Find us on the web and social media

Dear Members

Some areas in the very south of Cumbria quite literally felt the ground shift recently during an earthquake that measured 2.2 on the richter scale. This week health systems in Cumbria began to feel what could be some seismic changes in the NHS landscape.

Letters have landed with Chief Executives from North East and North Cumbria ICB and the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB. The letters come from NHS England and detail recent government requests to NENC ICB (North East & North Cumbria ) and LSC ICB (Lancashire & South Cumbria) to consult on and respond to the Government’s commitment to aligning ICB footprints with strategic authorities (Cumbria Combined Authority).

In short this is a request to each of the ICBs to:

• Consider moving NHS ICB boundaries to better fit the NEW Cumbria Combined Authority boundaries
• Explain why it is not feasibly possible to amend the boundaries
• Engage with local partners and prepare a response for NHS England by 14.07.2026

This could result in changes including:

• A combined Cumbria NHS area attached to NENC ICB
• A combined Cumbria NHS area attached to LSC ICB
• Other smaller scale changes

We are inviting all members of the:

• Cumbria Action for Health
• Cumbria Mental Health Forum

To join us at a meeting 02.07.2026 2.30pm online (see main Bulletin for more information)

I will hope to see you at the meeting. If you are not free at the date/time please do send comments by email to myself and Carolyn Otley:

Carolyn Otley CEO Cumbria CVS                                CarolynO@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Clare Edwards Health Partnerships Manager              claree@cumbriacvs.org.uk

You are also welcome to connect with either of us if you require further information and/or explanations.

To contact the Health Partnership Team just email below:

Clare Edwards Health Partnerships Manager
claree@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Holly Ferguson Health Partnerships Administration Officer
hollyf@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Sarah Penn Health Partnerships Support Officer
sarah.penn@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Keep up to date with our network events Padlet, which contains all of the information/presentations from each of our speakers at our recent Action for Health and Mental Health Provider Forum meetings

A networking and information sharing event for link workers (social prescribers, health and wellbeing coaches, care coordinators and more) and any VCFSE organisations or people who deliver arts and culture activities specifically to improve health and wellbeing in North Cumbria.
Link workers will find out more about the various arts & culture in health activities on offer and learn more about how arts and culture can support the people they work with. VCFSE arts and culture organisations can connect with the link workers and explore how access to their health-focused activities could be supported.

The event will be followed by a 'bring your own' picnic in the Tullie grounds, and the team at Tullie are offering tours of the galleries in the afternoon.

Join the Tullie team inside the new automata exhibition to hear about why visiting museums and art galleries can be beneficial for our health and wellbeing. Learn more about our community programme, plus added extra - have a go at some slow-looking or sketching to wind down.

Link workers will also be able to attend a 'Connect the Connector' session directly afterwards to catch up with their colleagues in other teams/organisations. Please book this separately here.

There will be space for stalls to showcase your organisation but these must be booked in advance by emailing hollyf@cumbriacvs.org.uk.

When

24th, June 2026 from 10:00 to 12:30

Location

Tullie
Castle Street
Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 8TP

A chance to get together with fellow link workers, social prescribers, health and wellbeing coaches and anyone else doing similar work in North Cumbria.

The aim is to share challenges, successes, tears and joy! This follows on from a 'Link and Think' event on Arts and Culture 10-12.30, also at Tullie which can be booked here. You can attend both or either, and there will be a 'bring your own' networking picnic lunch in between.

Please book separately here for the Arts and Culture Link and Think.

When

24th, June 2026 from 13:00 to 14:30

Location

Tullie
Castle Street
Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 8TP

Lots of research focused:

• Events
• Opportunities
• News

Including information about the refreshed Community Engagement Toolkit – and for those of you who missed the launch event a link to the full event on You Tube.

And how to get support from the  VCSE Research Partnerships Team which aims to provide a single point of contact for researchers and VCSE organisations who are interested in collaborating on health and care-focussed research.

