A NEW community garden and performance space, and a climbing wall in Seaton are two projects to receive funding from Cumberland Council’s Workington Together Community Panel recently.

Councillors met to consider investment applications from community groups.

St Mary’s Church in Westfield received £3,050 to help build a community garden and performance area for drumming.

The garden, an accessible and welcoming space for residents, will be used to encourage people to grow and cook their own healthy food. Organisers also hope to involve local schools in gardening schemes. The project aligns with Cumberland Council’s ambition to improve access to, and availability of, healthy food.

The funding will also be used to buy drums so that a drumming circle can be set up, using the community garden as a space to practice and perform. Drumming is said to improve mental health and help those suffering from trauma.

Councillors also agreed to award £5,000 to Seaton Scout Group for a climbing wall which can be used by the whole community. The plan is to provide a new and challenging activity to help tackle antisocial behaviour, inactivity, and social isolation. Improving the health and wellbeing of residents is a key priority for the council.

Cllr Jimmy Grisedale, Chair of the Workington Together Community Panel, said: “It is great to see the panel able to continue with its investments in the community. These two schemes will provide real benefits to people in Workington and I look forward to seeing the projects reach fruition and thrive in the future.

"I’d also like to encourage anyone else with a community-led idea which needs investment, to get in touch and see if we can help.”

Cllr Lisa Brown, Statutory Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Adults and Community Health, said: “These two projects are very much what the Community Panels and Cumberland Council is about.

“By providing a space to get outside - whether to learn to grow food, or scale a challenging climbing wall - we not only improve the physical and mental wellbeing of local residents, but build stronger community networks.”

Councillors deferred a decision from Workington Heritage Group for a marquee at the Helena Thompson Museum to allow time to gather more information.