Category: Community

A Michelin-starred lunch, a great takeaway, a romantic meal for two, or some brilliant light bites – they’re all on offer in the Cockermouth Charities Week Dining Delights Raffle!

Tickets cost just £1 and all the proceeds will go to Cockermouth Linking Lives, an organisation which offers a befriending service to scores of people in and around the town. Tickets are on sale seven days a week at The Children’s Society Shop on Main Street, as well as at other businesses. They will also be on sale outside Cleelands furniture store on Saturday 20 July.

Cockermouth Charities Week is organised by Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade and, this year, runs from Monday 15 July, with stalls all around the streets on Saturday 20 July. Most of the businesses are organising their own fundraising efforts, with competitions, games, prize draws and more for the charities of their choice. There will also be a free children’s treasure hunt and an Eat in To Help Out initiative to encourage residents to cook for their friends in return for a donation.

In 2023, the Charities Week saw £18,000 donated to 35 different causes by more than 70 companies. They also raised the profile of these organisations, sharing their expertise and skills.

This year, two of Cockermouth’s sporting superstars, world-class cricketer Ben Stokes and Olympic swimmer Luke Greenbank, have thrown their support behind the event.

Charities Week co-ordinator and Chamber of Trade member Andrew Marshall, whose family run Strolling4Shoes, said: “Huge thanks to every eatery which has donated a prize to the Dining Delights Raffle. We have thousands of tickets to sell so if you can spare just a pound – or a little more – to benefit the brilliant Cockermouth Linking Lives charity that would be great.”

Terry Peate of Cockermouth Linking Lives added: “We are so grateful to Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade for choosing us as their charity for 2024.

“Nearly four million people in the UK only have their TV for company and around nine million people say they are lonely. They are heartbreaking statistics.

“Loneliness can have a major impact on physical health, aside from the obvious mental health considerations. That’s why we do what we do. We want to transform people’s lives, make them smile, and bring them happiness through simple chat and friendship.”

To find out more about Cockermouth Charities Week visit www.cockermouthonline.co.uk or follow Cockermouth Town on Facebook or Instagram.

A fleet mechanic from Kendal has recently celebrated ten years volunteering at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

James Howarth, 42, has a full-time job working at Mountain Goat Tours, but in his spare time he likes to get involved with helping his local air ambulance.

Mr Howarth first started supporting GNAAS by donating money and clothing, but after hearing about a lack of volunteers in Kendal, he began donating his time in 2014.

It’s now been ten years since he signed up as a volunteer and he’s even recruited his eight-year-old son Harry to help out on occasion.

Speaking about why he chose to volunteer for GNAAS, he said: “I had some spare weekends so me and my wife Samantha decided we wanted to get involved with a local charity.

“We decided on GNAAS because it was a familiar sight in the Lake District and after hearing more about what was involved in pre-hospital emergency care it was evident how vital this service was in a rural area like Cumbria.

“Since joining, I now see how needed the service is across the whole of Northern England.”

GNAAS currently have over 100 regular volunteers as part of their ‘ground crew’, who dedicate their spare time representing the charity. Whether it’s delivering presentations to the public, manning stalls at summer shows, or emptying collection boxes, they help in numerous ways to support the cause.

Over the last ten years, Mr Howarth has mainly been involved in events, stalls at county shows, car shows, and bucket collections at local supermarkets.

He said: “What I most enjoy about volunteering is being able to inform the public about this fantastic charity. It still amazes me how many people think this is a government funded service.

“Everyone we talk to is always so friendly and grateful for what the crews do, it is an honour to represent them.”

For those who cannot commit to a regular volunteering role, there are several opportunities to volunteer for GNAAS on a one-off basis, especially during the summer months.

Mr Howarth said: “As a volunteer you get to meet fantastic people, attend amazing events and have fun.

“You don’t have to have the passion, that comes afterwards from meeting people who are still here thanks to the charity.”

GNAAS relies on public donations and needs to raise more than £8m every year to survive. Last year, it responded to more than 2,000 call outs. If you would like to find out more about regular or one-off volunteering opportunities, please visit gnaas.com/volunteer or call 01325 487263.

About GNAAS

· The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is a charitably funded air ambulance service which provides life-saving care throughout the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Isle of Man.

· They operate two helicopters 365 days a year and also operate a night-time service in the North East and Cumbria on rapid response vehicles.