Including:

• Named as one of UK’s top 100 Social Enterprises
• New CEO
• WorkWell – the project supporting people to stay well & thrive in work

A new partnership between Cumbria Health and Growing Well has been launched to help support mental health recovery and wellbeing across North and West Cumbria and the Eden Valley.

Good mental health is fundamental to overall wellbeing, and for many people, recovery is strengthened through connection, purpose, and being part of a supportive local community. Through this partnership, patients supported by Cumbria Health will now be able to access Growing Well’s horticulture-based therapeutic services at Tebay and Egremont.

Find out more from local staff @Growing Well:

https://growingwell.co.uk/

The Daffodil Foundation CIC emerged from the Covid Pandemic…when many were isolated, and suffering not just the loss of social connection and support but trying to deal with bereavement following the loss of a loved one.  Alun and Debbie formed The Daffodil Foundation CIC to offer support to the bereaved, and also to those who are going through other times of crisis in life such as addictions. Both Rev Alun and Deacon Deborah each have over twenty five years experience of supporting bereaved families and those who are in other times of crisis. They are both qualified bereavement counsellors and trained Trim Practitioners dealing with Trauma. 

Both have many years experience working in Chaplaincy in hospitals, hospices, prisons and industry. The Daffodil Foundation can be contacted on www.daffodilfoundation.co.uk or by e mail at alun@daffodilfouondation.co.uk or by WhatsApp chat and telephone found on the website.  The Daffodil Foundation is a not for profit CIC and all services are free of charge. The Daffodil Foundation also offers a sister site for those who wish to download digital courses to support the bereaved or other types of Crisis in life ww.talkhelp.co.uk

Do you want to help improve health and wellbeing in your community? Do you have lived experience and a passion for making a difference?

Cumbria CVS, in partnership with Cumberland Council’s Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), is looking for Community Co-Researchers (CCRs) to support vital, community-led research across the area.

Community Co-Researchers (CCRs) are hosted by Cumbria CVS and work as part of Cumberland Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) to design and deliver research focused on tackling health inequalities in Cumberland. Cumberland HDRC is part of the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and hosted by Cumberland Council.

You don’t need any prior research experience. Full training and ongoing support will be provided. What matters most is your willingness to listen, learn, and share your insight to help ensure research reflects real lives and local voices.

Our CCR’s are linked to the 8 Community Panels across Cumberland. We are looking for two CCR’s to join the team, one in the Fells and Solway Community Panel area and one in the South Cumberland Community Panel area.

Tuesday 7th July 2026, 1pm - 2.30pm, online via Microsoft Teams
Join the next 'Collaboration for Health' event and find out how research and evaluations can support VCSE organisations with capacity and evidence building. This can help with funding bids and organisational development, as well as providing meaningful opportunities to develop better links between researchers, academic institutions and the VCSE sector.
Speakers include:
• Paul Court, Healthworks
• Dr Bronia Arnott, School for Public Health Research
• NIHR IDEAS-NET
• Newcastle Foodbank
• Fran Morland, VONNE
Presenters will share practical insights into what worked well, what proved challenging, and what can be learned to support the VCSE with research partnerships.

Please read for information and understanding training & learning opportunities.

Trial on workplace self-management for individuals with long-term health conditions and health-related disabilities.

A study from the NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health is looking to recruit small (10-49 employees) and medium (50-249 employees) sized organisations as part of a trial of an online toolkit called Co-Manage.
Co-Manage is designed to help workers with any long-term health condition (eg. mental ill-health) or health-related disability
(eg. hearing loss) to self-manage their health at work.
The study team are keen to work with 8 organisations from across the public, private and VCSE sectors to see how effective Co-Manage can be in reducing the number of sick or disability leave days workers take by improving their work, health and wellbeing.
Remuneration is available to organisations, and criteria apply. See full details of the research below, and if you would like to express an interest and find out more email: D.W.Maidment@lboro.ac.uk or NIHR.RSS.PublicHealthDelivery@newcastle.ac.uk

‘If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.’

UK Chief Medical Officers

A new report produced by the governments Health & Social Care Committee.

