3rd August 2022
A key member of an initiative which aims to transform people’s lives in Cumbrian communities reached the summit of Kilimanjaro on a fundraising trek to raise vital funds for three charities.
Steve Wilkinson, programme manager for the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH), which is set to create 700 jobs across Cumbria, took part in the trek with five friends.
Money raised will be split between three charities – two doing vital work in West Cumbria where iSH is creating jobs and training opportunities to help regenerate communities.
Home To Work and The Phoenix Youth Project, and national charity the RNLI, are the charities being supported by Steve.
Home to Work, based in Cleator Moor, provides lifeline support to unemployed people across the community, offering a range of services and support to help grow people’s self-confidence and skills and ultimately get
them back on the road to employment.
The Phoenix Youth Project is an award-winning youth work charity which supports young people aged eight-19 years old in Cleator Moor and Frizington. The charity aims to raise aspirations and self-confidence of young people and develop positive behaviour through respect and integrity.
Karen Jones, managing director of Home to Work, said: “iSH is a hugely exciting initiative for Cleator Moor and the whole of the Cumbrian community and we are very grateful to Steve for supporting the work we do to help get unemployed people back into employment, to raise their skills, confidence and capabilities and improve their lives.”
Paul Rowe, Project Manager for the Phoenix Youth Project, said: “It’s amazing that Steve is supporting our project in this way and that our young people will be among those to benefit from his efforts.
“We also look forward to working with him and the iSH team on how young people across our community can best engage in the range of opportunities they are creating across our community.”
Led by Copeland Borough Council, iSH (the Industrial Solutions Hub) is an initiative of regional, national and international significance.
iSH builds on the industry excellence of Sellafield and its supply chain and, through collaboration, will create jobs and training opportunities to regenerate communities.
With the initial redevelopment of the Leconfield Industrial Estate at Cleator Moor, iSH is set to generate more than 100 new jobs over a period of 18 months, with the overall iSH programme creating more than 700 new jobs.
Steve said: “iSH is about making ideas work, creating jobs, regenerating communities and making a positive difference to people’s lives.
“As a community-led, inclusive programme, iSH is focused on ensuring the whole community has a clear route to jobs, skills and training opportunities.
“The two charities Home to Work and The Phoenix Youth Project are among those doing amazing work in this area and I am delighted to have reached the top of Kilimanjaro to raise vital money for such inspirational projects working across Cleator Moor and beyond.”
Part of the initial funding for the iSH project comes through the Cleator Moor Town Deal. The Town Deal Board, working with Copeland Borough Council, secured an offer of £22.5m from Government in June 2021 to
deliver its Town Investment Plan which will help the area and its communities to thrive for years to come.
The third charity to benefit from Steve’s fundraising efforts is the RNLI. Steve has been a keen supporter of the excellent work that they do across the whole of the British Isles, as volunteers on call round the clock every
day of the year saving lives.
Donations to all three charities can be made by visiting Steve’s fundraising page at Steve’s Kilimanjaro Trip fundraising on JustGiving