Published at 16:06, Monday, 25 February 2013

BUSINESSES are being urged to pledge money to ensure Cumbria’s communities do not miss out on thousands of pounds of cash.

The Community First Endowment Match Challenge is a government-backed scheme which aims to encourage more charitable giving by businesses and individuals.

Under the scheme, the Office of Civil Society will add a 50 per cent cash top up to new charitable funds set up through the Cumbria Community Foundation.

Overall the government has allocated £477,710 of match-funding to Cumbria. However, the foundation must raise double that figure by the end of March 2015.

Director Andy Beeforth said it still needed to find another £180,000 before the end of March.

He said: “ Even though the current economic climate is tough, with this level of government cash on the table there’s never been a better time to set up a new charitable fund.”

Visit www.cumbriafoundation.org for more information about the fund or benefiting from the Community First Match Challenge.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk