This Fund offers a simple way for holiday homeowners in the Lake District and Cumbria to give back and make a difference to local communities and the most vulnerable people who live there. To join the fund, you can make an annual donation of one week’s rent – you pick the week to donate, or donate the equivalent if your property is not rented out – and funds raised will help specific community projects in the Lake District and rural Cumbria.

By subscribing to the Cumbria Home from Home Fund you will automatically become a member of the Cumbria Club, a group of like-minded people with an interest in the county and receive updates on how your donation is being used via monthly newsletters and invitations to exclusive events to hear first-hand from beneficiaries. You will also receive a logo that you can use in your marketing and a window sticker to highlight the contribution being made to the local community. A PR and digital campaign will highlight the benefits of this fund to ensure the local community know that holiday homeowners are doing their bit to help those most in need in their communities.

Why is this Fund necessary?

Cumbria and the Lake District is a world-class visitor destination and yet this beautiful landscape with its rich cultural heritage is also disguising the fact that many people living in our county are experiencing extreme poverty and hardship at levels normally associated with large urban areas.

Why should holiday homeowners help?

We know that holiday home owners choose to own a property in Cumbria and the Lake District National Park, no doubt because of the beautiful landscape, the wildlife, culture, food etc. For that holiday home to be successful as a business – or to remain a beautiful place for the owner to visit – a healthy and happy local community is essential to ensure the area remains a successful and sustainable visitor destination.

Why is the fund being launched now?

Covid-19 has exacerbated hardship and poverty in disadvantaged communities. It hit the Cumbrian economy particularly hard because 1 in 4 people depend on visitor spending for their livelihood and in lockdown, the industry shut down. Rural communities have been more isolated than usual with redundancies and furlough, reduced public transport, poor broadband, rising house prices and less support for the most vulnerable – the elderly, people with disabilities and children across all age groups. We are very aware that the quality of life in our rural areas has been setback by the pandemic, and we want to help where we can.

How will the fund be managed?

The Cumbria Home from Home fund will be managed by Cumbria Community Foundation and will focus on working with organisations with a proven track record in and around the Lake District that are addressing poverty and hardship. For example, this fund will support:

Training and employment opportunities for young people to access skills and jobs, identify opportunities and build self-esteem

Wellbeing and mental health projects

Village Halls and other community support initiatives

Activities to encourage people to access the outdoors, especially young people and people with disabilities

Activities for older people suffering from dementia, hardship and loneliness.

“I feel fortunate to own a holiday home in Troutbeck and while the income it generates is an important source of revenue for me and I always promote the local village shop to my customers and use local suppliers, I still feel a weeks rent is a small contribution to make to help those less fortunate than me. For me the Cumbria Home from Home Fund is the perfect solution, as holiday homeowners are joining together to have a greater impact and I trust Cumbria Community Foundation to use this money in the best way possible – they know where the need is greatest and work with organisations best placed to deliver success.” Owner of South Stonethwaite Cottage, Troutbeck.