Westmorland and Furness Council and Story Contracting are searching for Furness-based community projects that would benefit from a helping hand.
As part of the A595 improvement project, up to 100 hours of volunteer labour including some machinery use is available to support local initiatives.
Led by Westmorland and Furness Council and constructed by Story Contracting, the £23.3 million investment from the Department for Transport will see the creation of a new single carriageway between Chapels and Grizebeck Village along the A595, one of Cumbria’s most vital transport routes.
Beyond improving road safety, reducing journey times, and enhancing connectivity across the area, the project team is committed to giving back to local communities through a ringfenced volunteer hours.
These hours, supported by the skills and machinery of Story Contracting, are available to assist with local initiatives, helping to make a meaningful and lasting difference across the area.
Community groups, charities, schools, voluntary organisations and local residents in Grizebeck and Chapels, Askham, Dalton, Ulverston and Barrow are all encouraged to get in touch with the team if have an environmentally focused project or idea that would benefit volunteer support.
This time can be used to support a wide range of activities, from clean-ups and gardening to painting community space improvements, and must meet the following criteria:
- Environmental and/or Educational Benefit - Aim to deliver positive environmental or educational outcomes. This could include activities such as litter-picking, habitat creation, tree planting, community gardening or mentoring and training local children or adults, providing work experience or other opportunities
- Location - Based within the Furness area. Priority will be given to projects located in or close to Grizebeck.
- Timescale - Require less than100 hours of volunteer time or machinery support and be delivered between November 2025 and Spring 2026.
- No Funding Required - Support will be provided in the form of volunteer time, practical skills, and the use of machinery already available through Story Contracting. No direct funding is available.
Priority will be given to projects located in or near the Grizebeck and Chapels area and will be selected by the sub-group responsible for community engagement on the project.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Westmorland and Furness Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said:
“This scheme is about more than just building a road, it’s about leaving a lasting legacy for the communities we serve, improving not just our road network, but the environment and quality of life or our local residents.
“It’s brilliant to be working with a contractor who shares our passion for supporting local communities. Local projects have a fantastic opportunity to benefit from up to 100 hours of free access to the skills and expertise of Story’s workforce, as well as the use of their machinery, to help bring valuable local initiatives to life. I encourage you to get in touch and support our team to make a real difference.”
As part of project’s commitment to education and skills, Story Contracting and the council’s officers have already been delivering fun and inspiring STEM session at Burlington Primary School. Pupils in Years 4 to 6 got a behind the scenes look at the A595 scheme before taking on a bridge-building challenge.
Outside the classroom, a CV-writing workshop, hosted in the Furness area, helped people explore and prepare for opportunities in the construction industry. Story have also been able to employ residents on the scheme, as well as supporting those with barriers to employment back into work.
Marie Whitehead, Communications and Engagement Director for Story Contracting, said:
“It’s really important for us to give back to the local communities we work in, and we are looking forward to seeing the ideas that come forward from the Grizebeck area, and the team are excited about working with the community to deliver something that will benefit local people”.
If you have a project you would like to put forward, please email A595Grizebeck@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk with up to 200 words explaining your project and stating the amount of hours of support you require.
The closing date to submit projects for consideration is Friday 10 October 2025.
