We've had some amazing news and we want you to be first to know...

Cumbria’s bid for £2.5 million of National Lottery funding to tackle the causes of climate change in the county has been successful, it was announced today!

This grant will mean a real step change in the level of action in Cumbria to cut carbon emissions, thanks to National Lottery players.

CAfS put together the bid on behalf of nearly 70 organisations in the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, which we co-chair.

It makes possible a hugely exciting five-year programme of actions, developed by and led by the community through the partnership. There'll be lots of activities and initiatives for people to get involved in and benefit from, with a particular focus on food, energy generation and the goods we buy. Importantly, it will also help to strengthen the working relationships between a wide range of organisations - crucial for being able to drive real change. 

The grant brings in significant investment just when it's needed most, as our county begins to rebuild after the Coronavirus pandemic. It will create 12 new green jobs around Cumbria. 

The programme will begin in January, and we'll keep you posted on progress in our newsletter, including job opportunities. There's a lot of work ahead, but for now it's time to celebrate! Our congratulations to all the partners, and our thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for enabling our county to contribute to the global fight to stop the climate crisis at such an unprecedented scale - and in a way that will benefit our communities for generations to come.