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Dear Members

It must be the end of summer…….I have that ‘back to school’ feeling and keep finding myself in the supermarket filling my basket with notebooks, pencil cases, felt tip pens in every colour and Toy Story 5 or Amazing Digital Circus lunch boxes 😉

We hope you have all managed to get some kind of a break during the summer sun and are returning to work refreshed and ready for September.

Some of you may have noticed we have had a bit of a refresh of our NEWS FLASH email. Sadly, we were finding that many of our important and time limited messages sent as NEWS FLASHES were being caught up in your organisational email spam filters. This week you should have received the first of our Health & Wellbeing Bulletin Extra emails. We now hope that we have solved the filter problem and you will continue to receive some of our most important news.

This week’s Health & Wellbeing Bulletin Extra contains some really important news. Cumbria Action for Health is recruiting a NEW Chair(s). You will find news about the opportunity in this edition of the Bulletin and also in the vacancy section of the Cumbria CVS website https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/vacancies/

The network is looking for an individual or two individuals in a job share arrangement who currently work or volunteer in a third sector organisation that delivers health and/or care services in Cumbria and who have experience of leading partnerships, multi-agencies projects or Networks.

It is an exciting and challenging time for our sector as we become more involved with helping to shape Neighbourhood Health and it seems likely there will be NHS boundary changes. If you have a passion for health and care delivered in Cumbria by the third sector and are passionate about providing the third sector with a pro-active, positive voice in health and care in Cumbria have a look at the information, contact Clare Edwards (claree@cumbriacvs.org.uk) for a chat or just apply. We look forward to hearing from you.

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

09.09.2026 Sands Centre, Carlisle 12 noon to 4pm (set up from 11am)

North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) Physiotherapy (MSK) Service is launching an innovative Community Appointment Day (CAD) programme at Carlisle’s Sands Centre to help tackle current waiting times. The event also aims to provide a more personalised, community-focused offer to individual patients.

The NCIC Physiotherapy Team are inviting local third sector (VCSE) organisations to be part of the day to provide a Community Wellbeing Hub element. The Hub will work alongside the NCIC staff to support invited patients to connect directly with a whole range of services, support networks, activities and resources that might support people to live well with musculoskeletal conditions. 

Please note this event is not open to the general public but users of the Sands Centre facilities may have limited access.

This is an exciting opportunity to engage with the 100 patients selected by NCIC from the immediate Carlisle area to attend the event and also to meet staff from NCIC’s physiotherapy team. You will have a chance promote your service and to contribute to this collaborative approach that places “What Matters to You?” at the centre of care. Whether your organisation supports wellbeing, physical activity, social connection, employment, self-management, carers, or wider community health this could be a great event for you to attend. 

We have up to 20 tables available for the session.

Please note there will be no available plug sockets for your use. 

The Community Hub space will be available for you to set up from 11am.

Do you have a passion for health and care delivered in Cumbria by the third sector?

Do you want to get more involved in developing new concepts of Neighbourhood Health?

Do you want our health and care system to develop better services with people at their heart?

Could you be Cumbria Action for Health’s new CHAIR(s).

Cumbria has a vibrant and innovative third sector that delivers 1,000s of fantastic health and care services across the county.

Staff and volunteers are passionate about the work they do and work hard to ensure the services they provide make a difference to people from all walks of life in all of our communities.

It’s important that third sector organisations work together adding value to one another’s services. We also need to work together to make sure we reach right out into the remotest communities and the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and ensure we grow and build new services where they are needed most.

Our services also need to be integrated with and to complement all the other services provided by our partners in the statutory and private sector.

That’s why Cumbria Action for Health is so important and why we need an enthusiastic new Chair or Chairs (job share) to lead the Network for the next 3 years. 

Are you:

• A powerful ambassador for all the great health and care services the third sector delivers in North Cumbria?
• Skilled at describing and delivering the third sector’s core skills of innovation, flexibility, working at pace, reach into disadvantaged communities?
• Skilled at working in and leading multi-agency initiatives?
• Passionate about providing the third sector with a pro-active, positive voice in health and care in Cumbria

We are looking for an individual and/or two individuals in a job share arrangement who currently works and/or volunteer within a third sector organisation that delivers health and/or care services in Cumbria and who has experience of leading partnerships, multi-agencies projects or Networks.

What is Cumbria Action for Health?

Cumbria Action for Health is a network of 100s of third sector organisations all of whom deliver health and care services in Cumbria. The network has been in operation for over 15 years.

