One of Cumbria’s leading tourism businesses has teamed up with Cumbria Community Foundation to reward a ‘local community hero’ who is helping make the county a better place to live and work.

Lake District Estates is asking people to nominate an individual aged 18+ living in a LA or CA postcode who they believe deserves special recognition for making a difference in their local communities.  Maybe it’s someone who has shown inspirational bravery, innovation or a flair for fundraising. Perhaps they’ve achieved an impressive sporting goal or given up their free time to provide a helping hand for others in their neighbourhood. Or it could be something completely different!

The reward for the winning entry will be a luxury ‘Cream Tea on the Move’ experience for two people at the iconic Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway – one of the company’s popular gift experiences often chosen by customers as a special treat or ‘thank you’ for friends and loved ones.

The winner will enjoy a delicious cream tea as they make the seven-mile return trip in plush comfort along one of the UK’s oldest and most spectacular scenic narrow-gauge railway lines, through the dramatic landscapes of the Western Lake District.

“Ruth” is an elegant Directors Salooncarriage which was built by the engineering team at Ffestiniog Railway Company as part of Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s carriage upgrade project.  She is specially designed to delivery luxury gift experiences, with plush bucket seating, extra headroom and USB speakers to provide ultimate comfort for passengers, along with fold-down tables to allow wheelchair access.

The lucky winner of the ‘Local Community Hero’ prize will be chosen by a judging panel including: Cumbria Community Foundation trustee Glenys Marriott and Lake District Estates’ Head of Marketing and Business Development, Rachel Bell”. They will be joined by the company’s Ben McGregor, who himself took home the accolade of ‘Unsung Hero’ at the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2023.

Nominations are now open online, with people being asked to share as much information as possible about their ‘local hero’, explaining why they deserve to win the competition. 

Further information to support entries, such as photographs, social media posts and links to news articles can be emailed to [email protected] before 5pm on Thursday 16 November 2023.

Rachel Bell comments, “We know many people work selflessly to make Cumbria a better place and that’s why we’re delighted to launch our ‘Nominate Your Local Community Hero’ competition!  By launching this competition, we aim to honour local unsung heroes whilst giving back to the community, a core value which is so important here at the family-owned Lake District Estates.”

Glenys Marriott adds, “Given the size of the county and the sparsity of population, volunteering plays a crucial role in both community life and the sustainability of many organisations. 

These awards are a great way of recognising and rewarding the work happening to make our community a nicer place to live and we are hoping many people to want to show their thanks by nominating someone that makes a difference in their area.”

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