The Society’s charitable purpose under its Rules is “the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science”, and our objects are “to promote, encourage, foster and coordinate the study of archaeology, history, genealogy, customs and traditions with special reference to the County of Cumbria, which now includes the historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands and the Sedbergh district of Yorkshire”.  The Charity Commission website lists our activities as “Funds historical and archaeological research with grants to volunteer groups, schools, museums and academic/professional researchers; operates a website with accessible heritage information; supports local historical societies in studying the historical environment; holds study days, lectures and visits; publishes a respected journal, plus books and other publications”.   Membership is open to all without restriction on payment of an annual subscription.

In the exercise of its responsibilities, the Society acts through its Council and its main committees for outreach work to the general public and community groups, for the publication and issue of scholarly but accessible publications relevant to Cumbria, for grants of funds to appropriate organisations and individuals for fieldwork and analysis relating to the history and antiquities of the county, and for work on the industrial heritage of the county and its conservation.  Significant grants and donations have included sustained support to the Cumbria County History Trust, to community groups, and to students in full and part-time education who benefit from a subsidised membership subscription.  The Society has extended free membership to all primary schools in Cumbria.
 
The Society’s website is accessible worldwide, making heritage information freely and accurately available, including about the outcome of funded research projects, and providing answers to all queries relevant to our objects, either directly or by passing them to other experts.  We give public notice of our meetings and events, and those of our affiliated groups, many of which are open to the general public at a nominal price.  Following the completion of a digitisation project in 2016, every edition of the annual Transactions since the Society’s foundation except for the last five years is freely available on-line through the website, and the website of Archaeology Data Services.  The most recent editions are open to our members and become available to the general public on a rolling annual basis.

The Society constantly monitors its public benefit contribution and from time to time sets up particular public benefit projects, or supports those of other cognate bodies as appropriate and in line with the resources available to and held by the Society.

General Secretary