Lying just outside the boundary of the Lake District National Park, Cockermouth is an attractive market town not overwhelmed by the tourist atmosphere of the central Lakes.

Cockermouth grew up at the junction of the two most important rivers in the area. Here, the River Cocker meets the River Derwent on its journey from Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake to the sea at Workington.

Today's visitors to Cockermouth are attracted by the town's calm, its nearness to some of the more peaceful lakes and mountains, and the fact that Dorothy and William Wordsworth were born here. Another famous son of Cockermouth was Fletcher Christian, the man who led the 'mutiny on The Bounty'.

The town received its Market Charter in 1221, and has retained its importance as a market town ever since. Quarrying and mining for lead and iron were later developments outside the town, and a brewery has been built at the foot of the castle mound, where the two rivers meet.

The Cockermouth Partnership was formed during 2000 in an attempt to bring together a number of agencies and groups to act on behalf of the whole community, incorporating both town and countryside. The original representation on the Partnership was from the three tiers of local government - Cockermouth Town Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Cumbria County Council, the Cockermouth Chamber of Trade, the Cockermouth Civic Trust, Cockermouth and District Action Group (CADAG) and two co-optees.

The Partnership undertook a SWOT analysis and carried out a series of surveys in the town. They also took on board the survey work undertaken by CADAG. As a result of this they produced a number of priorities for action.

When the Partnership became aware of the Countryside Agency's Market Towns Initiative, they decided that it met its own objectives and that it would be advantageous to make a submission.

They were successful in their bid and appointed a co-ordinator to assist them in undertaking a Health Check and preparing an Action Plan.

This core group became the Partnership Steering Group, as membership of the wider Partnership expanded. It was also agreed that further representation was needed on the Steering Group, particularly from the rural areas, large employers and representing youth interests.

The Partnership agreed to adopt, as the Market Towns Initiative area, the same geographical area that was already used by the County Council as the Cockermouth Neighbourhood Forum.

The Partnership is now a non-profit making company limited by guarantee and all of the proposed projects within the town's action plan will be undertaken by the limited company.