Carlisle Council for Voluntary Service (CCVS) and Voluntary Action Cumbria (VAC) are conducting a joint research project, designed to enhance their working partnership, and to improve services. This has been made possible due to a grant from the Active Community Unit at the Home Office. CCVS and VAC will be working together alongside Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council.

The project is designed to identify any gaps in service provision within the Carlisle area, by carrying out a mapping exercise. This mapping exercise is designed to research the developmental needs of local community groups, and enhance existing support mechanisms. The project aims to map established voluntary and community groups, support networks and facilities in the local area. It will also collate and examine existing consultation evidence/needs analysis survey results e.g. Longtown Market Town Initiative, Cumbria Stress Information Network, LSP.

The Index of Deprivation identifies that nearly 40% of wards in Carlisle are within the top 15% of wards in England that have access problems. The project will highlight areas for collaboration and joint working between the partners, in order to make better use of existing resources and prevent duplication of work in the rural areas of Carlisle.

The activities involved in this project will include; contacting people living or working in rural parts of Carlisle, and visiting local voluntary and community groups. We hope that you can see the benefits of this project, and thank you for your    co-operation.

Yours sincerely,

Lewis Powell

Carlisle Council for Voluntary Service

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