Helping Hands 

Helping Hands Cumbria has reached a significant milestone as it officially concludes its journey in April 2024.

Led by the Cumbria Museum Consortium, this project has been instrumental in reshaping the landscape of cultural and volunteer engagement within our region.

Supported by a £490,000 grant from Arts Council England through the Volunteering Futures fund, a £7 million initiative launched by DCMS in 2021, Helping Hands has placed over 420 volunteers into a diverse array of roles across Cumbria, in collaboration with more than 40 cultural and community partners.

The project’s reach has been substantial, engaging over 825 participants and making substantial strides in improving community well-being, enhancing workforce diversity, addressing loneliness and isolation, and dismantling barriers to volunteering.

As the project concludes, the Helping Hands team remains committed to its mission, working closely with partners to continue recruiting volunteers and implementing training and resources that reflect on the project’s invaluable learnings and legacies.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the success of Helping Hands to date. We encourage continued engagement during this transitional period.