Amongst other things the report explores how the health and social care system can make better use of physical activity to prevent and treat ill health and support people to age well by:

• embedding physical activity in the health service by making it a strategic priority for integrated care boards
• strengthening links with partners outside of the health system including the leisure, physical activity and voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors
• tackling sedentary behaviour in the social care sector through physical activity opportunities

The Virtual Dementia tour takes 15 minutes (3 people at a time) & it will:

Improve standards

By Walking in the shoes of a person with dementia, we can start to understand the issues that they experience everyday. You will experience being confused, isolated, lost, intimidated, vulnerable and much more and therefore understand what you need to change to improve quality of care.

Improve Lives

Simple changes that are made to improve standards also reflects in improving lives for people with dementia.  re-focusing delegates on the needs of the individual rather than convenience to the care provider is the basis of improving lives.

Who it’s for

The Virtual Dementia Tour is ideal for family carers, health & social care staff, nurses, families, solicitors, police, prison service, ambulance staff, doctors and so many more and with a growing population and dementia impacting so many families lives, everyone should complete this amazing training.

Book your slot with our Cumberland Age Friendly coordinator joanne.rayson@ageuknorthcumbria.org.uk  

We are pleased to be delivering a number of Healthy Heart community events via the HARRI bus across Furness and South Lakes, providing local residents with the opportunity to access a free blood pressure check along with friendly health advice and support in their community.

The HARRI bus enables us to reach people in accessible, familiar locations, helping to support early identification of high blood pressure and encourage simple steps to improve heart health.

To ensure we reach as many people as possible, particularly those less likely to engage with traditional services, we would really value your support in promoting these events through your networks.

How you can help

We have created a range of resources that are ready for you to use:

• Social media graphic and suggested post wording (attached)
• Posters for display in community settings (attached) – one poster gives the dates for all events and there is then an individual poster for each location
• We will also be sharing additional posters designed by local school children shortly, which we would love your help to promote once available.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could:

• Share the social media content across your channels
• Additional social media posts will appear on the W&F corporate pages – please share
• Display posters in your venues (where appropriate)
• Include details in newsletters, bulletins, or emails
• Cascade information to colleagues, partners, and local communities

A set of interesting documents useful to anyone working in the end of life and palliative care arena.

The most useful being Supplement 6 which includes a summary of need and services in North Cumbria (pages 51 to 61) and recommendations for improved services.

Want to know more about Tackling Health Inequalities - including falling life expectancy and ways to tackle it

Read this explainer, 'Health inequalities in a nutshell', where The King's Fund highlights the scale and urgency of the issue.

Additionally, to support for those of you across the North East and North Cumbria why not build your knowledge and confidence in this area, by accessing the online training programme available on the Boost learning and improvement community website. It offers practical insight into healthcare inequalities and supports the shared ambition to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for people and communities.

Are you interested in the VCSE Partnership Programme (supported by staff at Cumbria CVS to help our sector have a voice in regional health & care conversations) supports and wondering how to get involved?

Do you want to understand the role of the Integrated Care System (ICS) and the health and care developments in our region.

Join the bi-monthly introductory session, these key topics are broken down and staff explain how the VCSE sector plays a part in shaping healthcare changes.

This session is designed to provide a clear overview of the ICS and the VCSE Partnership Programme. It’s also a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have and explore ways to get involved.

The  next session is coming up on Monday 22nd June, 1.30pm - 2.30pm. Register

The RDN's Patient Engagement in Clinical Development (PECD) Service have an opportunity for 8 adults (aged 18 or over) with lived experience, as a patient, or a carer or parent of someone, with atopic dermatitis (eczema), to undertake a review and comment on the content and design of patient-facing documents for a particular research study. The study team are particularly keen to hear from parents / carers of children aged 12 or over with atopic dermatitis (eczema).  

Participants will be reimbursed £55 for their time.  

The deadline for people to apply to participate will be Monday 22nd June 2026 (1 pm).

Please find below the attached advertising materials which include further information on this opportunity as well as contact details and how to apply.

