Community Activities
Two community projects making a positive impact on people’s lives and wellbeing across West Cumbria region have recently received vital support thanks to the third round of grants from Eaves Funeral Service’s Community Assistance Programme.
The latest recipients are:
Healthy Hopes Cumbria – a Community Interest Company that runs weekly health & wellbeing groups across West and North Cumbria. The groups provide support and fellowship to individuals, as well as activities, refreshments and engaging topics of discussion. Healthy Hopes currently operate groups at three locations in Whitehaven:
● Bransty Legion on Wednesdays from 12:30-2:30pm
● New Life Church on Thursdays from 10:00-11:30am
● Monkwray Court on Fridays from 1:30-3:30pm
The award of £500 from Eaves Community Assistance Programme will further the skills of Healthy
Hopes staff and volunteers by funding First Aid training.
ICU Steps Cumbria – a charity that runs eight-weekly support groups and exercise classes for the benefit of people who have recently suffered from critical illness by offering support for the physical and psychological impacts following an ICU stay. The group, which does not receive NHS funding, currently meets at St. John’s Church Hall, Hensingham.
The award of £500 from Eaves Community Assistance Programme will help the charity by funding facilities and refreshments as well as supporting the group to offer exercise classes and equipment for recovery.
Eaves Funeral Service Business Principal Mike Jolly said: “We are very proud to support these exceptional projects in the Whitehaven area. Both organisations are dedicated to making a difference to people’s lives and providing meaningful support to people when they need it most, and we’re privileged to help them continue to make a difference.”
Funeral Director Sophie Openshaw added: “Our third cycle of funding has allowed us to highlight again the kindness and dedication happening right on our doorstep.”
Mike Hawkins of Healthy Hopes added: “We are delighted to receive this funding from a well-respected local firm. It will enable us to offer first aid training to not only staff but to our members who would like volunteer with us, which in turn will support their own personal development.”
Louise McCreadie, LaCI Practitioner at ICU Steps, said: “The money donated by Eaves Community Assistance Programme will be a huge help in the development of the exercises classes. Some of the funding will also be used to purchase equipment to aid with finer dexterity for our patients, who are often in induced comas and lose a great deal of muscle tone and muscle mass during the admission period.”
Based in Whitehaven, Eaves Funeral Service launched their programme in February 2025 to provide financial support for community-based projects that improve the quality of life of residents and benefit people who live within three miles of their funeral home at 175-177 High Road. Projects must be non profit and align with one or more of the fund’s categories; Health, Education, Employment Opportunities
and Poverty or Social Deprivation.
With the programme now complete, Eaves Funeral Service looks forward to continuing its long-standing role within the community through ongoing care and support.
For more information about the fund, visit our Community Assistance Programme page here