Great News - A big thank you to all the National Lottery Players.

The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded us £103,542 to run our services from August2022 until July 2024.

Over the two years our aim is to improve the lives of at least 1750 local people by providing specialist benefit advice leading to additional and uplifted benefit entitlement of 11 million pounds. A further 110 people with physical disabilities will experience improved well being and reduced social isolation as a result of participating in drop in sessions.

Onward and Upwards

As many of you will know, we have been after moving into the space previously occupied by the library here at the Community Centre for some time now. We were all set to move at the end of last year when unfortunately many issues including water ingress and needing new windows came to light.

Since then we have been fund raising and engaging with the Cumbria Exchange to find help providing the labour and skills to carryout the work on a voluntary basis.

We have just had the fabulous news that we have been given 'A National Lottery Award from The National Lottery Community Fund for £10,000. This means we can begin the work that will create a bigger, brighter space from which to deliver our services. Our thanks go out to all the National Lottery Players who make these grants possible.

We have been very fortunate to receive funding to keep us running during these very unusual times, our sincere thanks go to Cumbria Community Foundation and the Pappagallino fund £6800 enabled the purchase of mobiles, airtime and Paul’s salary for three months at the beginning of lockdown to ensure the service could continue.

Thanks also go to both Allerdale Borough Council for their continued support, this year giving us a grant of £20,000 and to Cumbria County Council for a grant of £4500.

2020

What a year this has been, the threat of Covid has forced us to close the drop-in and clients needing welfare benefit advice are being helped over the phone.

In the midst of all this we are grateful for all the support we have received from funders, Cumbria Community Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund. The lottery grant was part of the government funding for charities during the first lock down. The lottery funding a total of £26,200 covered our costs to keep operating for six months, without which we would have had to close.

We were also very surprised and grateful to receive a £400 donation that was raised by the son of a lady who was a member back in the 90's. Marilyn passed away many years ago and her son left the area, but during lock down he came across our website and created a funding page for ADA. The money raised by Wayne went towards the Christmas hampers we have delivered to our members to remind them of their friends at ADA

Salterbeck Cemetery

Following the closure of the gates at the cemetery and the subsequent silent protest held at the cemetery by members of the community, press coverage stated that we had been consulted prior to the closure.

We contacted the press following the story being published and requested that the following statement also be printed:

With regards to Salterbeck Cemetery, Allerdale Disability Association would like to clarify that they were contacted by the local authority 1 week after the gates were locked. While we appreciated the need to close the gates on health and safety grounds until much needed repairs to paths take place, our suggestions for after that were deemed as not feasible.

High Sheriff of Cumbria

We were contacted by the Cumbria Community Foundation back in January to ask if we would receive a visit from them and the High Sheriff and his wife. As the foundation has supported us over many years and often provided the funding at times when otherwise we may have folded, we were delighted to accept.

They visited on a Tuesday afternoon and not only did we meet the High Sheriff, but the party included the Chairman of Cumbria Community Foundation. They put everyone at ease and stayed about an hour for tea and biscuits and a good chat with all present.

After visiting us they had a tour of the whole site, and then went to meet another group based at Moorclose Community Centre that had received support from the Foundation, South Workington Youth Partnership.

In March we were invited to attend the High Sheriff Awards Luncheon, which Tracey and Peter attended, along with people from the Youth Partnership and the Community Centre. We felt privileged and proud to go and represent ADA.

Georgia is our Total Warrior

On Saturday 5th August 2017Georgia Rumney took part in the 10k Total Warrior, she said 'me and my team of 11 completed the course in 2 hours 20 minutes – not the quickest time due to a few niggles, but we made it round the course as a team.

It was very hard work, but also very rewarding. Now that I’m warm, clean and the aches are slowly subsiding, (dare I say it) I would do it all over again!

As promised, here are some lovely pictures of me in action (I really didn’t enjoy the ice bath as much as it looks like I did!)

Funding News - January 2017

Our thanks go to everyone at Cumbria Community Foundation for their support to ADA, not just financially but also for their advice, and willingness to share their knowledge of the local community and other funders who may support our organisation.

They have just awarded us £10,000 towards the salary costs of employing our welfare benefits advisor, who up to now did this on a voluntary basis.

Once again many thanks to all the wonderful staff at the foundation, their fundholders and supporters.

Christmas Concert

On Wednesday 14th December 2016 we gathered in the Theatre at Moorclose Community Centre to be entertained by the children from Beckstone Primary School. We were all enchanted by their re-enactment of the story of the Grinch stole Christmas and everyone joined in with the Christmas songs.

Santa arrived for the end of the concert and gave all the children a present to thank them for coming to brighten our Christmas celebration.

We all then moved to our rooms within the Centre to enjoy good company and good food.

Christmas Concert

This annual event will take place this year on Wednesday 14th of December at 1.15pm. Members wishing to attend should let us know at their earliest convenience.

Sincere thanks to the staff and children of Beckstone Primary School for agreeing yet again to come and perform for us. Their continued support of this annual celebration is the festive highlight for so many of us.

Allerdale Disability Association- 40 Years Celebration

On 8th June 2016 our President Sir Tony Cunningham and his wife Lady Cunningham, members, volunteers and invited guests gathered to mark the 40th Anniversary of Allerdale Disability Association with a hog roast and a celebratory cake made by the Association Manager, Tracey.

The wall hanging seen behind Chairman, Peter Mallyon and Sir Tony was made by members of the drop-in. They made their own felt and created the design to depict the associations history.