· The aircraft cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles and on board are specialist doctors and paramedics who effectively bring the hospital to the patient.

· The level of skill and expertise of the on-board team mean they respond to the most critically ill and injured people, giving them the best chance of survival.

· GNAAS is a progressive organisation which has pioneered pre-hospital care in the region.

· The latest techniques, equipment and drugs are constantly being evaluated to ensure the charity can provide the best care possible for their patients.

· 2022 marked the service providing 20 years of life-saving care. Throughout this time, they have responded to more than 23,500 incidents across the region, with road traffic collisions being the most frequent type of incident responded to by the team.

· They do not receive Government funding and must therefore raise £8.5m a year through public donations to remain operational. For more information visit: https://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/ or follow @gnairambulance on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has received a legacy donation of more than £80,000 from a “modest” joiner and undertaker.

Frank Barker, from Calderbridge, ran his own joinery and undertaker business and had a lifelong passion for motorbikes.

He sadly passed away in February 2022 aged 92 but very generously left a donation in his Will for GNAAS, which was £80,872.32.

Mr Barker’s cousin Sally Ingall, who was the executor of his Will, recently visited GNAAS’ base in Langwathby, Penrith with her son Bryan Ingall to learn more about the operations of the charity and how the donation will help them in the future.

Mr Ingall said: “Frank was a very quiet guy and very modest. He was a countryman, enjoyed fishing, and went to the pub quite regularly for the company.

“He knew everybody around the area, and I didn’t hear anyone say a bad word about him. He was a big part of the village.”

Mr Barker spent most of his life in Calderbridge apart from two years’ national service with the RAF. He was incredibly close to his sister who was 14 years older than him, and his home was filled with several motorbikes.

Mr Ingall said: “His passion was motorbikes and always had been since he was a young man, after he came back from the RAF.

“He built a few classic race bikes which were used by a number of people, and he used to go to the Manx Grand Prix and TT races in the Isle of Man.”

Mrs Ingall added: “When I was 16 or 17 he used to take me to the grass tracks and said I was the best pillion he ever had.

“He was a lovely fella, good fun and good for the craic because his age meant he could remember really far back.”

As a motorcyclist, Mr Barker was aware of the work of GNAAS, who regularly respond to motorcycle incidents, and had previously supported the charity by buying tickets for their raffle and playing the lottery.

Mr Ingall said: “He was always keen on GNAAS because it’s quite close to a lot of motorcyclist’s hearts.”

Following the donation in Frank’s Will, Mr and Mrs Ingall were invited to GNAAS’ base and were given a tour of the air ambulance by the charity’s critical care team.

Mr Ingall said: “It was very interesting looking at the helicopter and seeing how it all worked.

“We often see them flying over Wasdale and the Scafell area.”

Mrs Ingall added: “I was astounded by the space inside the helicopter, as it looks so much bigger when I watch them on the tv.

“The amount of equipment they have, including surgical equipment and a tiny ultrasound scanner, is just amazing.

“It’s nice to know Frank’s contribution will help GNAAS continue to operate. If the money saves anybody’s lives that’s wonderful.”

Leaving a gift in your Will can make a real difference in GNAAS’ future and help them continue to treat critically ill or injured people across the region. To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will visit: gna.as/leavealegacy

About GNAAS

· The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is a charitably funded air ambulance service which provides life-saving care throughout the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Isle of Man.

· They operate two helicopters 365 days a year and also operate a night-time service in the North East and Cumbria on rapid response vehicles.

· The aircraft cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles and on board are specialist doctors and paramedics who effectively bring the hospital to the patient.

· The level of skill and expertise of the on-board team mean they respond to the most critically ill and injured people, giving them the best chance of survival.

· GNAAS is a progressive organisation which has pioneered pre-hospital care in the region.

· The latest techniques, equipment and drugs are constantly being evaluated to ensure the charity can provide the best care possible for their patients.

· 2022 marked the service providing 20 years of life-saving care. Throughout this time, they have responded to more than 23,500 incidents across the region, with road traffic collisions being the most frequent type of incident responded to by the team.

· They do not receive Government funding and must therefore raise £8.5m a year through public donations to remain operational. For more information visit: https://www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk/ or follow @gnairambulance on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok For press enquiries please email media@gnaas.com or call 07554453494