A £2m fund will be awarded to a charity-run park and a community support space, following the closure of a pharmaceutical company branch in the area.
The multinational pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline confirmed its site in Ulverston, Cumbria, closed at the end of June, and pledged to donate £2m for local projects as a legacy donation.
The GSK Task Force was set up by Michelle Scrogham, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, to distribute the funds.
In December, the task force invited views from the public on projects that would deliver long-term educational, cultural, or leisure benefits for Ulverston.
Ford Park Community Group, a charity that manages an eponymous community space, and The Spot, a community interest company that provides Ulverston residents with recreational activities and poverty relief, were selected as recipients of the donation.
Sam Ronson, park director at Ford Park, said the charity was not sure how much of the £2m fund it would receive.
“The financial benefit from this project, once complete, will support the charity going forward,” Ronson said.
“As the funding landscape becomes an increasingly difficult place to operate, with more charities and groups than ever all requiring funding from a limited number of funding organisations, it’s imperative that we now look to generate our own revenue as well as reduce our costs.”
The funds will allow Ford Park to build an additional community space that will be more accessible, more eco-friendly and provide a bigger indoor space for events and educational trips, Ronson said.
“We will finally be able to run the charity entirely on renewable energy and most of all, the building will improve the finances of our small charity, securing the park’s future for generations to come,” he said.
“I would very much like to thank both GSK and the Task Force for their incredibly generous support.”
The Spot is currently working on transforming an old auction mart building in the town centre into a modern community hub.
Ceri Hutton, volunteer for Team Spot, said the donation was “transformational” for the organisation, since Ulverston has lost nine venues in the past decade.
“Though we managed to raise enough to buy the building, turning an old auction mart into a welcoming, warm, accessible place, to high environmental standards, remained a mountain to climb,” Hutton said.
“We’re now able to reach this goal with GSK’s support and are delighted that the task force has backed our vision of creating a new hub, where people will find support alongside the sort of uplifting, creative community activities that make Ulverston a great place to live.”