> half a million pounds of funding has been earmarked across the county.

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More than half a million pounds of funding has been earmarked to improve and support the lifestyle needs of hundreds of disabled and special needs children across the county.

Eight projects have been identified to benefit from the Aiming High for Disabled Children capital funding proposals totalling £500,000.

Approximately £30,000 has already been committed to earlier initiatives bringing total funding to £526,000.

The eight projects are:

* £160,000 to the disability charity Mencap to support the build of a new respite centre in Carlisle which will provide overnight short breaks.
* £52,500 to improve facilities at The Elms short break facility in Workington.
* £15,000 towards a sensory room at Maryport Junior School.
* £5,000 to help soft play and sensory area improvements at Barrow leisure centre.
* £45,700 renovation and upgrade of the Hart Street short break facility in Ulverston.
* £66,000 renovation and upgrade of Huntley Avenue short break facility in Penrith.
* £100,000 for purchase and installation of various inclusive play equipment across Cumbria.
* £51,500 bid system for community providers across Cumbria to make various equipment purchases through the Parents Learning to Change Steering Group.

Aiming High for Disabled Children is a nationwide programme for transforming disabled children's services.
Aiming High includes improving information on services such as short breaks, improving co-ordination of services, increasing parents' involvement, improving transition to adulthood, improving access to child care for disabled children and access to essential equipment.
In Cumbria, the county council and the Primary Care Trust have been working with disabled children, young people and their families to make this transformation happen.
Disabled children, young people and their families, aswell as providers and practitioners, have already been helping formulate new ideas for the future.

'Learning to Change' parents conferences have been held in the county where parents and stakeholders can discuss what they think and advise the county council what activities or services make a difference and where money should be spent in the future.

Julia Morrison, corporate director, Children's Services, Cumbria County Council, said: "We've said all along that it is a priority of ours to improve the choices for our vulnerable young people despite the challenging economic realities. These eight funding opportunities for Cumbria address both overnight short break provision and allowing future financial decisions to be taken by parents themselves."

Councillor Anne Burns, Cumbria County Council cabinet member responsible for children's social care, said:

"We have tried to ensure that funding has been targeted for projects across the county including the Elms in Workington and Hart Street in Ulverston. We are totally committed to working with parents, young people and stakeholder groups to listen to what they want and then implement those requests."

from http://www.penrithcrack.com/viewtopic.php?f=101&t=2132
15/12/2010 http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/news/2010/December/15_12_2010-114817.asp