WELCOME to – Pride in West Cumbria.

We want you to join us to shout from the rooftops about everything that is great about our part of the world.

We live in a wonderful area, with spectacular views, a rich history and a bright future.

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We live in a relatively safe environment where communities remain strong and family life can thrive.

This campaign aims to celebrate all that is great about the area – from our sporting sides to those unsung heroes in the community who work hard for others.

Working with the West Cumbria Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Pride in West Cumbria will be a showcase for all the effort and talent that makes this great area tick. This a campaign designed to make our hearts swell with pride about West Cumbria.

We have so much to be proud of. From the huge, headline grabbing things – we are part of the Energy Coast Masterplan and are developing ourselves as the centre of excellence for all things nuclear – to the individual success stories, and those who are trying to make a difference to their communities, we should be proud.

We should be proud of those West Cumbrians who show off their skill, like the small band of volunteers who arrange the Whitehaven Maritime Festival and its associated concerts and events, which bring in thousands upon thousands of visitors and millions of pounds into the local economy, and the hundreds of unsung heroes who run our successful sports clubs for free and for the love of sport.

We should be proud of our heritage – Whitehaven’s fine mining past, Cleator Moor and area community and sporting prowess, Egremont with its colourful Crab Fair and our rich agricultural heritage spotlighted each year at the great farming shows.

The campaign is being supported with the West Cumbria Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

The partnership brings together Allerdale and Copeland councils, health authorities, the emergency services and representatives from the public sector.

Its aim is to tackle crime and the perception of crime, misuse of drugs and alcohol and other anti-social behaviour in a number of ways – from drawing up strategies to hosting awards ceremonies to celebrate unsung heroes.

Members also work with housing associations, parish councils and schools.

MESSAGE FROM GORDON BROWN:

I AM delighted to support the Whitehaven News/Times & Star’s Pride in West Cumbria campaign. It’s great to see local papers working right at the heart of the community, uniting readers and focusing on what makes the area a great place to live.

From my recent visits to the region, I know West Cumbria has a great deal to be proud of and exciting prospects for the future.

Of course, there is the outstanding natural beauty with breathtaking views and dramatic countryside that draws people from all over the world and has inspired many, including one of the country’s greatest poets, Wordsworth.

In January, I visited Sellafield as it was named one of the potential sites for a new generation of nuclear power station, bringing with it a massive opportunity for both the regional and national economy.

This could mean millions of pounds worth of investment as well as thousands of jobs for the area.

With its deep rooted ties to the nuclear industry and its skills and expertise in this area, it is clear that West Cumbria has a part to play in the move towards a low-carbon economy and our economic future.

So from its outstanding landscapes, culture and community spirit to its role in our green energy strategy, the people of West Cumbria have a lot to be proud of and a bright future to look forward to.

a new Whitehaven News/Times & Star campaign