Donate to Good lives

Trade Counter

Head Office

Risehow Hydraulic Center
Flimby, Maryport
CA15 8PA
01900 816000

Leconfield Office

Leconfield Industrial Estate
Cleator Moor
CA25 5QB
01900 816000

Barrow Office

Flass Lane
Barrow in Furness
LA13 0GW
01229 486276

Social Impact

Social impact has always been important to us.

For 25 years Forth has lived and breathed its communities.

Forth’s commitment to supporting community organisations is contributing to a wider sense of place and pride across the region. MD Mark Telford embeds this ethos of giving back to the community from the very top of Forth’s organisation.

He makes it a condition of being a director in the company that Forth directors donate their time and expertise to support Cumbria charities such as Goodlives, formerly Skills4You and Cumbria disability cricket.

In this its 25th year in business Forth is appealing to businesses, industry partners, the supply chain and organisations to help raise at least £25k for Cumbria charity Goodlives which supports unemployed people gain the confidence and skills they need to secure sustainable employment.

Mark, who won in-Cumbria Businessperson of the Year in November 2024, said: “Forth is known for its world-first innovations and I have been fortunate to work with wonderful people: all the Forth team; our partners in industry; our suppliers, and so many people across our community who have always supported us.

“Not everyone in our community has been as lucky as we all have. Some through life’s circumstances haven’t had the benefit of finding sustainable employment and all the positive benefits that brings them, their families and the wider community.

“At Forth we have always made it our mission to ‘give back’. I want us to mark this significant milestone of Forth’s 25th year in business by creating a legacy of a lasting positive social impact across West Cumbria.

“Like many charities Goodlives is facing a significant funding gap. Without this vital charity many people in our community simply won’t be able to get a job to sustain themselves and their families. They will slip through society’s cracks.

“We want to use Forth’s 25th anniversary year to ask those who can afford to help, to join us in supporting this charity and all the people it benefits across West Cumbria.”

Over the course of 2025 Forth will be organising a series of fundraising activities culminating in a celebratory event in November 2025.

Mark said: “If we as a community can come together and hit our target of 25k that would be brilliant. If we can surpass it, I would be truly overwhelmed.

“Together let’s create a truly meaningful and impactful legacy for West Cumbria and its people.”

Members of the Forth team, including Projects Director Graham Cartwright who recently celebrated 20 years with the company, will also be undertaking their own personal fundraising initiatives to help achieve the target.

Baton of Hope Cumbria is part of a national movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society, aiming to eliminate the stigma surrounding suicide and provide support to those affected.

Forth Engineering is proud to support this initiative by raising funds and awareness for the charity.

The Cumbria leg of the Baton of Hope tour is scheduled to commence on September 7, 2025, starting at Forth’s offices in Leconfield, Cleator Moor.

BATON OF HOPE

Baton of Hope Cumbria is part of a national movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society, aiming to eliminate the stigma surrounding suicide and provide support to those affected.

Forth are proud to support this initiative with Projects Director Graham Cartwright and Business Liaison Manager Ken Johnston volunteering to join the organising committee for the Baton of Hope Cumbria, to help in any way that they can to make the tour a success.

We live in a beautiful county that is blighted by suicide.

Cumbria has a suicide rate of 55% above the National Average.
The former area of Copeland and Carlisle have the highest rates for suicide per capita anywhere in England and Wales. Barrow comes in at number five.
In Cumbria between January 2020 and December 2023, 303 people died by suspected suicide. Of those deaths, 56% were in Cumberland.

The Cumbrian leg of the Baton of Hope tour will start from the Sellafield Engineering Centre of Excellence, Leconfield Estate, Cleator Moor on Sunday 07th September 2025

Baton of Hope Cumbria is part of a national movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society, aiming to eliminate the stigma surrounding suicide and provide support to those affected.

Forth Engineering is proud to support this initiative by raising funds and awareness for the charity. Graham Cartwright and Ken Johnston of Forth are also part of the organising committee, volunteering their time to help make the tour a success.

The Cumbria leg of the Baton of Hope tour is scheduled to commence on September 7, 2025, starting at Forth’s offices in Leconfield, Cleator Moor.

Baton of Hope Cumbria is part of a national movement aspiring to a zero-suicide society, aiming to eliminate the stigma surrounding suicide and provide support to those affected.

Forth Engineering is proud to support this initiative by raising funds and awareness for the charity.

