THE council has allocated funds to establish a community-led network in a bid to reduce ‘social isolation’ in Furness.

Members of Furness Locality Board for Westmorland and Furness Council approved granting £26,000 to create a pilot Furness Community Network to respond to the needs of communities in the area.

According to the report prepared for the meeting, the pilot network will bring community organisations together to take joint action and will run from the end of September 2024 to the end of March 2025, at which point its continuation will be evaluated.

The funding will support organisations’ additional basic costs as well as the cost of joint and collaborative projects. The funding is also subject to organisations agreeing to participate in the pilot proposal

The report says: “There is now lots of data and anecdotal information on the needs of residents such as health issues and social isolation, but a scattered community response, with some community organisations out of the loop.”

In the report it says the network will provide support for community workers and community volunteers enabling them to make positive change in their communities.

It adds the network will help provide peer support from more established community organisations for those community groups and organisations who are either new or on the edge of community activity in the locality.

The report says: “This is not about stretching the community sector more than it is already stretched.

“This is to build on what is already happening but to create opportunities for collaboration and smarter working through a shared, community-led network that defines joint projects that respond to local need, without losing their independence or what makes them special.”

According to the report, there will be monthly update, progress and support meetings throughout the pilot period.

The report adds: “The Furness Community Network’s (FCN) project outcomes will be reduction in social isolation, strong, vibrant, and resilient communities with greater social connectedness and communities that are happier and healthier with better long-term health outcomes.”

Members of Furness Locality Board allocated the funds on August 21 at Barrow Town Hall.