More than £2.7 million has been awarded to good causes across Cumbria, off the back of three recent Cumbria Community Foundation grants committee panels.

A total of 186 grants worth £2,719,402 were distributed to community organisations and individuals.

The funds were established by people and businesses from the region, including Burnetts, Castles & Coasts Housing Association, and Fibrus.

128 community groups in total received £2,662,405, and 58 individuals benefited from £56,997 towards the cost of overseas trips, equipment, and course fees.

Community centres and village halls across Cumbria were awarded funds for repairs, facility improvements, and increased accessibility.

Among the beneficiaries was Broughton Moor Parish Council, which received £46,000 from the Broughton Moor Wind Farm Fund for the refurbishment of the village community centre.

The centre will now be able to host soup and sandwich lunches and pie and pea suppers, and to offer catering options during private functions.

Time to Change West Cumbria received £15,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide barista and customer service training to unemployed volunteers to help run the coffee bar at the community centre in Kells.

Grasmere Village Hall Company was granted £15,000 for a generator, enabling the village hall to serve as a refuge centre during power outages.

Among other beneficiaries was the Ashton Group in Barrow, operating as Theatre Factory, which received £5,000 from the Brian and Ann Clark Fund towards the cost of a community engagement project.

Annalee Holliday, head of grants practice & programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: "We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our fundholders which enables us to support so many fantastic causes and organisations across the county.

"Community groups and charities do fantastic work to support those in need all over Cumbria and we are very pleased to be able to support those efforts through our grant making programme."

For more information or to apply for funding visit www.cumbriafoundation.org, call the grants team on 01900 820827, or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org