SELLAFEILD has refreshed and relaunched its social impact programme, with plans to invest millions into the surrounding area.

Sellafield has rebranded its social impact programme with the new name, Six - a new approach to social impact which prioritises projects co-created with the community and stakeholders.

It recognises that more can be achieved in partnership and that impact can be multiplied through collaboration.

Its first investment will be Transforming West Cumbria, a £2.2m fund to help west Cumbria’s most vulnerable communities.

Sellafield and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are funding the initiative, which will be delivered by Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF.)

It aims to put local people in charge of their own futures by empowering neighbourhoods to create transformational change.

The programme will focus on family wellbeing, financial education, community activism, and inspiring young people.

Among the initiatives are: a £1.3m fund for community and voluntary groups, £660,000 to support families, £175,000 to fund financial education, schemes to nurture young entrepreneurs and a drive to make community activism the norm for young people

It has been developed to address issues identified in CCF’s West Cumbria: Opportunities and Challenges report.

Gary McKeating, Sellafield's head of community and development, said: “I believe Transforming West Cumbria can create profound and long-lasting change in our community.

“It will laser focus on the causes of inequality and confront the issues holding back our most vulnerable, Research tells us people from poorer backgrounds are not lacking in ambition. What’s missing is the knowledge, skills, and characteristics required to achieve those ambitions. Transforming West Cumbria is a package of tailored support to address this."