Berry Moyle Rosser, Development Officer at Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service (Cumbria CVS), is giving a boost to the Charity Sector in South Copeland, thanks to Community Investment Funding (CIF) awarded by the South Copeland GDF Community Partnership Investment Panel.
CIF of up to £1 million has been made available to the Community Partnership by NWS as the area participates in the siting process for a GDF. The grants are designed to empower local projects that create economic opportunities, enhance the natural and built environment, or improve community wellbeing.
The focus is on sustainability and leaving a lasting legacy, and in December 2022 Cumbria CVS was granted £148,824 CIF to cover a three-year period.
This funding resulted in the employment of Berry Moyle Rosser, a dedicated Development Officer based in Millom, and a commitment to ensure 40 Third Sector groups in the South Copeland area receive the support they need over the next three years. This has already been exceeded.
The support provided includes:
- Funding advice: Assistance with funding searches and application support
- Governance support: Help with trustee recruitment, training, and reviewing governing documents and policies
- Project/business planning: Guidance on developing robust plans
- Volunteer recruitment: Strategies to attract and retain volunteers
- Project monitoring and evaluation advice: Ensuring projects meet their goals effectively
- The organisation also holds local training and networking events, and volunteers are provided with placements and training to increase skills and confidence.
Below, Berry shares insights on what this means for the people and charitable organisations in South Copeland – and how your organisation could benefit from the support offered.
Tell us about your work at Cumbria CVS…
My role is varied and no two days are the same!I support voluntary groups in South Copeland, from Millom, where I am based, to Eskdale Green. I assist with finding and applying for grants, recruiting trustees or volunteers, and providing training in voluntary management and governance. This includes helping to start charities, drafting constitutions, and developing five-year plans. Thanks to the Community Investment Funding, our service is free, and I enjoy working in this beautiful part of Cumbria, meeting people where they are.
What types of funding and funders can voluntary organisations access with your support?
I have access to an online directory to find grants which are suitable for specific projects. NWS makes up to £1 million available annually to South Copeland (Community Investment Funding), but there are many other local and national funding streams available that I can provide understanding on and access to. By discussing project scopes and needs, I help identify suitable funders to benefit the project.
Since starting in July 2023, I’ve helped secure £230,000 for local groups and initiatives.
How are local projects benefitting from the additional support services on offer?
The work I do is varied depending on the needs of the individual or group. I have helped eight village halls upgrade their audio visual and conference facilities to improve sustainability and increase usage, supported heritage centres in community outreach, assisted tourist attractions in finding volunteers, secured two years of funding for a charity’s work combatting loneliness, and funding for an accessible footpath. Earlier this year, a colleague of mine and myself held a training course on volunteering management, and I am helping organisations to become more sustainable by developing their business plans or setting up Community Interest Companies enabling them to trade for the good of the community they serve in.
What stands out to you about the Voluntary Sector in South Copeland, and how do you see it developing moving forward?
One thing which stands out for me is the resilience and ‘can do’ attitude, which is so positive and infectious. You know you will achieve results, it’s just a matter of finding the right way of doing things, and this is so refreshing. Even if a community group gets knocked down – maybe they did not get the money they needed – they pick themselves up and try again, and if it means looking at different opportunities and trying a different approach, they do.
I’ve worked with over 40 organisations in 10 months and one thing I’m aiming for is to foster more networking among groups. I recently held a networking event with over 25 community groups who learnt from each other over tea and biscuits. The atmosphere in the room was fantastic and I would love to grow and develop these networking opportunities over the coming year, not just by providing opportunities for people to meet in person, but also by introducing a bi-monthly newsletter sharing news from different groups, helping to make sure everyone feels included, connected and informed in what is an incredible part of Cumbria.
If you are interested in learning more, working with Berry, or benefitting from the services on offer, he can be reached at the Millom Community Hub where he has an office in the Duddon Room. He can also be reached on 07826284929 or email at Beresford. MoyleRosser@cumbriacvs.org.uk. His working days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.