Community Voice
We support communities to have a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Through citizens’ panels, community inquiries, and collaborative local projects, we create meaningful opportunities for people to share their experiences, shape priorities, and influence change. Working across rural Cumbria, we bring together residents, community organisations, and public bodies to explore local issues, build understanding, and develop practical solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of local people.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our work in this area, please get in touch.
Below are some examples of our work with communities.
Collaboration Hub with the Lake District National Park Partnership (LDNPP).
The Collaboration Hub works with communities and the 22 partners of the LDNPP, to resource challenging conversations and encourage more collaboration on policy and delivery.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation is funding the work to support ACT to assist communities to be heard and to influence the things that can, otherwise, just happen to them.
In 2023/24 we facilitated work with three groups of young people to understand their views on living in and around the National Park. We used the LDNPP Management Plan as the framework for this engagement.
Cumbria Youth Alliance linked us up with:
- West Cumbria Rivers Trust Youth Council
- John Ruskin School Council
- Cumbria Young Farmers
Stefan Escreet our Artistic Advisor linked us up with creative people who could offer the three groups a choice of different ways to express their views.
West Cumbria Rivers Trust Youth Council
West Cumbria Rivers Trust Youth Council were already working with a local artist, Anne Waggot Knott, so we extended that relationship.
This document outlines the background and context for the above film:
Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7hkkoug3hj52a2i59n7t9/wcrtyp-context-for-short-film.pdf?rlkey=cif4p1eizvtmy4b031cp9h9hz&st=lpeh4br8&dl=0
John Ruskin School Council
John Ruskin School Council decided to work with Josh and Josh from Horizon Studios – https://www.horizonstudiosnw.co.uk/
The lyrics for the rap are here:
Dropbox link https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7zblh440z6kjbtryo81w8/words-to-jrs-rap.pdf?rlkey=bs3nmuali3rfpx2jkvk51ag84&st=l1d5zut7&dl=0
Cumbria Young Farmers
Cumbria Young Farmers chose to work with photographer Amy Bateman – https://amybatemanphotography.com/
Young Persons Manifesto
With funds from the Esme Fairburn Foundation ACT helped Colton Parish review their Community Plan, developing creative ideas to engage with their community, including a “Cabinet of Curiosities” at a local event where they gathered local items of interest, working with a local artist to run sessions with local school children through song and poetry and producing a Young Peoples Manifesto (copy of manifesto here in dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y2ej8ojnt0wi56ssuwfhc/young-peoples-manifesto.pdf?rlkey=a2s29hnf6b22v0zeui1gslhmf&st=r3gz1a0l&dl=0
ACT Rural Campaign & Mayoral Briefings
Between November 2024 and January 2025, ACT surveyed active members of its rural network, including parish councils, village halls, community groups, and local democracy.
Respondents identified significant pressures around transport, housing, and the cost of living with many describing how rural poverty can be hidden or go unnoticed.
Survey respondents described a transport system which is infrequent, or non-existent in places, poorly connected, and unaffordable for many. They told us how a proliferation of holiday lets and second homes, along with a lack of affordable housing in rural areas is making it impossible for local people to buy a house in their area. Low wages and seasonal working, fuel prices, and higher transport costs were said to be placing increasing pressure on household budgets. Many highlighted how poverty is often going hidden or unnoticed in their communities, particularly amongst farmers and pensioners.
The Mayoral elections are a pivotal moment for Cumbria. With more devolved powers and funding, the Mayor and Combined Authority there is the opportunity to work towards addressing the challenges faced by Cumbria’s rural communities and improve the lives of people living here.
As the rural development charity for Cumbria, ACTion with Communities in Cumbria have drawn upon what communities are telling us, along with wider evidence to produce briefings for Mayoral candidates on transport, housing and rural poverty. Our briefings highlight the challenges, but also the opportunities which come from addressing these issues. In each, we put forward a series of policy asks to Mayoral candidates and call for these to be adopted into their manifestos.
We believe it is vital that our rural communities are given a voice at all levels of democracy. Therefore, as part of our campaign launch, we have also produced a video which features first-hand accounts from rural residents across Cumbria about how these issues affect their daily lives.
ACT brings trusted relationships with rural communities, evidence from residents, and practical experience of what works. We are ready to work with candidates now, and with the future Mayor and combined authority, to turn rural priorities into effective policy and delivery.
We are calling on candidates to think rural from the outset so that communities in Cumbria can access the services and opportunities they need to thrive, stay healthy, and contribute to the county’s long-term prosperity.
