The South Copeland GDF Community Partnership’s Investment Panel has awarded over £500,000 in Community Investment Funding (CIF) to local projects so far during its third year, as the area takes part in the search for a suitable site for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
A GDF is an underground facility designed to safely and securely dispose of the most hazardous radioactive waste.
The South Copeland GDF Community Partnership provides access to up to £1million CIF per year from the GDF developer, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), via the Community Partnership’s Investment Panel, as discussions progress around what a GDF could mean locally.
Projects to benefit so far this year include:
- Bootle Village Hall: £50,000 for a play area next to Bootle Village Hall
- Cumberland & Westmorland Archaeological & Antiquarian Society: £1,020 additional funding to research the history of Irton
- Eskdale Mill Heritage Trust: £4,000 funding to contribute towards volunteer training and costs
- Millom Baptist Church: £46,089 for audio visual equipment
- Millom Bowling Club: £16,000 for a new greens mower
- Millom National Children’s Choir: £5,000 for children to attend national Children’s Choir residential
- Millom RLFC: £45,739 for the installation of Solar Panel System
- Millom Striders Running Club: £2,536 to provide funding for a running event from Millom – West Coast
- Millom Town Council: £8,847 funding to replace public seating and place new seating around the lagoon
- Silecroft Village Hall: £27,964 for village hall audiovisual enhancements
- St Paul’s Church: £400 for Phase 1 of the Anglian Cross & Crusaders Slab Conservation
- West Lakes Rotary Club: £4,295 funding to contribute towards Interpretation Boards for St Paul’s Church to Irton Hall walk
£2million CIF was awarded in the first two years of the Community Partnership towards new facilities and services provided across South Copeland.
Nerissa Nicholas, the Conductor of Millom National Children’s Choir Group, said: “The funding has enabled seven of our choir children to attend two-week long courses in Bromsgrove with the National Children’s choir of Great Britain. This has been a wonderful experience for the children, giving them the opportunity to work with the very best choral and vocal coaches alongside children from all over the country who share their love of music and singing. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received.”
Howgill Family Centre in Millom has received £190,935 over three years from the Partnership. Chair, Janice Brockbank, said: “We are grateful to have received this funding towards Good Enough Start, which contributes to parents understanding of how they develop their baby’s lifelong mental health, shaped by their parent-infant relationship.
“The service offers the opportunity to every baby’s mummy, dad/partner to enhance their understanding and confidence to consciously develop a safe and secure unique relationship.
“Every parent benefits from a little extra support, especially an aspect as important as mental health, so this service offers every parent the opportunity to better understand how their baby’s brain develops to form the foundation for good mental health and their ability to form future healthy relationships.”
Another project, ParkPlay in St George’s Park, Millom, received £5,000 for one year’s delivery. Organiser, Bobby Faull, said: “The funding has enabled us to carry on offering another year of free community play, where all generations can have fun together and enjoy active, inclusive games.
“Every Saturday morning in Millom Park, regardless of weather, we bring families together for support and friendship, creating a safe space for everyone to be together, tacking inequalities and breaking down barriers to participation. Our activities are adapted to suit all abilities, so everyone is welcome.
“The money provided has enabled us to buy new equipment and continue offering drinks and snacks for everyone that joins us.”
A GDF requires both a suitable site and a willing community. If a suitable site is found in South Copeland – a process which could take 10-15 years – a Test of Public Support would give people in the potential host community a direct say over whether the project goes ahead.
Deep geology beyond the coast is currently being considered for siting the underground elements of a GDF. This means a surface facility on, or near, the coast would provide access to a disposal area deep in rock beyond the coast.
South Copeland is one of three Search Areas currently taking part in the siting process for a GDF. Mid Copeland in Cumbria and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire are the others.
To find out more about CIF and apply, visit the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership website: https://southcopeland.workinginpartnership.org.uk/community-investment-funding/