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Dear Members

Welcome to the first Autumn edition (the astronomical version of Autumn rather than the meteorological one 😉) of the Cumbria CVS Health & Wellbeing Bulletin.

If you are like members of the Health Partnerships Team, you may well be mourning the loss of daylight hours and starting to seek out warm and welcoming spaces to snuggle into to keep you going over the colder months.

With that in mind, why not come and join us at the next Cumbria Action for Health network event. You will always find a warm welcome, lots of great people to connect with, loads of good information and always a hot tea/coffee and FREE lunch.

We are looking forward to seeing lots of you at the next Cumbria Action for Health in-person meeting.

Please note that due to issues getting all the right speakers into one room on the same date we are postponing the session dedicated to Neighbourhood Health until the March in-person meeting.

But the Health Partnerships Team and our Cumbria Action for Health Chair Geoff Jolliffe will be using this great opportunity to be with lots of colleagues from the third sector to:

Give you a bit of an update about some of the big-ticket items happening in health and care across the UK and Cumbria:

• Neighbourhood Health
• New commissioning structures
• Possible boundary changes

Provide an update on the Cumbria CVS Health Partnerships Team:

• What we do, where we do it and why we do it
• Use some recent case studies to illustrate the work we do

We also very much want to hear from you so will spend 40 mins of 2 x workshop sessions:

• What do you want from your Cumbria Action for Health Network?
• How can the Health Partnerships Team better support you through the significant changes coming up

To book a place at the event follow this link: Action for Health

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.

Introduction to The Picture In Cumberland Report  - Online session 07.10.2026 10am to 11am  

This event focuses on all the great data, research findings and information produced in the NEW Picture In Cumberland Report.

The session will be led by staff from Cumberland HDRC who created the report. 

Covering the 7 themes selected by HDRC stakeholders (including the third sector) the session is a must for anyone involved in supporting and/or delivering services focused on or aligned to:

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

You will be introduced to a range of key data from the Cumberland area and supported to understand how the data highlights key themes and significant issues of concern.

This session has been designed specifically for local third sector organisations.

You can read a copy of the report here

A joint event between Cumbria CVS, Cumberland Social Prescribing Team, and the Cumbria Combined Authority Work, Health, and Skills Team. The aim of the event is to enhance connectivity in the work and health space, providing updates on major programmes, landscape, and networking opportunities. All culminating in greater engagement with programmes. 

VCSE organisations and work and health programmes will be invited to bring stalls and pop up banners around the room.

Exact timings to be confirmed… 

Next NCIC Physiotherapy waiting list Community Appointment Day (CAD) 25.11.2026 at the Sands Centre in Carlisle. 

Following the huge success of the September CAD day, with over 50 attendees, NCIC has set a date for the next session.

These days are a great opportunity for a range of third sector organisations to offer their services and support to people who are on NCIC waiting lists for physiotherapy appointments.

The day is appropriate for a range of organisations covering:

• Physical activity
• Mental health & wellbeing
• Advice and guidance (e.g. benefits support)
• Community centres/community gyms etc.

Cumbria CVS will be sending out a link to sign up for the day in the next Health & Wellbeing Bulletin.

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

The service is available for anyone over the age of 65, or who is disabled, vulnerable, recently discharged from hospital or at high risk of falling due to medical reasons.  Best of all, there are no charges for labour costs – all the householder has to do is to provide the materials. 

Requesting the service is easy – either by phone: 0300 3733300, email: housingstandards@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or by completing the on-line form on Westmorland and Furness Council website (search Handyperson).

Kooth mental health service has evolved to Soluna.

Help get the message out, so young people are aware we are still here to support them.

Making the best use of our £9 billion budget, improving health, reducing inequalities, and making sure services are safe, high quality and fit for the future: these are the key themes in our five-year commissioning plan, featured in a new summary version published this week.
 
The plan describes how we will plan and buy services for the 3.2 million people we serve. It sets out where we can make the biggest difference, including better support for people with long-term conditions, more care closer to home, improved access to primary, community and mental health services, shorter waits, and a stronger start in life for children and young people.
 
We are now building on this work through our neighbourhood health plan, which will outline the way we work with partners to bring care closer to home, strengthen local relationships and organise support around local people's needs.
 
As an ICB, we will not directly deliver these services, but we have an important role in setting the priorities and outcomes we want to see, and in aligning funding so services are safe, high quality, fair and good value.

