The research in this project was collected from key local people, these included for example; Parish Clerks, Village Hall Secretaries, Schools, Churches, Women’s Institute Secretaries etc. The information was collected mostly through postal surveys, however informal interviews, and telephone surveys were also used. The total number of postal survey sent out was 398, this report is based on the data from these surveys.

Prior to this project we were unaware of any previous mapping of community groups in rural Carlisle.

The project studied all of the settlements listed by the Carlisle City Council for the Carlisle District. This list contained 108 settlements. The project highlighted that 53% of settlements in rural Carlisle had no activity in terms of local community groups. 20% of settlements had low activity (between 1 and 4 groups), 21% had mid activity (between 5 and 14 groups), and 6% had high activity of 15+ groups.

 ‘Research examining the impact of Community Fund grants on community buildings has found that resources such village halls can improve quality of life by providing a central focal point for a community’. (Community Fund 2003, www.community-fund.org.uk).

A third of groups in the Carlisle District (31%) are sports and Leisure groups, these include groups such as; short mat bowls, badminton, etc. This is followed by groups entitled ‘other’ (20%), then under 8s (16%), then youth (12%), and then older adults (6%). This shows that the groups in rural Carlisle are mostly recreational groups. This finding is to be expected from rural community groups, but it highlights the severe lack of support groups such as; carers groups, and groups for the physically, and mentally disabled. There seems to be a concentration of support groups within Carlisle city centre, but the outreach work from most of these groups is minimal due to lack of resources.

Settlements with Nil Activity

The research showed 55 settlements in the Carlisle District appeared to have nil activity, in terms of local community groups.

We were aware that people in these settlements must go somewhere for their social activity, and presumed that they must go to their nearest active settlement, irrespective of how far away it is. We confirmed this by phoning the local Parish Clerks, in the following pockets of nil activity:

People travel to Smithfield and Hethersgill.

People travel to Longtown, Rockcliffe and Blackford.

People travel to Burgh-by-Sands, and Kirkandres-on-Eden.

Settlement made up of one farm, people travel to Stapleton.

In all of the above examples, it was confirmed by the Parish Clerk, that the local people go to their nearest active settlement, for their social activity. This is irrespective of how far they have to travel.

Longtown, Brampton and Dalston have long been seen as the service centres for the surrounding parishes. They have been described as the ‘anchor point’ for services. There is a neutral affinity to those service centres from the parishes around them. Longtown and Brampton have roughly 12 parishes, which they would consider their hinterland. Dalston is less defined as an anchor point, as its parishes go across to Burgh by Sands and Orton, these settlements would probably see Carlisle as their service centre due to the geography.

Analysis of capacity audit

Number of groups responding 42 (Scotby 4; Wetheral 8; Burgh by Sands 11; Great Orton 2; Great Corby 1; Talkin 2; Haethersgill 1; Houghton 9; Walton 1 and Gaitsgill 3)

Of those responding to each question :-

·        2 (5%) groups had both part-time staff and volunteers (2 part-time staff each)

Other support networks available to groups were reported as Church; Village hall Committee and national Organisations e.g. W.I. and Girl Guiding UK.

Volunteering in the Carlisle District

It was an aim of the project to look at volunteering within the Carlisle District. This was with a view to produce a work plan, so that the partners could promote volunteering more effectively in the future. Part of this work was to investigate the break-up of the urban-rural divide, of volunteers, and volunteering opportunities within the Carlisle District.

The Census conducted in 2001, states that the population of the Carlisle District is 100,739. 54.5% of this in urban wards, whilst 45.6% in rural wards.

Over the past 12 months (September 2002 to September 2003), 223 volunteers offered their services in the Carlisle District, via the Carlisle Volunteer Bureau. 174 (78%) of these volunteers lived in urban Carlisle, whilst 49 (22%) lived in rural Carlisle.

Over the past 12 months (September 2002 to September 2003), there were 137 volunteer opportunities in the Carlisle District, each requiring volunteers. 123 of these vacancies were based within urban Carlisle, whilst 51 were based in rural Carlisle. (Some of these opportunities were both urban and rural).

Despite 46% of the Carlisle District living in rural wards, only 22% of the volunteers come from rural wards. This suggests a much greater percentage of people living in urban wards become volunteers, compared to those living in rural wards. Some explanations for this, include problems of access and communication.

There is a continuous need to promote volunteering in the Carlisle District, as volunteers are always required for both urban and rural wards. However, it should be our priority as partners to pay special attention to the rural wards. This should include promoting the benefits of volunteering to both potential volunteers, and to organisations seeking volunteers.

Support to Rural Carlisle from Established Voluntary Organisations

In the course of the project we researched the support offered to rural Carlisle from voluntary organisations based within the city centre. We were aware that most of the voluntary organisations in Carlisle, were based within urban areas. CVS had a database entitled ‘Charities, Voluntary Organisations & Community Groups’, this contained all of the groups that we knew about as an organisation. It included 136 (81.9%) groups based in urban wards, and 30 (18.1%) groups based in rural wards.

Due to the large difference in the number of groups in rural Carlisle compared to that of the city centre, we wanted to find out if these groups conducted any project/outreach work in the rural areas. This could be for example; a rural minibus service, a telephone helpline, or an allotted rural outreach worker.

The support to rural Carlisle from city centre organisations varied widely. With most organisations seeing the benefits of working in the rural areas, and the need to do so. However, lack of funding was the major obstacle to preventing this.

Home Visits                                                    Telephone Support        

Community Law Centre                                  Cumbria Support Group

Cumbria Support Group                                 Age Concern Carlisle

Age Concern Carlisle                                      Carlisle Counselling Centre

Cumbria Connexions – Young Farmers           NSPCC

Making Space                                                Samaritans

Carlisle Breast Care Support Group                Self Injury Support

Alzheimer’s Society

Outreach Cumbria

Support Workers                                           Outreach Work

Age Concern Carlisle                                      Benefits Advice Weekly Sessions           

Cumbria Connexions – Young Farmers           Carlisle Counselling Centre        

Carlisle Mencap                                             Cumbria Deaf Association                     

NSPCC                                                         Carlisle Society for the Blind

Cumbria Cerebral Palsy                                  Self Injury Support        

Carlisle and Eden Crossroad Ltd                   

Carlisle Carers Association

Day Care                                                       Transport

Age Concern Carlisle                                      Age Concern Carlisle

Alzheimer’s Society                                        North Cumbria Community Transport