MORE than a dozen organisations across Cumbria have been awarded funding to tackle inequalities in physical activity.

15 groups across the county have received the financial boost, administered via the Active Cumbria body.

Of those 15, six are based in Barrow. They are: the Furness Multicultural Forum (which as received £500); Cando FM (£5,438); Walney Community Trust (£3,531); Dropzone (£3,520); Love Barrow Families (£3,983); Women Community Matters (£5,041).

Active Cumbria has been awarded a further £50,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, which aims to tackle inequalities in physical activity.

This is the second round of funding that Active Cumbria has been awarded to provide support to community groups and organisations that are supporting those disproportionately affected by COVID -19.

The projects that have received funding are designed to reach out to those from lower socio-economic groups, Black, Asian Minority Ethnic communities, people living with a disability, and those with long-term health conditions, to enable them to continue to exist and engage with their communities with a view to keeping them active during both the lockdown and early recovery stages.

With a second round of funding, Active Cumbria says it can now expand its reach and support more organisations.

The cash is designed to reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity levels in under-represented groups, ensuring gaps between those who are active and those who are not does not widen during this period.

Richard Johnston, Senior Operations Manager at Active Cumbria, said: “This is great news for us as a County. We’ve already allocated the initial funding of £50,000, supporting 15 organisations including disability, BAME and women’s organisations, with this additional funding we can support even more.

"We have had interest in the fund from such a wide range of organisations it has been difficult to choose which ones to support, but we have looked for projects ready to go and organisations that really understand their audience.

"We were successful in our application alongside national organisations such as Sporting Equals and England Boxing, so this is a great news for us as a partnership”.

Jason Gooding, Chair of Active Cumbria Advisory Board, said: "I am really pleased Active Cumbria have received a second round of the Tackling Inequalities Funding to help reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity.

"It's equally pleasing that Sport England recognise the local significance of Active Cumbria. It is not the usual route for funding, and is testament to the teams understanding of local issues and local connectivity."