Match funding challenge to tackle West Cumbria’s mental health crisis

We’re calling on people to help us tackle West Cumbria’s growing mental health crisis by pledging support to fund vital community-based services.

The West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership (WCMHP) programme was launched in 2021 as part of the Transforming West Cumbria social investment programme, funded by Sellafield Ltd and delivered by Cumbria Community Foundation.

Since the WCMHP programme began, more than 20 charitable organisations have been funded by Sellafield Ltd, through the Social impact, multiplied (SiX) programme, to deliver accessible, low-level mental health services that prevent mental ill health and promote emotional wellbeing. Over 6,500 adults and 2,200 children and young people have already benefited from this support.

Now, with the launch of a match funding challenge, other businesses, community fundraisers and individuals have the opportunity to step up and help sustain these essential services.

Sellafield Ltd has generously pledged a match funding pot of £200,000 to support future mental health service delivery. For every pound donated to the appeal, Sellafield Ltd will match it £1 for £1, offering businesses, groups and individuals the opportunity to make double the difference.

The Foundation, with a proven track record of running successful match funding campaigns such as the Winter Warmth Appeal, will lead this initiative.

Targeted support in local communities

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice and Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We hear stories week in week out about the way organisations on the ground, funded through the West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership, are helping people to cope in very difficult circumstances. The statistics speak for themselves: hospital admissions for mental health conditions and self-harm are far higher than the national average, and the suicide rate is the second highest in England.

“Through the West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership, young people and adults get the help they need, accessing targeted support in their local communities.

“These vital services are not provided by the NHS and can only be delivered thanks to local fundraising. That’s why we are calling on West Cumbrian businesses, groups and individuals to support this appeal.”

Tracey West, Head of Social Impact for Sellafield Ltd, said: “Sellafield has been proud to fund the West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership since its launch in 2021, demonstrating our commitment to fostering resilience and wellbeing in our communities.

“With the support of Sellafield’s Social impact, multiplied programme, and the dedication of Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF), we have established a range of innovative mental health initiatives to improve lives and strengthen the fabric of West Cumbria.

“Now we are calling on businesses across West Cumbria to demonstrate their commitment to addressing one of our region’s highest priority needs – mental health and wellbeing support. By backing the match funding challenge, organisations can make a real and lasting difference to local people in need of support. This is more than a one-off initiative; we’re working to build a sustainable partnership that delivers long-term impact, and we need others to join us in securing the future of this vital project.”

The first business to pledge support for the West Cumbria Mental Health Match Funding Challenge is global AI-powered digital transformation leader Atos, which has a base in Whitehaven. Atos Client Executive Partner to Sellafield, Leigh Seaman, said: “Atos are really proud to be the first business supporter of the Match Funding Challenge, as we recognise the huge impact mental health has in the workplace and the wider community.

“It is an honour to be able to support charities who are doing so much to help people with mental health challenges in West Cumbria. With a large local team, we can be sure that their vital work in some way touches our colleagues, alongside thousands of others across the region.”

Voluntary sector organisations are at the heart of delivering mental health services in West Cumbria, and their work is vital to building community resilience and reducing stigma.

Organisations funded to deliver services through West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership include Always Another Way, Citizens Advice Allerdale, Citizens Advice Copeland, Cumbria Youth Alliance, Mind in Furness, Together We and the Windmill Trust.

Support for those struggling comes in many forms, from one-to-one counselling and physical activities such as walking groups, to tailored sessions for those recovering from abuse and addiction.

Ways to donate

There are several ways you can support the West Cumbria Mental Health Match Funding Challenge:
• Donate online at https://cumbriafoundation.enthuse.com/cf/wcmh-match-funding-challenge
• Make a donation by telephone by calling 01900 825760. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
• Send a cheque, payable to ‘Cumbria Community Foundation’ to Cumbria Community Foundation, Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, CA13 0PN. Please write ‘West Cumbria Mental Health’ on the back of the cheque.
• Organise a fundraising event – see our Fundraising Guide for inspiration.

Chris’s story

Chris Young, of Cleator Moor, received counselling from Together We to address mental health problems he has faced throughout his life as a result of sexual abuse as a child.

He said: “I’ve had a lot of issues within relationships, I’ve done a lot of soul searching and I came back to the fact that there was something that I hadn’t really addressed which was my childhood sexual abuse.

“There’s a huge importance in speaking to people. Sometimes you don’t even necessarily need answers or solutions.

“The counselling sessions allowed me to unload and to speak about things which I haven’t spoken about in detail before, just to try and move on past them.”