14th July, 2pm – 3pm, online

VONNE is hosting this online forum providing an opportunity for those working in social prescribing to learn more about supporting patients after leaving Intensive Care (ICU) so that appropriate community support can be offered.

Leaving ICU is a major milestone, but recovery is often slow and unpredictable. Many people describe the transition from ICU to ward, then to home, as the hardest part of their journey. Common experiences include:

• Feeling “dropped” after leaving ICU
• Difficulty understanding what happened
• Loss of confidence and independence
• Emotional distress and fatigue

At this forum you'll hear from specialist nurses from the North of England Critical Care Network, followed by an opportunity to explore how hospitals and social prescribers can work more closely to meet the needs of this group of patients. Register

NEW Silloth Share and Support Food Pantry team. Developed by Council’s Community Development Team and local residents. 

3^rd Wednesday of every month 12noon to 2.30pm Christ Church, Criffel Street, Silloth.

A warm welcome and tea and cake for all. A £5 suggested donation for food bags (no one will be turned away if they can’t pay)

The Silloth Share & Support Food Pantry offers a regular, low‑cost way to access fresh and store‑cupboard items. The monthly hub will also offer wraparound support such as budgeting advice, energy guidance, cooking sessions and signposting to other services.

Open to all in the CA7 post code

Video explains the NEW scheme In our video, Helen and others explain more about the scheme.   

Find out more about Silloth Share and Support here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579535332241 

As you may already be aware from previous communications, and/or your involvement in the project, the VCSE Partnership Programme has been leading a project in partnership with the Integrated Care Board (ICB), funded by Assura, to co-create an outcome monitoring framework for evidencing VCSE impact for use in health commissioning. The project was initiated from within our VCSE Partnership Programme Executive Group, which consists of thematic network and local infrastructure leads, and representatives from across the North East and North Cumbria VCSE sector.

The funders accepted the challenge to back a project that seeks to address systemic problems to improve commissioning practices for health commissioners, and for the organisations that are commissioned by them.

Through workshops carried out across our Integrated Care System (ICS) regional footprint, as well as online, representatives from more than 80 VCSE organisations contributed their insight and intelligence and were reimbursed for their time and effort. Our Coordinator, Victoria Nunn, created a draft framework that has received a VCSE peer review, and is now with the ICB for feedback. Victoria also presented a summary of the project at the UK Public Health Conference 2026, with widespread interest from attendees.

This is the end of the first phase of the project, and we have been invited by Cheshire Community Foundation (who are managing the grant on behalf of Assura) to bid for further funding to continue this work. Those people involved in the phase one workshops and Executive Group members are supportive of continuing to develop the framework, and then testing it at small scale - with the aim for it to be rolled out ICS-wide.

VONNE & Cumbria CVS will share further news and opportunities for involvement as they arise.

The document, once approved by the ICB will be circulated through the CVS Wellbeing Bulletin

Following a recent survey about libraries in the Cumberland Council area the Council have now published the results.

It’s important stuff for our sector as so many of our organisations deliver services/support in libraries or direct the people we work to council services based in libraries.

Some of the feedback includes:

• A growing demand for digital services
• A want for expanded/more integrated services – further connecting libraries to other council services and other organisations
• Increase awareness of the breadth and variety of services on offer in libraries currently

Document links

• More information on the SNA and the Fit for the Future project can be found on this page.

A direct link to the SNA document is also available here

The Council launched our new Carers Charter, thanking members of the Cumberland Carers Forum for their collaboration in co-producing the document, which places unpaid carers at the heart of care and support.

The Charter sets out how the Council will value carers by recognising, listening to, and supporting them throughout their caring journey. It reflects a clear ambition to ensure unpaid carers are treated as essential partners in care, whose voices and experiences help shape how services are designed and delivered.

Information about:

• Forthcoming visits from senior NHS figures
• Developing Integrated Wellness Service
• Cohort identification & support
• Targeted demand management

The PCSM Research Hub invites you to join us for the next edition of the CumbriaMed Research Webinar Series, which showcases leading health researchers working in and with Cumbria. Each session features two expert speakers and a live Q&A. The series is open to staff, students, patients, relatives, and the public; all are welcome.

