A group of compassionate Brownies near Carlisle have successfully raised thousands of pounds to support vulnerable older people during the winter season. The 1st Wetheral Brownies have been participating in Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal since 2013, which provides vital grants to help older individuals stay warm and healthy during the colder months.
Every winter, the Brownies have held a sponsored sleepout at various locations across Cumbria, including Naworth Castle, Netherby Hall, Wetheral Priory Gatehouse, and even tents on the shores of Windermere. So far, they have raised an impressive amount of over £12,000, and they are not stopping there.
This week, twenty Brownies and Young Leaders from 1st Wetheral will be joined by ten Brownies and Guides from Hayton to spend the night in a tipi near Brampton. The theme for this year’s sleepout is a Native American Adventure, and the girls have been preparing by making dream catchers and totem poles.
Janice Brown, also known as Tawny Owl, the leader of the Brownies, shared, “We have been learning about Native American culture in preparation for our sponsored sleepout this week. The girls have made dream catchers and lanterns, and we’ve been practicing our campfire songs and tracking skills, which we will try out in the woods.”
Brown further explained the reason behind the Brownies’ yearly support for the Winter Warmth Appeal, which distributed over £270,000 in grants to 1,570 vulnerable older people in Cumbria last winter. She said, “Sleeping out in the cold gives the Brownies a real understanding of what life must be like for older people who cannot afford to heat their homes in winter. So while we always have a lot of fun, the girls know the serious reason for the campaign and do their best to raise as much in sponsorship as possible. They love that the money helps older people in need right here in Cumbria.”
Cumbria Community Foundation’s Chief Executive, Andy Beeforth, will be visiting the Brownies at their camp to express his gratitude for their remarkable fundraising efforts. He stated, “We have been running the Winter Warmth Appeal since 2010 and have raised over £3 million since then. I can honestly say that there have been no more dedicated fundraisers in that time than our Brownie friends from Wetheral, and their wonderful volunteer leaders and helpers.”
Beeforth also highlighted the importance of the Winter Warmth Appeal, stating, “Unfortunately, the need for the appeal is as great as ever. Every winter, as many as 500 older people in Cumbria die because they cannot afford to heat their homes and eat properly. Donations and fundraising by kind-hearted Cumbrians, such as the Brownies, mean that older people won’t have to make the impossible choice of whether to heat their homes or put food on the table.”
The Winter Warmth Appeal is open for donations until March. Those who wish to contribute can do so online, by phone, or by post.
Special thanks were given to Special Event Tipis, Shake, Waffle and Roll, Darren Morgan of Talkin Adventures, and Border Group Ltd for supporting the Brownies’ sleepout.