A major survey has been launched to gather the views of residents, workers, and students in Carlisle and the surrounding rural towns and villages. The survey, entitled “Carlisle: Opportunities and Challenges”, aims to analyze the city’s social needs and community issues, as well as identify opportunities to help communities thrive.
Commissioned by Cumbria Community Foundation, the report will highlight existing efforts to address disadvantage in the area and provide insights on how to further improve the community’s well-being. The survey is open to all individuals in Carlisle, Brampton, Dalston, Longtown, and surrounding rural areas, and can be accessed online at www.cumbriafoundation.org/community-needs.
The consultation process was launched with an online public meeting on Tuesday, July 9th, where participants had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the project. The report follows three similar reports produced by the Foundation since 2017, focusing on the whole county, West Cumbria, and Furness.
A steering group, chaired by Kevin Walsh, Vice Chair of Cumbria Community Foundation, has been set up to ensure the report reflects the needs and priorities of the Carlisle area. Walsh stated, “The previous reports have proved to be key resources, both for bringing people together and securing investment to address areas of need in these communities.” He also urged as many people as possible to fill in the survey and share their thoughts to ensure the report accurately represents the views of the community.
Funding for the report has been provided by Kingmoor Park, Sellafield Ltd, Riverside Housing, and the previous local authorities of Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council. The report will be used to inform and influence key decision-makers, including local authorities, government, potential philanthropists/donors, funders, healthcare providers, businesses, and third sector organizations.
The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete and can be accessed online at www.cumbriafoundation.org/community-needs. Paper copies are also available upon request, and any queries can be directed to carlisleneeds@cumbriafoundation.org. The survey is open until Thursday, July 18th, 2024.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.