It is a vibrant and lively group of staff and volunteers who value getting together to:

• promote their organisations & services
• find out about support, training, key contacts and good practice
• keep up to date on health and wellbeing issues
• find out about local, regional and national policies and access information which may affect groups and their beneficiaries
• influence decisions made in Cumbria regarding health and wellbeing through consultations, and by representing the network at strategic meetings
• provide an opportunity to develop and deliver a unified third sector voice in relation to health and care issues, concerns, governance and structures across the county

The network meets on alternate months of the year, with additional events held as necessary.

To view the information pack click HERE

 Click HERE to submit an application form.

For more information or if you would like to discuss the role please contact:

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

Deadline for application: 10am Monday 28^th September 2026.

Interviews/election will take place between 05.10.2026 and 26.10.2026.

The new Chair(s) will be announced during the week of 02.11.2026.

The successful candidate will have an Induction Period with the NEW Chair(s) assuming full responsibilities from 01.01.2027.

Travel Actively Newsletter News and Updates for Barrow and Carlisle August 2026.

The Council are inviting people with experience of Direct Payments to share their views as part of a review to help improve support and services.

From 10th August everyone who currently receives a Direct Payment, or who has received one within the last six months, will be invited by email or letter to complete a short survey. The survey has been developed with people who have experience of Direct Payments to help ensure it focuses on what matters most.

The survey asks about experiences of information, support, communication and processes.

Feedback will be used as part of a wider review of Direct Payments and will help us understand what works well and where improvements could make a difference.

The survey takes around 10 - 15 minutes to complete, is completely voluntary, and will be open until 7 September 2026.

If you receive a Direct Payment, or know someone who does, please take part in the survey. It can be completed online or by using the postal survey sent out by letter.

The online survey opens at 9am on Monday 10 August and can be accessed via Direct Payments Survey | Let’s Talk Cumberland. 

For questions or alternative formats, email coproduction@cumberland.gov.uk

Adult social care affects millions of people across the country. It supports older people, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions with a wide range of everyday tasks, helping them to live independently and safely.

However, the reality is that adult social care is not working well enough for many people, and change is needed to ensure that those who need support can get it.

The Big Conversation is part of the work being undertaken by the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, also known as the Casey Commission. This is being led by Baroness Louise Casey, who was asked by the Prime Minister to consider how adult social care should change to meet the needs of current and future generations, and to make recommendations for reform.

Over the coming months, the Big Conversation will hear from people in different ways, including through our online platform, directly from people who work in adult social care or those who may not take part online, and more in-depth discussions with a Public Panel on Care, made up of people selected to broadly reflect the population of England.

Find out more about taking part follow this link

Take part online | The Casey Commission

Cumberland Council is supporting Theatre by the Lake's tour of Every Brilliant Thing, an award-winning production that explores mental health, hope and the importance of human connection. 

Following selected performances, audiences will be invited to take part in post-show discussions featuring local organisations and professionals. Georgina Ternent, Public Health Lead at Cumberland Council, will be joining discussions at selected performances to talk about the council's Zero Suicide Cumberland approach and the work taking place across the county to prevent suicide and support mental wellbeing. 

The production will be on stage at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick from Wednesday 12 August to Saturday 5 September and then tour to community venues across Cumberland from Monday 7 September to Sunday 4 October, including Workington and Maryport. 

Cumberland Council’s Public Health Annual Report 2026 highlights stark inequalities in men’s health and calls for a wider conversation about masculinity and its impact on health, relationships and communities.  

In the latest episode of the, hosted by Catherine Williamson, Colin Cox, Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing for Cumberland Council, discusses the findings of the report Man up? Understanding men’s health and identity in Cumberland, and why it matters for everyone. 

Follow the link below to listen:

Episode 28: Colin Cox

The report shows that men in Cumberland experience significantly poorer health outcomes than women, including higher rates of suicide, substance misuse and earlier death. It explores how poverty, work, education, isolation and social expectations around masculinity can influence mental and physical health throughout life.  

The conversation considers how communities can better support men, encourage earlier help-seeking, and create environments where talking openly about challenges is seen as a strength, not a weakness.  

This is an insightful discussion about health, identity, prevention and the changes needed to improve outcomes for men, families and communities across Cumberland.  