If you would like to support our rural campaign, please share our briefings and our campaign video among your networks. The briefings can be downloaded below and our campaign video can be viewed here.
Housing Briefing
Poverty Briefing
Rural Transport Briefing
For more information on our campaign, please contact: lettiewareing@cumbriaaction.org.uk
Community Inquiry – Overview
The Community Inquiry brought together local residents from Above Derwent, Borrowdale, Buttermere and Keswick to shape the future of their area. Led by ACTion with Communities in Cumbria, the process enabled people to identify local priorities, explore solutions and develop recommendations for decision‑makers.
A group of around 25 residents took part in a structured series of sessions (April–June 2026), working collaboratively to understand key challenges and opportunities facing their communities.
What the Inquiry involved
Participants met regularly through a mix of evening and full‑day workshops. Across these sessions they:
- Built relationships and explored shared experiences of living and working locally
- Mapped strengths, challenges and opportunities within their communities
- Identified and agreed priority themes for action
- Developed a shared vision for the future of the area
- Produced practical, community‑led recommendations for change
A key part of the process was learning from a wide range of knowledgeable speakers and organisations. Throughout the Inquiry, participants heard from guest contributors including council representatives, environmental organisations, transport specialists and community leaders. These contributors:
- Shared evidence, data and real‑world examples
- Offered insights into policy, planning and local decision‑making
- Presented different perspectives on complex issues
- Took part in Q&A discussions, allowing residents to question and deepen their understanding
Working in Partnership
The Inquiry was built on strong partnership working. While it was community‑led, it was supported through collaboration with local authorities, public bodies, voluntary organisations and specialist organisations. These partners:
- Contributed knowledge, data and professional insight
- Engaged directly with participants during sessions
- Helped ensure recommendations were realistic and informed
- Played a role in responding to and acting on the Inquiry’s findings
This partnership approach helped bridge the gap between communities and decision‑makers, ensuring that local voices were heard and that recommendations had a clear route to influence.
Key Focus Areas
Participants identified four priority themes:
- Rural depopulation (housing, jobs and opportunities)
- Transport, travel and highways
- Climate and environment
- Impacts of visitors
Outcomes
The Inquiry resulted in a set of community‑led recommendations designed to improve quality of life, protect the environment and support sustainable local development. These findings were shared with councils and key organisations to help inform future decisions and investment in the area.
Read the Above Derwent, Borrowdale, Buttermere, and Keswick Community Inquiry April – June 2026 report:
The Wasdale Citizens Panel is a community-led initiative in Wasdale, Cumbria, designed to bring together local residents to discuss how tourism can better support a thriving community. Its central question is: “How do we get the best out of our visitors in Wasdale, so we thrive as a community?”
Purpose
The panel aims to:
- Give local residents a structured voice in decisions affecting the valley
- Explore solutions to long-standing challenges caused by visitor pressure
- Develop practical recommendations for local authorities and partners
The initiative responds to ongoing concerns about tourism impacts in Wasdale, including traffic congestion, environmental pressures, and strain on local resources.
Structure and Approach
- A representative group of local residents was selected to reflect the community
- The process was overseen by an Advisory Group to ensure fairness
- The panel met over six sessions across two months
- Participants heard from experts, discussed evidence, and collaboratively developed solutions
The process was facilitated by Shared Future CIC, specialists in citizen engagement and deliberative processes.
Key Topics Explored
Across the sessions, the panel examined major issues affecting Wasdale, including:
- Traffic and parking pressures
- Fly-camping, littering, and toilet provision
- Community involvement in decision-making
- The balance between sustaining tourism and protecting the local environment
Outcomes
By the final session, the panel:
- Agreed on 9 priority recommendations
- Developed a shared community statement
- Highlighted practical actions around:
- Visitor travel and transport
- Waste and facilities
- Community organisation and governance
Read the full report details the recommendations and how they were prioritised.
Core Message from the Panel
The panel emphasised that:
- Wasdale is both a working community and a major visitor destination
- Tourism is vital economically, but must be managed sustainably
- Local people must play a central role in shaping future decisions
- Collaboration with organisations such as the National Park and National Trust is essential
Funding and Partners
- Funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
- Delivered by ACTion with Communities in Cumbria (ACT)
- Supported by partners including the Lake District National Park Authority
Overall:
The Wasdale Citizens Panel demonstrates a participatory approach to tackling tourism challenges, enabling residents to influence policy and create a sustainable future for their community.