Westmorland and Furness Council has approved a new initiative to help ensure council spending, investment and services create the greatest possible benefit for local people and communities.

The new Social Value statement sets out how the council will use its influence as one of the area's largest employers, commissioners, landowners, investors and community leaders to support local jobs and skills, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen environmental sustainability.

The council spends around £360 million each year on goods, works and services and employs almost 4,000 people. The refreshed approach aims to ensure there is a more focused approach to delivery of social, economic and environmental benefits alongside the services people rely on.

Find out more about the Social Value statement

Westmorland and Furness Council buildings are benefitting from the positive impact of its partnership with local social enterprise Works4You, which is helping maintain and enhance council sites, while creating opportunities for local people.

Works4You delivers grounds maintenance and environmental improvement services across Westmorland and Furness, supporting the council's commitment to providing safe, attractive and accessible public spaces.

The organisation is the trading arm of local charity GoodLives, which supports people across Cumbria by building confidence, developing skills and helping individuals move towards employment and greater independence.

From maintaining green spaces to developing pathways and community gardens, Works4You is making a visible difference across council sites. One recent project at the Redhills building, Penrith, saw the team construct a new pathway and establish a vibrant wildflower garden, transforming the area into a welcoming space where people can connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.

The partnership also delivers significant social value, with income generated through contracts helping GoodLives continue its support for local people and communities.

Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Westmorland and Furness Council's Cabinet Member for Finance and Deputy Leader, said:

"We are committed to ensuring that council investment delivers the greatest possible benefit for our communities, and our partnership with Works4You is an excellent example of that approach in action.

"Not only does Works4You provide a professional, reliable and high-quality service that helps us maintain and improve our sites, it also creates lasting social value by supporting GoodLives' important work across Westmorland and Furness and Cumbria.

"Projects such as the work at Redhills demonstrate how investment in our outdoor spaces can create attractive environments for residents while also supporting opportunities for local people. We are proud to work with organisations that share our commitment to community wellbeing, inclusion and sustainability."

Laura Bland from Works4You said:

“We really value the strong relationship we’ve built previously with Cumbria County Council and then Westmorland and Furness Council over the past 10 years. It’s been fantastic to develop such a positive partnership, not only with the Council but with the teams and communities connected to the sites we maintain. 

“We’re proud to work alongside an organisation that understands and genuinely supports what we’re trying to achieve as a social enterprise. That shared understanding makes a real difference and allows us to make a positive impact in our local community.”

The council continues to seek opportunities to work with organisations that deliver both excellent services and wider benefits for residents, helping to create healthier, greener and more connected communities across Westmorland and Furness.

Bookings are now open for the 2026 Safeguarding Conference, taking place on Friday 16th of October 2026.

Our 2026 Conference will be a virtual event, providing practitioners from across the system an opportunity to polish their legal literacy skills whilst learning from practice through real stories and lived experience. 

The day will be delivered in 2 half day sessions to support and facilitate attendance.  Practitioners can attend either the morning, afternoon or both. Each session will include input from legal experts commissioned to deliver legal literacy training alongside human stories.

Further details including a programme will be published next month, don’t wait book your place now!

Afternoon: When Protection Meets Choice: Mental Capacity Act & Safeguarding

Examine the balance between protection and individual rights, with a focus on the Mental Capacity Act and its role in safeguarding practice. Book your free place here.

The Extra Mile scheme – for rural communities around the town where there is little or no access to a bus service – launches on Monday (14 September).

The area included in the Penrith scheme takes in a rough circle with a 15-mile radius from the town centre, bordered by Appleby, Great Asby, Shap Wells hotel, Hartsop, Threlkeld, Millhouse, Highbridge, Moss Cottage, Aiketgate, Newbiggin, Croglin, Gamblesby, Kirkland, Dufton, Keisley and Murton.

Using an app or telephone booking service, passengers can request journeys within the operating area, and the system matches requests together to provide efficient shared transport. This means the bus travels where and when journeys are needed, helping connect rural communities with nearby towns and services.

Watch the video explaining how the scheme works

Whether you're caring for a grandchild, niece, nephew, sibling, or family friend's child, under a family arrangement, with or without a legal order, or as a kinship foster carer - you may be a kinship carer.

