The South Cumberland Community Panel was scheduled to receive a presentation about the Family Help and Prevention strategy, hear an update on the work of the Community Panel, and to approve applications for funding from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Family Help and Prevention Strategy

The Panel was scheduled for a presentation on the Cumberland Council's Family Help and Prevention strategy¹. The strategy has been designed to respond to the needs of families in Cumberland, and draws on several national policy agendas, including the Supporting Families programme², and the Best Start for Life Early Years Review³. The strategy divides services for children and families into four categories: Universal (open to anyone); Extra Help (Preventative); Targeted Help (Early Help); and Specialist. It is the stated intention of the strategy that services from the Universal and Extra Help categories will be delivered via Family Hubs. The strategy proposes six Main Hubs , approximately 10-12 Spoke Hubs , and a mobile hub named Hub2U which is a refitted bus donated by Stagecoach, a national bus operator. It also proposes the provision of a single digital location for online support. The Main Hubs will be located in areas identified by data analysis and community intelligence. The strategy does not specify where these hubs will be located. The strategy also describes the governance structures that will be used to manage the provision of the Family Hub service, which will include a Strategic Family Help Partnership Board attended by representatives from several departments of Cumberland Council and from other agencies such as the police and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Community Panel Update

The Panel was scheduled for a report on activity that has taken place within the South Cumberland area since the previous meeting on 11 September 2024.

The report pack describes the Council Plan 2023 - 2027, which aims to:

fulfil the potential of our people and our area.

It lists the following priorities identified by the Panel:

• Accessibility and connectivity
• Improving Health and wellbeing
• Improving the local living environment
• Supporting children, families, and young people

Environmental Network Event

The report pack notes that an environmental network event, titled Your Countryside , was held on 3 October 2024 at Egremont Market Hall.

Wider Panel Updates

Library services

The report notes the success of the Summer Reading Challenge that was held across all Cumberland libraries. It describes new activities that are being provided by Egremont Library, Cleator Moor Library, and Millom Library.

Adult Learning

The report pack contains data showing the pass rates for students at Adult Learning centres in Cumberland in the previous year.

Cumberland Youth Voice

The report describes the four young peoples' voice groups that operate in Cumberland:

• Cumberland Youth Council
• Unique Voices
• Chat 2 Change
• Courage Influences Creative Change

It describes the current campaigning activities of these groups.

Youth Substance Misuse Team (YSM)

The report pack describes a project to create educational material about the harms caused by alcohol, funded by the Community Alcohol Partnership.

'Make Your Mark' update

The report pack contains the results of the 2024 Make Your Mark ballot⁴. It explains the process by which young people are invited to vote.

The Family Help and Prevention Roadshows and Hub 2U

The report notes that roadshows are being held across Cumberland to describe the new Family Help and Prevention Strategy.

Cumberlands Healthy Happy Foundations Pledge launched

The report describes the Healthy Happy Foundations Pledge, which encourages early years providers to commit to supporting young children to build strong foundations.

West Cumbria Child Poverty Forum (WCCPF)

The report pack describes the New Horizons report written by Dr Suzanne Wilson about child poverty in West Cumbria.

Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week 18 – 24 November 2024

The report pack describes a series of events that took place in the South Cumberland area during National Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness week.

10p Swims - Make a Splash

The report notes the success of a scheme that allowed school children to swim for 10p during the October half term.

Warm Spots Report

The report pack contains a report on the Warm Spots scheme, which provided funding to groups to provide a warm space for people to attend during the winter.

Christmas Free Parking

The report notes that free parking was available in Chapel Street car park in Egremont on Sunday 24 November 2024 to support a Christmas Winter Wonderland event.

Co-opted Members

The report pack describes a policy that allows Community Panels to co-opt up to three additional members onto the Panel. It describes the process for co-opting members, and invites the Panel to agree to begin the process.

Investing in our Neighbourhood Report

The report pack contains applications for funding from the Neighbourhood Investment Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The report reminds the Panel of their agreed local priorities:

• Improving Health and Wellbeing
• Accessibility and connectivity
• Supporting children, families and young people
• Improving the local living environment

It notes the Panel's decision to implement a policy to approve investments of less than £1,500 outside of the meeting, in consultation with all members.

Cleator Moor Celtic Football Club – CCGA/2203-24

The report pack contains an application from Cleator Moor Celtic Football Club for £5,739 to purchase a pair of freestanding, mobile goalposts.

The club are a registered charity that runs a number of youth football teams. They state that:

The new goals will improve the appearance of the ground and provide greater flexibility for the groundsman.

The report recommends awarding the club £4,750.

Muncaster Microbus Ltd – CCGA/2218-24

The report contains an application from Muncaster Microbus Ltd for £1,461 towards the cost of purchasing a new minibus with disabled access.

The report recommends awarding the funding.

Other investment into the panel area

The report pack describes progress on the Borderlands programme, which is investing in projects in the three towns of Cleator Moor, Millom, and Maryport.

It describes a £13,500 upgrade to Orgill Play Area, and a community planting day organised in partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Holiday Activity and Food Programme

The report pack contains details of the Winter 2024 Holiday Activity and Food Programme, which provides free activities and a nutritious meal each day to children in receipt of benefits related Free School Meals.

Four organisations in the South Cumberland area were scheduled to participate in the scheme, receiving a total of £11,811.59.

Neighbourhood Investment Plan

The report pack contains the South Cumberland Neighbourhood Investment Plan.

Neighbourhood Investment Amendments

The report notes that a previously approved allocation to Mind in Furness will be reduced by £400, returning these funds to the Neighbourhood Investment Fund.