in-Cumbria Business Awards: Best Community involvement shortlist

Best Community Involvement, Sponsored by React Engineering

Shed One Distillery

Shed One Distillery, founded by Andy and Zoe Arnold-Bennett in 2016, is a micro-distillery in Ulverston, known for its award-winning gins, liqueurs, and gin jelly marmalade.

Moving from a small garden shed to a renovated calf shed in 2019 allowed the distillery to open its doors to the public and the local community. Shed One has also become a hub for community engagement, supporting over 20 local groups, charities, and events in the past year.

The distillery actively collaborates with various organisations, such as Cumbria Action for Sustainability, Autus Cumbria, and The Oaklea Group’s Right2Work scheme, to promote sustainability and provide support.

For example, they host events at no cost for local groups and charities, offer free welcome drinks, and donate 10 per cent of event proceeds to these causes. Their Marmalade Fund, which raises money for Cumbrian charities through sales of gin jelly marmalade made from distillery waste, has contributed over £15,000 since 2018.

Shed One also supports local artisans by providing a space for workshops, such as botanical candle-making and needle felting, which helps promote small businesses. They recently collaborated with Barrow 6th Form College on a community gin project, ‘Ulverston ’23 Gin’, involving local ingredients and student-designed labels.

As a climate-positive business and the only UK distillery to win the Global Gin Guide’s Environmental Sustainability Award for four years running, Shed One balances quality product development with community and environmental commitment, enhancing both local engagement and sustainability.

The Rebuild Site CIC

Rebuild Site is a Community Interest Company, established in 2021, dedicated to sustainability by reclaiming and repurposing surplus materials from construction sites. Their mission is to encourage the community and construction sector to adopt a circular economy, ensuring materials are reused, repurposed, or shared rather than discarded. Rebuild Site has supported over 140 community projects by donating surplus materials to charities, schools, and local initiatives, helping them build, garden, craft, and repair.

In the past year, Rebuild Site launched a programme of skills workshops, focusing on DIY and craft skills with a sustainable emphasis. These workshops cover a range of topics, from plastering and sewing to craft sessions, and are offered on a 'pay what you can' basis or free of charge to ensure accessibility. A community officer was also hired to further this initiative.

Rebuild Site’s contributions have included donations to Wetheral School and Playschool for outdoor play areas, support to Susan’s Farm for building shelters and crafts, and providing materials for Dalston Cubs to create hedgehog houses. They also offer a range of volunteering and work experience opportunities, including placements for ex-young offenders, social prescribing volunteers and young people working towards Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Rebuild Site also sells nearly new and surplus materials at reduced prices to tradespeople and the public, aiming to reduce waste and maximise the value of resources.

The Cumberland Building Society

The Cumberland, a purpose-led building society, is dedicated to supporting communities within its core operating area by donating 1.5 per cent of its profits to local charitable causes.

In response to rising food poverty, The Cumberland launched the "Kinder Kind of Kitchen" initiative in partnership with FareShare Lancashire & Cumbria. The programme involves a substantial donation of £250,000 in 2023/24, aimed at redistributing surplus food to community food members (CFMs), including food banks and hubs, to provide meals and reduce food waste.

To amplify the initiative’s impact, The Cumberland integrated a comprehensive PR and marketing campaign, emphasising community involvement and kindness.

This included traditional and digital advertising, social media engagement, and community events such as a "Celebration of Kindness," which honoured volunteers. The campaign successfully raised awareness of food poverty, reaching an audience of 75 million.

Additionally, The Cumberland encouraged member participation by pledging a £2 donation for every vote at their AGM, resulting in £18,278 raised to purchase 66 fridges/freezers for regional CFMs. This initiative helped deliver over 577,047 meals and prevented more than 242 tonnes of food waste.

The Cumberland’s efforts extend beyond addressing food poverty. They support financial education through a partnership with EVERFI, environmental conservation with a £25,000 donation to Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and promote youth engagement by providing tickets for local sports events.

Their approach, branded as "storydoing," emphasises meaningful, community-focused action, aligning with their values of kindness and social responsibility. The Cumberland remains committed to reinvesting profits into community support initiatives across their operating regions.