As part of our Kinship Local Offer, we're pleased to offer a series of free online training sessions designed to support kinship carers:

• 15 September | 9.30am–11am
• Supporting healthy relationships in young people
• 15 October | 12.30pm–2pm
• Online safety - trends, emojis and what to watch for in young people
• 6 November | 10am–12 noon
• Life story work - supporting children and young people to understand their story

This week, the NENC ICB launched a new regional campaign to help more people across the North East and North Cumbria discover what they can do with the NHS App.

The Tap the App campaign is encouraging people to download the App, explore what it can do and, importantly, switch on notifications so they don't miss messages from their GP practice or hospital.

From ordering repeat prescriptions and viewing health records to managing appointments and receiving messages, the NHS App is making it easier for people to manage their healthcare securely, at a time that suits them.

The ICB have also developed a new toolkit for GP practices and ALL partners, with social media content, digital screens and a series of short films to help spread the word.

If you write a regular newsletter or bulletin consider using some of the toolkit content to help get the message out.

The latest timetable for HARRI for September - October 2026. 

HARRI is also available to attend health events and campaigns. It is perfect to promote local services to a wide audience in just a few hours, allowing services to highlight their initiatives, raise awareness and discuss concerns. If you would like HARRI to support you free of charge at events please contact the team.

• a monthly Zoom art for wellbeing group running all year round, the next sessions are Thursday 1 October and Thursday 29 October, 2 pm.
• An art for wellbeing challenge running from 3 October to 31^st October, with art ideas sent out by email every other day to enjoy in your own time
• I-to-1 art for wellbeing on Zoom if that's preferred

Residents are invited to enjoy a series of free Age Friendly Festivals taking place at leisure centres across Westmorland and Furness this October.

The festivals will be of most interest to older adults but everyone is welcome to come along and take part.

Visitors can take part in a variety of taster sessions, meet local community groups and organisations, enjoy live music and other performances, and find out more about opportunities to stay active, connected and independent. No booking is required.

All of the festivals will offer practical advice and demonstrations of equipment that can help people live independently, alongside an equipment take-back service for items that are no longer needed. The Better Homes Team will also be attending to provide advice and guidance on Disabled Facilities Grants and Handyperson service. 

Eden Age Friendly Festival

📍 Penrith Leisure Centre 📅 Thursday 1 October - 10am to 2pm

Furness Age Friendly Festival

📍 Barrow Leisure Centre 📅 Friday 2 October - 10am to 3pm

South Lakes Age Friendly Festival

📍 Kendal Leisure Centre 📅 Sunday 4 October - 11am to 3pm

Join us on 24 September for the national relaunch of the NHS England Digital Inclusion Framework.

As digital healthcare continues to evolve, ensuring that everyone can access and benefit from digital services is vital to reducing health inequalities. The refreshed Digital Inclusion Framework has been developed to help NHS organisations and partners ensure digital transformation improves access, experience, and outcomes for all communities, without unintentionally widening existing inequalities.

The framework provides practical guidance, tools, resources, and examples of effective practice to support digital inclusion throughout service design, transformation, and delivery.

This webinar will introduce the refreshed framework, highlight key updates, and explore how organisations can apply it to local priorities and programmes. It will be of particular interest to colleagues working in healthcare inequalities, digital transformation, service improvement, population health, and wider system partnership roles.

📅 24 September
🔗 Register here: Digital Inclusion Framework Refresh: National Relaunch Webinar | NHS England Events

The latest news and insights from The tackling Loneliness Hub.

Bookings are now open for the next block of wellbeing sessions at Watchtree.

Sessions are free and open to all adults as a welcoming weekly space to connect with nature and nature-based activities.  This is not a counselling service but is facilitated by experienced staff and volunteers and provides a supportive group meeting including a gentle walk and a number of mindful activities.  

The September edition of the Cumberland Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Newsletter.

Within this newsletter, you will find useful information from across the partnership and from our partner agencies relating to safeguarding, which is aimed to support practitioners and professionals in their role.

Health research news for the North East and North Cumbria.

FREE Ramblers Wellbeing Walks taking place in your local area. We believe it is important to make you aware of these walks and give you the chance to be able to promote them.

Attached are the NEW Ramblers Wellbeing Walks posters which cover North Cumbria for Sep - Dec 2026. These are updated on a termly basis and can be found on our website if you (listed down towards the bottom).

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!