Supporting Mid Copeland’s VCFSE Sector: Five months of progress and partnership
August 5, 2026
Over the past five months, our Mid Copeland Development Officer, Kate Grove, has been building connections, offering practical support and helping strengthen local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) groups. In this update, Kate reflects on the progress made so far, the support needs emerging across the area, and the opportunities ahead for organisations and community groups to get involved.
It’s now nearly 5 months since I started with Cumbria CVS as the Development Officer for Mid Copeland.
I provide development support to the VCFSE sector in Mid Copeland, as well as to organisations and groups that deliver services and activities for residents of the area.
Introductory meetings have taken place with key stakeholders, statutory authorities, community leaders, parish councils, local funders and a range of VCFSE organisations and groups; a Project Advisory Group has been set up with members representing these groups of people.
To date, around 30 organisations have been supported through the project, which ranges from light touch support such as information sharing about relevant training or events, guidance on using our volunteering portal, or fact sheets on setting up a new group, to more tailored 1-1 support around funding, project planning and governance.
Interestingly, but probably not surprisingly, funding and volunteering together account for almost two-thirds of all identified support needs so far.
As well as delivering support on a 1-1 basis, I have been involved in delivering our core learning around relevant topics such Funding, Creating a Budget, Volunteer Management and Environment and Sustainability Policy Training. All with the aim to support the VCFSE sector to build capacity and achieve sustainability.
There has been lots of opportunities created to meet groups and organisations face-to-face, whether it’s been 1-1 meetings, at events such as the Copeland Volunteering Fair, CVS Funding Fair and GDF Funding Fair, or at the Drop-in Sessions I’ve been having on a regular basis.
What’s next?
- The 2nd meeting of the Project Advisory Group will take place in September
- A Drop-in Session is being organised in Seascale for October- details will be on our events page soon
- We are delivering our first reworked Environment & Sustainability Workshop on 22nd September
- I am keen to meet more groups and organisations that I haven’t already come across, to offer my support. This includes individuals who are interested in setting up a voluntary or community group or organisation
- I would welcome feedback from VCFSE organisations in Mid Copeland, and from those delivering services or activities that benefit local residents, on the development support provided so far
Please complete the online feedback form here. This will help us shape our development support offer in the future.
Kate