Read the full report here:

Cumberland Public Health Annual Report 2026 | Cumberland Council

The Westmorland and Furness Community Safety Partnership(CSP) is launching a Community Conversation to support the development of the new Community Safety Partnership Plan for 2027-30. 

The CSP is made up of a wide range of organisations that work together to keep our communities safe. Collectively they respond to the challenges people face and focus on making Westmorland and Furness a safe place to live, work, study and visit.

The Community Conversation provides an opportunity to people to offer their views and feedback on a wide range of issues and concerns. The online questionnaire asks about how safe people feel in their local community and what type of crime has the most impact on them.

The Council would also like to hear views on what concerns people the most.

Findings from the survey will then be used to plan and shape the next set of priorities that the partnership will focus on over a three year period.

Community Conversation to shape future priorities of Westmorland and Furness Community Safety Partnership

Have you visited Kendal Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Westmorland General Hospital?

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has partnered with Healthwatch to hear from people who have used the service or know about it. Your feedback will help shape the future of urgent care across south Cumbria and north Lancashire.

The survey is anonymous and takes just a few minutes to complete.

Closes: Sunday 13 September 2026

To support Neighbourhood Health services’ delivery models, the NHS 10-Year Health Plan committed to developing new contracts based on population size. NHS England are currently undertaking a consultation to seek views on two proposed contracting models:
• A Multi-Neighbourhood Provider (MNP) Contract
• A Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) Contract
The consultation documents explain the proposals, and an online survey asks questions about the likely benefits, risks and practical implications, including how the contracts would interact with existing arrangements.
The consultation is aimed at Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), general practice, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), community and other providers, local authorities, patient representatives and other stakeholders. Patients and members of the public may also wish to contribute to the consultation.
Consultation closes 10th September.

The latest Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness newsletter August edition.

Health and wellbeing news for the North East and North Cumbria from VONNE

The new timetable for organisations to come and chat to residents about their groups and services at the Egremont and Whitehaven Welcome Space. 

Please contact Katie.Rae@copeland.gov.uk which date/dates from the list below you are available. 

Egremont Session - Egremont Methodist Church at 22, Main Street, Egremont CA22 2DR)

Whitehaven Session - United Reformed Church James St, Whitehaven CA28 7HZ

A brilliant really accessible report full of great data that is well set out, easy to navigate around and with a wealth of useful data summaries that could work to support our sector.

This report has been created by the Cumberland HDRC Team.

Following a range of discussions with stakeholders the HDRC Team identified a series of 7 key themes to focus their work on. The themes were selected on the basis of local relevance and the potential for research to influence policy and practice.

For each of the 7 identified themes:

• Poverty
• Mental Health
• Neurodiversity
• Substance Use
• Obesity & Food Insecurity
• Cared for Children
• Pathways to Employment
• Access to Housing

HDRC pursues a consistent set of analytical questions:

• the extent and severity of the issue
• the populations most affected
• spatial variation across Cumberland’s rural, coastal and urban areas
• systemic and practical barriers to improvement
• interventions or approaches that show promise

These questions drive an integrated research approach that combines scoping reviews of recent interventions, secondary data analysis to characterise the current evidence base, targeted primary data collection and community-led deep dives conducted with community co-researchers.

You can read a copy of the report here:

The Picture in Cumberland final with QR code - A secondary data analysis on the wider determinants of health across Cumberland, the North-West and England across Cumberland Council’s seven research themes

Presentations from speakers at the latest Social Prescribing Forum meeting.

Cumbria United Against Suicide and West Cumbria Rivers Trust.

Have you experienced severe pregnancy sickness or hyperemesis? We would like to hear your experiences it improve care and support.

The survey link is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SDWDR88

If any person who has an experience prefers to chat in person about their experience rather than take a survey, then they can contact the MNVP on either of these email addresses to arrange carlisleeden@matvoices.uk or Westcumbria@matvoices.uk  I will be happy to arrange to talk to them.

A new “passport” is now available for patients with Parkinsons, which can be used in hospitals in North Cumbria to quickly and easily share their needs with healthcare staff.

The Parkinson’s Passport was designed collaboratively between North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) and Eden Parkinson's Group of Parkinson's UK.

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition, symptoms of which vary from person to person, and for some people at different times of day.

The Parkinson's Passport is small and easy for patients to carry with them, and it is a quick and easy way to communicate their needs, as well as any critical information about any medication they are taking. It is also helpful for hospital staff who can see at a glance vital information that they need to know.

