News

Familiar face in new role at ACT PR

2012-05-15T16:11:34+00:00

ACTion with Communities in Cumbria welcomes their new Chief Executive Lorrainne Smyth...

Local communities encouraged to plan for emergencies

2012-05-14T17:21:23+00:00

Local community groups are being invited to a conference to learn about the benefits of community and recovery planning...

‘The Power for Change’ Conference - 16 May 2012

2012-05-08T16:30:00+00:00

The Power for Change: Emergency and Recovery Planning for Communities - 16 May 2012

ACTion with Communities in Cumbria is holding a conference in collaboration with Cumbria County Council, Cumbria CVS, Environment Agnecy and the Cabinet Office. Learn more about the benefits of an emergency and recovery plan and how you can work with agencies and local authorities to prepare one for your community.

To reserve a place please contact Dani Hudson at ACT on Tel: 01768 869511 or Email: danihudson@cumbriaaction.org.uk

Download Conference Flyer

Village SOS Roadshow – 12 June, The Rheged Centre, Penrith

2012-04-11T17:58:52+00:00

Village SOS Roadshow - 12 June, The Rheged Centre, Penrith

The Big Lottery Fund is continuing their series of events from last year which took the message of community enterprise out to rural communities. The Events offered a great opportunity for communities to get hands-on advice from rural and enterprise specialists. Inspirational examples of community enterprises like community -owned shops and pubs, broadband projects or transport schemes shared their experiences. There were also appearances from the 'village champions' of the BBC1 series Village SOS. The next of these free events will be held at the Rheged Centre in Penrith on Tuesday 12 June 2012.

For more information, please visit the Village SOS website

Tebay and Orton Tourism Event

2012-03-08T14:04:38+00:00

Tebay and Orton recently became the centre of attention for Tourist Information Centre (TIC) staff from across Cumbria...

Watch TV news clip

Emergency Planning in Coniston

2012-02-29T10:22:52+00:00

On Tuesday 28^th February Coniston residents joined forces with emergency services to test out the community’s new Emergency Plan.

Melbreak communities celebrate action plan launch

2012-01-11T12:14:31+00:00

The ‘Melbreak Communities’ of Buttermere, Loweswater, Blindbothel, and Lorton, in West Cumbria, have been celebrating the launch of their Community Action Plan.

St James Vestry in Tebay reopens after 40 years

2012-01-03T13:27:00+00:00

The congregation of St James Church Tebay got an extra special Christmas present this year with the opening of the newly refurbished vestry...

Commission for Rural Communities visit Cumbria

2011-12-13T19:40:22+00:00

Cumbria showcased some of its best community projects to the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) who paid a special visit to the county on the 6^th and 7^th December 2011, organised by ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT).

Consultation on preparation and sale of food in Community Buildings

2011-12-12T14:48:01+00:00

Following the publication of the UK Government’s response to the hospitality theme of the Red Tape Challenge, the Food Standards Agency is today launching a two month initial consultation into how food law applies to community halls (such as village or church halls) that are used for the preparation, sale or supply of food.

Click here for the consultation documents:

While ACT watch their flock by night

2011-12-07T11:43:10+00:00

This year ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) have decorated their Christmas tree with a flock of hand made sheep inspired by the Eden Arts Flock project. To help promote the local sheep farming industry, the ACT flock has been produced by ACT staff in their spare time, from 100% natural, Cumbrian sheep wool.

Localism Conference Dec 2011

2011-11-23T12:39:38+00:00

ACT Development Officer Julia Wilson will be leading a seminar on localism in Cumbria at the NCVO / ACEVO Localism Conference on December 9th in Birmingham

Click here for more information

Village SOS North West Event - 23 Nov

2011-10-18T15:49:17+00:00

Rural communities across the North West are being urged to attend a free event on 23rd November in Preston that will see business experts and rural specialists descend on the town to help struggling communities revive their villages...

Vilage SOS launched

2011-09-15T11:32:10+00:00

A new campaign by the Big Lottery Fund has been launched to help communities restore village life by starting new business ventures. Village SOS is a national campaign which includes a £5m funding pot. Awards from £10,000 to £30,000 are available for the brightest ideas for new community enterprise that will make a lasting difference in rural communities. It is being delivered by the Plunkett Foundation in partnership with Co-operatives UK, Locality and ACRE.

The initiative was launched to coincide with the start of the six-part BBC1 series Village SOS, which airs at 8pm on Wednesdays. As well as an advice line, the campaign includes a website which includes a series of downloadable start-up guides. The website also includes a community network area, giving communities a space to share their ideas and inspire each other.

There are three main entry requirements for the competition; applicants must be a community enterprise, the village must be in a rural area and have fewer than 3,000 people living in it and there can only be one entry per village.

The closing date for entry is 5pm Thutrsday 6th Ocober. In order to enter the competition, you must be a Village SOS member. For more information and to become a member, visit the Village SOS website: www.villagesos.org.uk or call the helpline on Tel: 0845 4349 123

ACRE joins launch of the Buy Fuel Early campaign

2011-09-14T14:58:41+00:00

ACRE in collaboration with DECC, Defra, Consumer Focus, Citizen’s Advice and the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers are launching a campaign to encourage heating oil customers to buy early to avoid running out of fuel this winter.

As part of the campaign, ACRE, Citizen’s Advice and the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers have produced Best Practice for Oil Buying Groups. The publication provides practical information to help communities set up and run buying groups to save money by purchasing oil in bulk. It also features case studies from Oxfordshire RCC and Norfolk RCC and their oil buying syndicates.

DECC and Defra are supportive of the need to encourage heating oil customers to prepare now and avoid running out of fuel this winter and Citizen’s Advice are also launching web resources as part of the Buy Fuel Early campaign. For more information, please visit the Climate Change section of the ACRE website.

Cumbria County Council free Community Transport Seminar

2011-09-14T11:38:50+00:00

Click here for more information about the event on Saturday 1st October

Click here for a booking form

What did the Romans ever do for Tebay

2011-07-19T14:28:55+00:00

A local community archaeology group is planning an open day at Tebay Roman Fort dig. Lunesdale Archaeology Society, supported by ACTion with Communities in Cumbria, are looking forward to welcoming members of the public to a free open day at Low Borrowbridge Farm in the Lune Gorge, south of Tebay.

Eden Valley Communities – Big Society in Action

2011-06-22T17:34:51+00:00

Over 100 people gathered at the Rheged Centre to hear about the experiences and achievements that are really making a difference to the people involved in the Eden Valley Big Society Vanguard, the only RURAL Big Society vanguard in the country...

Flooding challenges in Borrowdale: the community’s first step

2011-05-31T19:02:48+00:00

Following the devastating floods in November 2009, a group of Borrowdale farmers, community representatives, and public agencies have been meeting and working together to take on Borrowdale’s flooding challenges…

New Chief Executive for leading county charity

2011-05-25T19:04:19+00:00

Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT) welcomes Ruth Willis as their new Chief Executive…