Topic: The Science and Medicine of Sleep
Date: Thursday 25 June 2026
Time: 12:30–13:30
Location: Zoom (registration required)

Register: tinyurl.com/pcsm-webi11

Speakers:

• Prof Mary Morrell - Head of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, and Professor of Sleep and Respiratory Physiology, Imperial College London

“Sleep Medicine”
Mary is a sleep and respiratory physiologist whose research has investigated sleep and breathing conditions such as sleep apnoea. Before moving into research, she trained and worked as a nurse, and she has held senior academic and education roles at Imperial and Pears Cumbria School of Medicine.

• Prof Nick Franks - Professor of Biophysics and Anaesthetics, Imperial College London

“The Science of Sleep”
Nick is a scientist whose research examines how general anaesthetics work, and the cellular and neuronal mechanisms behind natural sleep. His work has helped build understanding of sleep, anaesthesia and brain function.

Please see the attached flyer for full details, or contact us at: pcsmresearchhub@cumbria.ac.uk

Hosted by: PCSM Research Hub

Funded by: NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC)

Saturday 4th July  2026 10am - 5pm
Lowther Castle - Setterah Park Farm - Low Gardens Bridge

Join us for a free event celebrating nature across the Lowther Estate & The
Castle & Gardens. Events include.....

Nature Interest Table
The Beaver Trust
Watch The Pond Dipping
Glow Worm Project
Bug Hunting In Our Haystacks
Moth Trap Reveal
Nature Crafts & Games
Red Squirrel & Bird Watching

The latest information about Westmorland and Furness Carer Support service.

Click here for further contact details. 

Have you or your family and friends, clients, or contacts been involved in a mental health crisis (over the last few years) which involved contact with the police or paramedics  - GP'S or crisis team or voluntary sectors. If so, you could assist this research to improve future experiences?

Have you worked in those services and would like to contribute also from your expereinces.....you are very welcome!

PIONEER MENTAL HEALTH is an opportunity (via NIHR  / CNTW) to take part in mental health research for Cumbria folk.

CONTACT -Via Individual contact  or in  focus groups or workshops, to  discuss  leaning from your experience's  to assist the way forward from how the crisis teams and first response service workers.. 

This Research will later feed into National research around how the pathways & Response's  are seen and improve  within multi agency services also in the future.

Please don't let the grass grow - if can assist.

Email - SARA LONG her  EMAIL- sara-jaye.long@cntw.nhs.uk  or if like a chat first  - evelynbitcon@btinternet.com   (M) 07715-569683.

LSCFT would really value the expertise of the VCFSE organisations across the Lancashire and South Cumbria footprint to help influence LSCFT’s operating model and future neighbourhood thinking and working through attending the above conference.

In this week's edition:
• TOP STORY: Healthy Hearts Roadshows – all welcome
• This week's headlines:
• In other news...
• The latest job vacancies from Westmorland and Furness Council

Our latest post has key updates, including funding and project opportunities, representative roles and working groups you might want to get involved in and much more.

The latest vacancies in Cumbria, from across the sector. You'll also find vacancies with Cumbria CVS here too.

Cumbria CVS offers a free membership service for Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations throughout Cumbria. This membership gives you access to our free services, including:

• Early access to our monthly e-bulletin newsletter
• Focus on Funding online - the latest funding opportunities
• Online Learning Programme (Volunteer Management, Funding and Business Support)
• Evaluation and research resources
• Add your organisation to our member's directory and searchable map
• Free or discounted access to online learning provided by external partner VSL Learning, including GDPR, Cyber Security, Safeguarding Adults, and Safeguarding Children
• Advertising of your job vacancies on our website
• Right to vote at our AGM
• Other resources and support in development, including priority/early booking for our training and events

If you want to receive the latest news, events and updates on:

General sector info for your area
Our volunteering network
Volunteering vacancies
Our Action for Health and Mental Health Provider Forum networks
Trustee network
+ more

You can sign up for individual newsletters and manage your subscriptions to our mailings, all in one place!