The three Parkinson's Groups which cover the North Cumbria Area (Eden, West Cumbria, and Carlisle) have all adopted the Passport.

The Parkinson's Passport can be found on the NCIC website here: https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/download_file/13274/0

It is also available from each of three Parkinson's Groups which cover the North Cumbria area:

• Carlisle -  mike@weelybin.co.uk  
• Eden District - joy.edenparkinsons@gmail.com  
• West Cumbria - berylpryde@gmail.com

Young people across Cumberland are being encouraged to take part in the Youth Matter survey and share what matters most to them. 

The survey gives children and young people the chance to talk about the things that affect their lives, including their communities, activities, wellbeing and future opportunities.

Their feedback will help shape a strategy to inform decisions about services and support for young people across Cumberland. 

If you're a parent or carer, please take a few minutes to share the survey with your child and encourage them to get involved.

Provider Q&A Session – Cumberland Council & Westmorland and Furness Council

Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council are preparing to recommission Substance Use Treatment Services across Cumbria, with new contract due to commence on 1 October 2027.

Ahead of the formal tender process launching in September 2026, the Councils hosted an online Q&A session for interested providers on Thursday 20 August 2026, via Microsoft Teams.

This session offers a valuable opportunity to:

• Gain early insight into the upcoming commissioning and procurement approach
• Understand the Councils’ strategic priorities and service expectations
• Ask questions and clarify any aspects of the forthcoming tender opportunity

To support this session, an updated information slide pack is now available via the chest, containing details of the recommissioning plans and joining instructions.

Find out more and download the slide pack: Cumbria Substance Use - Treatment Service - Market Engagement

To register your attendance, please contact John.Salisbury@cumbria.gov.uk directly.

(Please note: Do not use the Expression of Interest link on The Chest for this session.)

It is now easier than ever for families in Westmorland and Furness to start their child’s reading journey. Parents registering the birth of their baby are now being offered the opportunity to get their baby’s first library card at the same time. This exciting collaboration between our Libraries and Registrars highlights our shared commitment to supporting early literacy and family wellbeing.

As part of the standard birth registration process, parents are now asked if they would like to register their baby for a library card.

Read the full article on our website: Newborn library memberships

This edition include:

• Information about the recent  Cumberland Health and Care Summit
• Information from the latest Neighbourhood Health planning workshops

Calling all professionals working with young people!

South Lakes Youth Work Network is inviting professionals and volunteers who work with young people to join us for the South Lakes Youth Work Summit on Saturday 5 September.

This event will bring together youth workers and sector partners to:

• Strengthen professional connections
• Share innovative practice
• Explore current challenges
• Explore local and national youth work priorities
• Reflect on the future of youth work

Together, we'll discuss how we can we can strengthen partnerships and build a more collaborative, sustainable and impactful future for young people. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation.

Find out more: South Lakes Youth Work Summit 2026

This edition includes information about:

• The ‘Have your say on the future of our older people’s inpatient organic services’ work
• Annual Celebration event

The Adult Learning Team offers a range of English as a Second Language (ESOL) courses depending on fluency level. See attached information.  All of our ESOL courses are free, but there are some eligibility criteria. It is important that people who wish to take one of these courses contact us before attending a class. This is so that we can assess their eligibility and proficiency level, and, if they are eligible,  allocate them to the most appropriate course for them.

An Introduction to Health and Care Research- training

Tuesday 6th October, 10am-12pm, online 

This session is open to anyone working in a VCSE organisation across North East North Cumbria (NENC), and will aim to help you:

• Understand what research and evaluation are​
• Reflect on the role of communities in research and evaluation
• Understand why you may want to become involved in research, and the ways that you can do this
• Be familiar with the different stages of a research project
• Build awareness of where to access further support and resources

This training is delivered by VONNE, in collaboration with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation

Click here to book onto the event.

What is the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector? - training

Wednesday 9th September, 10am-12pm, online 

This interactive session has been created for research professionals, and will explore effective ways to connect and collaborate with VCSE partners.

By attending the training, you should gain an understanding of:

• What the 'VCSE' sector is
• How you can connect with the VCSE sector
• The current VCSE landscape locally and nationally, and how the sector is organised, governed and funded
• Key guidance and publications on working in partnership with the VCSE sector
• Your current connections and interactions with the VCSE sector

This training is delivered by VONNE, as part of the Newcastle Health Research Partnership (NHRP) Public Partnership Training Programme

Click here to book onto the event.

