Cleator Moor

Over twenty-five years ago Impact started its life in Cleator Moor and have worked there ever since. We are back there now listening to what young people have to say about their housing and support needs for the future. We have commissioned the research in partnership with Copeland Borough Council and the Cleator Moor Development Company. Cumbria Rural Housing Trust will do the work during summer, talking to young people in the town and the agencies, which work with them. We will have a full report by October, which will have a decisive influence on future developments in the town.

Cleator Moor is a rural town in west Cumbria with an industrial history. Founded on coal and iron mining and with a significant rural hinterland it has seen a serious decline in the local economy over a number of years. It has high levels of unemployment, poor health, low educational expectations and attainment, and low-income levels. There has been a net decline in the population over the last ten years even though there is a very strong sense of identity and community. On the housing front, there is a surplus of family housing in the area and property prices are very low.

Workington Regeneration

Impact is very involved with the plans to regenerate the town alongside other stakeholders. We have our head office in Fisher Street, employ local staff and contractors from the town and own and manage the Salterbeck Estate as well as having properties in the town centre.

Workington is an isolated, Cumbrian coastal town founded on shipbuilding, steel and coal. All of these have long gone creating enduring problems and a scarred physical environment. There is also uncertainty about the future of Sellafield, a huge employer in the area and the Corus works.

On the plus side, just for starters, the town has the backdrop of the Lakeland fells and Solway Firth, is known for its friendliness and supports a huge number of sports activities in the town run by volunteers for all age groups.

The town has been successful in attracting £7.5million through SRB and is now rolling into action to improve the town through a series of Community Plans produced at grass roots level and the work of themed topic groups. The partnership to regenerate the town has a healthy mix of community, council, business and agency representatives on the Board as well as the full support of Allerdale District and Cumbria County Councils. Impact staff are involved at Board level; with the Town Centre, Built Environment and Youth topic groups and with the Community Plans.

The regeneration of the town, especially the SRB funded aspects, will focus on addressing the  problems of high levels of unemployment and joblessness, reducing health and education  inequalities, reducing the fear of crime and environmental deficit in the area and ensure that local groups have the capacity and leadership to revive their own neighbourhoods.

The area also has a number of other government initiatives running such as the Health Action Zone so it will be vital that all these initiatives are joined together to ensure they make a real and positive difference to the town