Transforming West Cumbria has been named Social Value Initiative of the Year at the Institute of Economic Development Annual Awards 2025. The recognition places the programme, co created by Sellafield Ltd and Cumbria Community Foundation, at the centre of national attention for its work in addressing disadvantage and strengthening communities. The focus key phrase Transforming West Cumbria social value will be used throughout to reflect the core subject.
The awards took place on 25 November at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester following the Institute’s annual conference titled Good Growth: Driving the UK economy with investment in our regions and communities. This year attracted a record number of entries, with almost 60 submissions across seven categories. An expert judging panel reviewed shortlisted nominations in September.
The Social Value Initiative of the Year category, sponsored in 2025 by The Growth Company, recognises outstanding contributions to social value creation. It highlights projects, teams or individuals who develop best practice and deliver positive outcomes. Transforming West Cumbria social value was identified as demonstrating exceptional reach and measurable benefit.
Transforming West Cumbria is a place based five year social investment programme supported by £6.5 million and designed to tackle the root causes of disadvantage across West Cumbria. The partners’ submission set out that its success is not only reflected in data but in lives changed and communities strengthened. Its model of social value creation has been central to its recognition.
iED Director and former Chair Bev Hurley CBE said: “Our judges praised Transforming West Cumbria as a benchmark for place-based social investment. Co-created by Sellafield Ltd and Cumbria Community Foundation, the programme exemplifies strategic vision, deep collaboration, and measurable impact. With £19.9 million in social value generated, it addresses disadvantage through innovative, thematic delivery, empowers communities across generations, and serves as a replicable model of inclusive growth. This benchmark initiative in social value demonstrates how strategic design, inclusive delivery, and measurable outcomes can transform lives and communities.”
Tracey West, Head of Social Impact at Sellafield Ltd, said: “We are honoured that the Transforming West Cumbria programme has been recognised nationally by the Institute of Economic Development in the ‘Social Value Initiative of the Year’ award category. Co-created with Cumbria Community Foundation, we know that the programme has had wide-ranging, lasting impact on local communities since it was launched in 2020, as confirmed by the independent mid-programme evaluation. The programme has directly supported hundreds of local organisations and thousands of individuals and families, achieving significant outcomes in mental health support, financial wellbeing, early years development and many, many more areas. We are grateful for the support of all our delivery partners who have helped make Transforming West Cumbria such a success.”
Dr Jenny Benson of Cumbria Community Foundation added: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the iED’s Social Value Initiative of the Year award for the Transforming West Cumbria programme. Thanks to Sellafield Ltd’s significant investment we have been able to co-create and deliver the programme with a range of voluntary, community and social enterprise partners. Our collaborative approach has ensured that Transforming West Cumbria has remained responsive to the community’s needs, whilst bringing about real and lasting change. Importantly this prestigious award recognises the work and passions of everyone involved, from those delivering key services, skilled volunteers, expert mentors to match funders and steering group members.”
iED Executive Director Nigel Wilcock said the awards were created to recognise excellence in economic development. He noted the high quality and innovation of submissions and congratulated all participants.
Transforming West Cumbria social value now stands as a recognised model of how collaborative investment and community insight can generate long term positive outcomes.