The North Cumbria Recovery Colleges offer a welcoming and supportive environment where people can learn new skills, build on existing strengths, and connect with others through shared learning experiences. By focusing on education rather than treatment, Recovery Colleges help people develop confidence, increase their sense of control, and improve their overall wellbeing.

Open to anyone, including people experiencing mental health challenges, carers, professionals, family members, and the wider community, Recovery Colleges promote inclusivity, hope, and mutual understanding. All courses are FREE and designed to provide practical tools and strategies for everyday life, covering topics such as emotional wellbeing, resilience, stress management, self-care, and creative approaches to recovery.

One of our most popular courses within the Recovery College is the Decider Life Skills. The Decider Life Skills were designed to enable participants to make effective changes to help manage distress, regulate emotion, increase mindfulness, promote effective communication, and to live a more skillful, less impulsive life. The Decider Life Skills are delivered in an original, fun and creative style, using role plays, props, imagery and music, that makes them easy to learn and easy to teach. The demonstrations bring the 12 skills to life.

You can register for any of our courses via our website, www.togetherwe.uk/recovery-college. If you wish to contact us for any reason, you can do so by emailing hello@ncrecoverycollege.org or calling 0808 196 1773 during our opening hours, we are always happy to help. 

The UK's traditional analogue phone network, commonly known as the PSTN, will be permanently retired on 31 January 2027.

This nationwide change means landline services will be delivered using digital technology over broadband connections instead of the ageing copper-based network.

This change is currently underway and for most people, the transition will be managed by their telecoms provider, but it is important that residents, businesses, community organisations and voluntary groups start preparing now.

What do you need to do and support people you work with to do?

• Speak to your communications provider.
• Review any devices that rely on a phone line.
• Make plans for upgrades where necessary.
• Check that vulnerable family members or service users are supported during the transition.

Connecting Cumbria will continue working with partners across the county to raise awareness and help communities prepare for this important milestone.

The important message is - don't leave it until the last minute. 31 January 2027 will arrive sooner than you think.

Understanding Dementia. A Community Awareness Talk.

This session is designed for friends, family members and loved ones of a person
living with dementia, as well as anyone who wants to learn more and better
understand the condition. Whether you are supporting someone now or simply wish
to increase your awareness, this talk offers practical guidance, reassurance and the
opportunity to ask questions in a welcoming environment.

Tuesday 22nd September
10am-12pm
Penrith Rugby Club, Main Hall

Scan the attached QR to book your space or call 01768 639986

Missing a council tax payment can lead to additional costs and unnecessary stress.  

Sign up for our free council tax text message service and receive reminders when your instalments become overdue, helping you stay on top of your account. 

Your privacy and security are important to us. Any information you provide when signing up is collected and stored securely and will only be used to provide this service. 

We will never ask you to provide passwords, bank details or other sensitive personal information by text message. If you are unsure about a message, verify this by contacting our council tax team.

This message comes from cancer care staff working in hospitals in the Northumberland area.

‘It has come to light that suspected fraudulent Macmillan Cancer Support leaflets have been distributed across multiple Trust sites. Staff initially raised concerns regarding the unusually high volume of leaflets. On inspection, the materials contained inconsistencies in branding, poor-quality graphics, incorrect Macmillan contact details,  suggesting potential fraud.

To date, three different leaflet versions have been identified within outpatient and oncology areas at WGH, NTGH, and HGH. No reports have been received from Alnwick or Berwick.

• Finding it hard to make sense of your cancer LF 1b (003).pdf LF 1a (006).pdf
• Where do I start Mac 1.pdf Mac 1 (005).pdf
• Who can help Mac lf 3.pdf

The codes indicated do not exist on Macmillan’s system.

As a precaution, all Macmillan leaflets have been removed and local cancer teams/oncology day units have been made aware.

Macmillan Cancer Support, local partners, the Northern Cancer Alliance, and neighbouring Trusts have been informed, with Gateshead and South Tees reporting similar incidents.

A Datix has been submitted, and Information Governance and Security teams have been notified. Although we have been unable to establish when the leaflets were placed, it is believed the same individual (female) may have been distributing them over the few months.

Staff have been reminded to challenge unknown individuals in clinical areas and request identification where appropriate. We will continue to monitor the situation and share any further updates.

Please contact local NHS and/or Macmillan staff if you experience similar issues in Cumbria. Alternatively contact Holly Ferguson and/or Clare Edwards from the Health Partnerships Team and we will forward your email appropriately.