The Cumbria leg of the Baton of Hope tour is scheduled to commence on September 7, 2025, starting at Forth’s offices in Leconfield, Cleator Moor.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Forth for all the support and passion they have showed towards the Baton Of Hope Cumbria. Nothing has been too much trouble and they have actively pushed to help us in any way possible, from fundraising, to on the day support and donation of a gazebo to help our Charity. We can’t thank Forth enough and especially Ken and Graham who have been amazing and truly supporting our cause in our community. Thanks Again”

– Lisa & Jonny Birdsall, Baton Of Hope Cumbria

GOODLIVES

Goodlives is a charity that was set up in 2001 to support the growing number of unemployed people in the area.

They have 4 training centres – 3 in Cleator Moor and one on Westlakes Science Park. The objective of the charity is to help people move on with their lives in a positive way. The ultimate goal is to get someone into work – but for some people that is a longer journey than others.

The charity is non-judgemental and has an open door approach. Some people have found themselves out of work for the first time and just need support with job seeking skills to get them back into work. The therapeutic life coach works with other people who have barriers in their lives. They work to develop strategies to overcome these barriers and self-limiting beliefs.

Many beneficiaries of the charity have never worked or suffer from lack of confidence or a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression.

They can join one of the training centres to learn transferable skills such as joinery, upcycling, customer service, food & nutrition, skills needed for employment. Or they can attend the food growing centre on Westlakes – working outdoors, with others, growing food from a seed. The benefits of this has been widely researched and proven. They can take that food they have grown and make a meal which they can share – eating together.

“We’re truly thankful to Forth for their amazing support. Their belief in our mission means the world to us, and we honestly couldn’t do what we do without them. Their support brings hope, help, and real change to the people we serve. Thankyou!”

– Karen Jones, Managing Director for Goodlives

“We are deeply touched by this wonderful gesture from Mark and all the team at Forth. It will make a huge difference to our charity and the people we support.” Karen added.

Forth supports Goodlives with technical expertise, manpower and finances.

Forth has installed an irrigation system on the plot of land where those who are being helped and supported by the Goodlives initiative grow their own produce.

The sustainable system installed by Forth harvests rainwater and, using solar power through a system that Forth has designed and built, automatically waters all the produce in the greenhouses.

Forth has also fitted a new kitchen in a 30ft container so those working on the plot can not only grow their own produce but can cook it on the site too.

Forth has won several awards for its work in the community. From supporting local schools to sports clubs, charities to good causes, the business has backed a range of organisations and initiatives by donating time, expertise, equipment and funding.

Forth also give practical and financial support to local sporting clubs such as Wath Brow Hornets rugby league club, Cleator Moor Celtic football club and Egremont Rangers. All of which have strong junior sections to give young people opportunities to have an active lifestyle, as well as having well supported adult teams and strong community links.

Forth has supported Wath Brow through the last 25 years and Mark donates his time and gives his energy and expertise in his role as the club’s Vice President to help the club with business operations.

Forth has also designed, manufactured and installed the club’s scoreboard for the club as well as sponsoring team kits.

Forth’s community commitment stretches across the county, including Furness Cricket, where the backing it gives the club supports 80 young cricketers. It also supports St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston through fundraising activity.

Among several community regeneration projects the company has led, Forth has recently redeveloped the Whitehaven Community Hub on the harbourside.

Forth has worked on the venue to provide a new arts, theatre and musical outdoor space for local community groups and musicians to use.

Mark agreed to match fund the project to attract more people to Whitehaven to improve footfall in the town and improve facilities in Whitehaven.

The project involved bringing it up to modern standards, replacing broken halogen lights with new environmentally-friendly LED lighting, rewiring, and a new power supply.

It also designed and had manufactured canvas sides to enclose the hub and protect performers from the elements.

Forth lit up an iconic waterfront structure in time for the coronation of King Charles III, working with Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners. The Wave, a well-known landmark at Whitehaven Harbour, received a new lighting system as part of wider improvements, including the restoration of the harbour’s lighthouses. Forth installed 400 metres of remotely controlled, high-intensity LED lights, which are more energy-efficient than the previous setup. They also 3D printed 800 translucent brackets to maximise light output and ensure durability in all weather.

Mark from Forth said the team was proud to deliver a solution that is both impressive and sustainable. “The lighting is now more efficient, more resilient, and better looking,” he said. Forth, a local company with over 25 years in West Cumbria and Furness, partnered with engineering firm NIS Ltd, which donated its time for the installation. In 2023, Mark joined the board of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, a not-for-profit group that manages and improves the harbour for the local community.