CHARITIES across Cumbria have received nearly £400k in grants.

A total of 58 charitable organisations received a share of the funds at Cumbria Community Foundation’s recent grants panel.

The money will support a wide range of projects across the county such as improving community and sports facilities, offer additional youth provision, support those at risk of homelessness and give help to those with addiction issues.

Among the recipients is Heron Corn Mill in Beetham, near Kendal, which is a Grade ll listed building situated on the banks of the River Bela and is one of the few working mills left in Cumbria.

The re-developed barn is used as an educational and arts resource and a building for community hire.

It received £4,963 from the Pappagallino Fund to continue its activities programme.

Audrey Steel, Creative Project Manager at Heron Corn Mill, said: “Our adapted programme in response to COVID-19, enables all our resident and community groups to stay engaged with us, whether this is through online resources, video meetings, or as with the elderly group, Powsowdie, a box delivered every month containing activities, resources and freshly prepared food, all to a theme, to gather memories and responses.

"Powsowdie is normally held at the Mill and is a reminiscence project. It is currently going out as a ‘boxed’ offering to isolated elderly or disabled people in the area.

Another charity which benefitted from the funding was Kent Estuary Youth (KEY) which works with young people in Arnside, Levens and Milnthorpe.

The charity received £3,000 from the Cumbria Young People’s Fund to sustain and extend the range of youth work on offer.

Greg Tagney, Trustee, said: “We are truly grateful for the support from CCF which enables KEY to continue our work with the young people within the Kent Estuary area.

“We believe in young people having a strong voice in their activities and in how KEY develops its work."