Westmorland and Furness Council is celebrating being shortlisted for not one, but three national awards at this year’s prestigious Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.
The LGC Awards are one of the most significant awards in local government and this year saw record-breaking entries, making it an even greater achievement for the council's three shortlisted entries.
Westmorland and Furness Council has been shortlisted in the following categories:
- Children’s Services: Getting to Good and Beyond – the council’s journey has been impressive. In less than 18 months and following major upheaval following a LGR restructure in 2023, Westmorland and Furness Council has taken its children’s services on a notable and successful improvement journey. This has seen improved outcomes for children, with Ofsted rating the council as ‘Good’. The council has adopted a strategic approach to driving improvement across its children’s services.
- Net Zero: Our Journey to Net Zero – in response to the climate crisis, Westmorland and Furness Council is aiming to ensure that the area it serves is carbon net zero by 2037. Only last year, in 2024, the council launched its five-year Carbon Management Strategy and Climate Action Plan, which details the programme of work that will take it on its net zero journey. The council made significant progress in year one following the completion of multiple innovative projects, working with partners, suppliers, local businesses and communities to rethink the way it approaches carbon reduction, whilst delivering on its services for residents.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Welcome to Work in the Visitor Economy – Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria Tourism partnered together to deliver Welcome to Work in the Visitor Economy, an innovative and needs-led project to tackle the acute issues of high rates of economic inactivity and poor employment outcomes among pockets of our local communities and significant staff shortages in our world-famous tourism sector. To date the project has worked with over 300 people seeking employment and supported 86 into work in our local visitor economy. This approach, involving a range of other public and third sector partners and local businesses, is making a real difference to our communities and economy. This project received £132,701 from Westmorland and Furness Council and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Commenting on the award shortlisting, Sam Plum, Chief Executive for Westmorland and Furness Council, said:
“I am pretty overwhelmed and so pleased for the organisation as a whole. Given we have only been going since 2023, to get shortlisted for three categories in these prestigious awards is a major achievement. I feel it really reflects the quality and commitment of our staff and the projects they are working on and also our overall commitment to achieving better outcomes for our people and place across Westmorland and Furness. Whatever happens next, I couldn’t be prouder.”
The final list of winners will be announced by LGC on 11 June 2025.