Heathlands Activity Sessions

Rotary Foundation and local Rotary Clubs help ‘bridge the gap’ at the Laurie Brewis Trust, Heathlands

When Brampton & Longtown Rotary Club were contacted to help out with a grant to ‘bridge the funding gap’ and then expand an outreach programme of the Laurie Brewis Trust they were only too happy to help out.  This has enabled activities normally provided at Heathlands to be taken out to communities in Brampton and further afield. These activities had been curtailed during COVID and the funding helped regain support and reintroduce the activities. 

The weekly inclusive activity groups for adults of all ages and abilities are also  running out of two community centres, one in Harraby and the other in Penrith.

With grants from Brampton & Longtown Rotary, Carlisle Rotary and the Laurie Brewis Trust totalling £1500, the Rotary Foundation matched that amount and a total of £3000 was raised.  This grant has helped to ensure that the outreach programme continued and began to expand, hopefully become self-sustaining as the number of attendees at the various outreach sessions increases.

Ian Forth President of the Brampton and Longtown Rotary Club visited Heathlands on 5th September to see for himself the activities that the club has helped fund as part of Heathlands Project’s “Better Together” outreach programme. Following his visit Ian said “I am really impressed with the value that the Better Together Programme brings to those attending, especially as it is delivered out in the local community.  Brampton & Longtown Rotary were pleased to be able to help the Laurie Brewis Trust with the initial funding following COVID to ensure this programme goal to be self sustaining.“  

The Laurie Brewis Trust have also been successful in gaining a grant of £9750 from the National Lottery Awards for All to ensure the long term objective of funding for this programme.