell us about their communities. Community panels allow us to be responsive and flexible in our support, whether it be funding or other types of investment.”