It has been a momentous day for Barrow as Prime Minister Kier Starmer visited the South Cumbrian town.

Having secretly boarded a Vanguard Class submarine returning home from nuclear deterrent patrol the Prime Minister thank them for their silent service.

The Prime Minister laid the keel to the first boat of the next generation nuclear armed submarines, knowns as the Dreadnought class, currently being constructed at BAE Systems in Barrow.

The keel for the first nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine was laid in Barrow in 1959, before its launch in 1960.

It is also expected the construction of the Dreadnought class will support more than 30,000 jobs across the country, from the heart of BAE Systems in Barrow, to small and medium enterprises up and down the country. 

Barrow will also play a vital role in delivering the AUKUS programme – a joint endeavour between Australia, the United States and the UK – with the first SSN-AUKUS attack submarines being built at the BAE Systems site.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “When I say that our Plan for Change is delivering security for working people and renewal for our country, there is no better blueprint than Barrow.

“Defence spending here is supporting highly skilled jobs, driving opportunities for young people and delivering world class capabilities to keep us all safe, but it’s also crucially putting money in the pockets of hardworking people.

“This week, I saw firsthand the sacrifice our submariners are making every day to keep our country safe, but I know they are only able to do that because of the support of the town of Barrow.

“Each and every person living and working in Barrow is contributing to our nation’s defence, whether that is building our world-class submarine programme, or supporting the workforce here through vital public services or proud family businesses.”

The Prime Minister has also announce that His Majesty the King has agreed to confer the title ‘Royal’ to the Port of Barrow in recognition of the town’s undue role in guaranteeing the nation’s security.

The title is a recognition of the dedication and commitment of the people of Barrow in delivering the submarines that protect the nation, now and for decades to come.

His Majesty hopes to visit the town in due course to mark the town’s proud heritage and prosperous future. 

As part of recognising that contribution, and ensuring the community is able to continue delivering the nuclear deterrent for generations to come, new funding to support the wider community has also been announced by the Prime Minister.

That included a new £28 million funding package for T-Levels, delivered by providers across England including Furness College in Barrow.

The funding will help to equip and inspire students to be the next generation of submarine builders, with industry-relevant skills and knowledge, and leading to skilled employment, apprenticeships, or higher education both in the defence sector and beyond.

This is on top of the Barrow Transformation Fund, a £200 million government package to strengthen the local economy, support sustainable growth and boost opportunities for the people of Barrow.

As part of that fund, a £5 million pot to invest in schools to boost aspiration and support the needs of the young people of Barrow will also be opened.

The funding priorities will be co-designed with representative leaders from across Barrow’s schools, ensuring the money is spent by the people who know best about how to improve the future of young people in the town.

The fund also delivers on the government’s commitment to ensure those on the frontline of public services are empowered in decision making.

A further £5 million will be provided for grants to community and voluntary organisations to allow local people to improve their local area.

The Brilliant Futures Fund, which will be split over five years, follows the launch of the £5m Social Impact Fund earlier this year, meaning Team Barrow has now committed a total of £10m to support vital services in the town.  

The money will be used to strengthen learning and increase attainment, and headteachers from Barrow’s schools will be invited to help shape the fund.

Improving education and skills is a priority for Team Barrow, as is support to the community and this week it also awarded £650,000 from its Social Impact Fund to several local charities and community groups.   

Dr Simon Case, the former Cabinet Secretary and now Chair of Team Barrow, said: “It’s critically important for children to receive a good quality education, so we’re delighted to launch the Brilliant Futures Fund and work in partnership with schools in Barrow to help pupils thrive and achieve their ambitions.

“Today’s school children are our future workforce and we must work together and collaborate to give them the best possible start in life, to ensure they have the skills and aspirations needed to enjoy a rewarding career, hopefully here in Barrow.”   

The Social Impact Fund, as well as the Brilliant Futures Fund, are funded by this investment and this week nine charities were allocated grants worth £650,000, ranging from £50,000 to £100,000.

In addition, Team Barrow will work with Cumbria Community Foundation to develop a separate fund worth £85,000, which will provide community groups and organisations access to smaller grants.  

Dr Case added: “The town’s community and charitable sector work tirelessly to provide a range of vital services, often to those most vulnerable and in most need, so it’s crucial we support them.   

“We want to make sure as many residents as possible can take advantage of the employment opportunities here in Barrow, ably supported by a team of dedicated charity workers and volunteers.

“These initial grants will help to stabilise the sector and provide much needed funds to ensure they can continue delivering these valuable services.”   

One of the recipients is Barrow-based SAFA (Self-harm Awareness for All) with Chair Ian Burns saying: “Team Barrow represents a fantastic opportunity for our amazing community to strengthen and grow, with collaboration at its core. The team have made a fabulous start in catalysing the local charitable sector, to work together to deliver more than the sum of our parts. 

“We are very grateful for this grant and commit to ensuring every penny delivers a positive benefit to those in our community who need our support.”

A Stitch Different, which is a community interest company, comprised of parents and carers of young people with Autism and related conditions, also received a grant.  

Deborah Twinney, who is from A Stitch Different, said: “We work with several groups, one of which is for young adults with disabilities, where we engage with them to find their strengths and use this insight to teach new skills, so they can grow in confidence and be valued members of the community or ultimately move into the workplace.  Without funding these individuals would be left behind and unable to reach their potential.”

Team Barrow is a partnership between central Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems. It has been established to help regenerate the town, revitalising Barrow and Furness as a place where people choose to live, work and thrive.

Its Plan for Barrow, which describes how it will approach the transformation of the town, can be read on its website at  https://www.barrowrising.uk