Team Barrow has announced a package of support worth at least £5m to help boost education in the town’s primary and secondary schools.
The Brilliant Futures Fund, which will be split over five years, follows the launch of the £5m Social Impact Fund earlier this year, meaning Team Barrow has now committed a total of £10m to support vital services in the town.
The money will be used to strengthen learning and increase attainment, and headteachers from Barrow’s schools will be invited to help shape the fund.
It comes on the same day that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced His Majesty the King will confer the ‘Royal’ title to the Port of Barrow, while also describing the town as a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country.
Improving education and skills is a priority for Team Barrow, as is support to the community and this week it also awarded £650,000 from its Social Impact Fund to several local charities and community groups.
Dr Simon Case, the former Cabinet Secretary and now Chair of Team Barrow, said: “It’s critically important for children to receive a good quality education, so we’re delighted to launch the Brilliant Futures Fund and work in partnership with schools in Barrow to help pupils thrive and achieve their ambitions.
“Today’s school children are our future workforce and we must work together and collaborate to give them the best possible start in life, to ensure they have the skills and aspirations needed to enjoy a rewarding career, hopefully here in Barrow.”
The town will undergo significant growth and regeneration over the coming years and last year the Government committed to invest more than £200million to support this, in recognition of Barrow’s importance to national defence and security.
The Social Impact Fund, as well as the Brilliant Futures Fund, are funded by this investment and this week nine charities were allocated grants worth £650,000, ranging from £50,000 to £100,000.
In addition, Team Barrow will work with Cumbria Community Foundation to develop a separate fund worth £85,000, which will provide community groups and organisations access to smaller grants.
Dr Case added: “The town’s community and charitable sector work tirelessly to provide a range of vital services, often to those most vulnerable and in most need, so it’s crucial we support them.
“We want to make sure as many residents as possible can take advantage of the employment opportunities here in Barrow, ably supported by a team of dedicated charity workers and volunteers.
“These initial grants will help to stabilise the sector and provide much needed funds to ensure they can continue delivering these valuable services.”
One of the recipients is Barrow-based SAFA (Self-harm Awareness for All). Chair Ian Burns said: "Team Barrow represents a fantastic opportunity for our amazing community to strengthen and grow, with collaboration at its core. The team have made a fabulous start in catalysing the local charitable sector, to work together to deliver more than the sum of our parts.
“We are very grateful for this grant and commit to ensuring every penny delivers a positive benefit to those in our community who need our support.”
A Stitch Different, which is a community interest company, comprised of parents and carers of young people with Autism and related conditions, also received a grant.
Deborah Twinney, who is from A Stitch Different, said: “We work with several groups, one of which is for young adults with disabilities, where we engage with them to find their strengths and use this insight to teach new skills, so they can grow in confidence and be valued members of the community or ultimately move into the workplace. Without funding these individuals would be left behind and unable to reach their potential.”
Team Barrow is a partnership between central Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems. It has been established to help regenerate the town, revitalising Barrow and Furness as a place where people choose to live, work and thrive.
Its Plan for Barrow, which describes how it will approach the transformation of the town, can be read on its website at https://www.barrowrising.uk