It’s that time of year again – time for children’s flu vaccinations.

Follow these links for toolkits to help you spread the message to people you work with about:

• Flu vaccinations for 2 to 3 year olds
• Flu vaccinations for school aged children

All sessions are on-line.

Lots of sessions to choose from including updates on:

• PIP (Personal Independence Payments)
• DLA (Disability Allowance) for children & young people
• Access to work
• Industrial injuries benefits

These will be led by the DWP Disability Services Advocacy Team specifically for external stakeholders – they are free to access and most useful for new advocates and front-line staff engaging with clients with a Disability of any kind or age.

Online or in-person at People First Building Carlisle

The event is open to ALL in Cumbria.

We are aiming to share information about the NHS app, The Secure Data Environments (using our NHS information for health research see below) and to identify help for digital exclusion.

There will be time for questions from the public and support to get involved in digital health in the future.

Using health data for research (Secure Data Environments)

Health research has changed our daily lives, from the invention of Calpol and contact lenses to life saving cancer drugs. Researchers and analysts need access to our health and care data (information) to help develop new medicines, treatments and services. Have you ever wondered where that data comes from? How secure is it? How are identities protected? How do we make sure the research results are to the benefit of people like you and me? If you're curious, join our online session so that you can ask the experts.

Menopause-Confident Workplaces a funded session delivered by Dandelion Coaching and funded by Barrow Rising.

This full day in-person session that will help you build understanding, confidence and practical support around menopause at work. Through practical learning, conversation and ideas you will take back plans for your own organisation.

Visual invitation and program overview available.

Booking link Events & Resources | Dandelion Coaching.

Tickets are limited so early booking is recommended. 

The latest events and services in and around the Westmorland and Furness area including: 

- Kendal Walking Festival

- PiNC Summer holiday activities 

- Yoga in the Park (Penrith and Askham)

Third Sector Referral Co-ordinator
Fixed term for 12 months but could be extended subject to funding
Hours – 30 hours/week

Base – Flexible working in terms of both location and hours of work. There may be occasions when office working will be required at our Carlisle office.

Overview:
We are seeking a Third Sector Referral Coordinator to support people living with physical health and mental wellbeing needs. You will help clinical and care staff to understand third sector services and make appropriate referrals. You will work alongside health and care teams, attend multi-disciplinary team meetings, and keep NHS staff up to date with information about services and support offered by the third sector in local communities.
This exciting position provides an opportunity to be part of an integrated approach to supporting patients with health and mental wellbeing needs in their communities.
We are looking for self-motivated and enthusiastic applicants who understand and value the contribution third sector organisations make to supporting people living with health and mental wellbeing needs.
You will hold an Honorary Contract with North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust.

Job Purpose
To understand and promote the third sector offer for people affected by physical health and mental wellbeing needs within North Cumbria and to support appropriate and timely referrals from NHS staff to specialist third sector organisations.

To view the Job description and Person Specification, click HERE.

Find out more about working for Cumbria CVS here

To arrange an informal conversation about the role, please email: hr@cumbriacvs.org.uk

How to apply

Please apply by submitting your CV and supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4 stating your reason for applying for the post and how your skills, knowledge and experience specifically match the job description and person specification for this role. We value life skills and un-paid work, so please include reference to these if relevant, as well as accounting for any gaps in your employment or education history.

Applicants must also complete and return the separate Declaration Form, which can be downloaded here.

We would also be grateful if you would complete and return our Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, which can also be here.

Please email your CV, supporting statement, completed Declaration and Equality & Diversity monitoring forms to: hr@cumbriacvs.org.uk by the closing date.

Receipt of your application will be acknowledged, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome of the shortlisting whether selected for interview or not.  Applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.  References will only be taken up for the successful applicant.

Cumbria CVS strives to be an equal opportunities employer. Disabled applicants and veterans who meet the essential criteria will be interviewed.

Applications should come directly to hr@cumbriacvs.org.uk  

Closing date for applications is Monday 7th September 2026 at 12noon. Interviews will be held either face to face or remotely via teams – Friday 25th September 2026. Cumbria CVS strives to be an equal opportunities employer. Disabled applicants and veterans who meet the essential criteria will be interviewed. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks which may include the review of social media platforms.

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, Governance, and Business Support)
• Evaluation and research resources
• Add your organisation to our member's directory and searchable map
• 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!