The CWAAS is a Registered Charity committed to undertaking several roles within the county and beyond. One of these roles is to foster historical and archaeological research of a high standard. This is done in a number of ways:

• taking every opportunity to encourage people to pursue research;
• reporting on the work of the appropriate Committees, making public the projects which they have determined to support financially;
• publishing in the Newsletter interim notes and reports on research undertaken;
• presenting on the website topics of projects which have attracted grant aid in recent times;
• making known topics of recent Cumbrian historical and archaeological research carried out at named universities;
• providing a forum for the oral presentation of reports of research projects;
• providing full publication of academic studies relating to Cumbria's history and archaeology in its Transactions;
• acting as a major and well-reputed book publisher.

1. The Research and Grants Committee is charged with the responsibility for considering applications for grant aid for research projects. See side panel for details of the Committee.

2. A separate Committee deals with evaluating applications for the Clare Fell Bursary, which is available to young people aged up to 25 years. See side panel for details of the Clare Fell Bursary.

Recently supported research projects have included:

• Dendro-dating of timbers from the Cowp Scar fish traps
• A survey of the Solway salt pans
• A historic building survey of No. 1, Castlegate, Cockermouth
• A survey of public sculptures of Cumbria
• A geophysical survey and excavation at Brackenber Moor
• Completion of the report on excavations, Burgh-by-Sands
• A fieldwalking project in the Eden Valley
• Research into the Bewcastle Cross
• The Clay Buildings of the Solway Plain

In March, 2009, grants were awarded to support the following projects:

• Dendro-dating of timbers in the Tithe Barn adjacent to St Cuthbert's Church, Carlisle
• A study of the effect of unemployment on the population of West Cumberland
• An exploration of the writings of Jocelin of Furness