Dear Member,

As September begins, we move into meteorological autumn. Like lots of other’s I’m doing my best to fend off the moment when the heating gets turned on for the first time, the winter woollies come out of hiding and I start to wistfully think about planning next summer’s holidays 😊

For much of our health and care services Autumn and Winter is a chaotic and pressured time of year. Many more people become poorly; especially the elderly, frail and those living in poverty. Whilst it is the local GP surgeries, ambulance services and hospital A & E departments that get all the publicity about just how busy and pressured they are our sector also experiences a considerable surge in referrals and need for services during the Autumn and Winter.

During this period, our sector provides a significant safety net for those in need; helping people to keep heating on, food in their cupboards and providing warm and safe spaces to meet as the dark, bad weather and autumn/winter struggles increase loneliness and isolation and the need for companionship and support.

People struggle to know where to turn to for health care and support so it’s really important all of us working in health and care know how to navigate our way to the right help at the right time. Make sure you and your staff know what help can be provided in local pharmacies, beef up your knowledge about who is eligible for COVID & flu jabs and encourage people to get them. Ensure you’ve got plenty of information about all the local Warm Spots/Hubs and when they are open, dig deep for information about what support is out there to help with winter heating bills, connect people to online services to deliver shopping prescriptions or Meals on Wheels so no one who is vulnerable has to brave the winter ice, snow and wind to get basics and risk a fall.

We can all do our bit planning and preparing for Winter.

Let us know if you are running additional services over Winter so that we can promote them. Contact the Health Partnerships Team if there is information we can help to provide you and your staff with over the coming months. We can source information for the Bulletin, we can run events focused on Winter information, we can ask people to come and speak at Cumbria Action for Health or Cumbria Mental Health Provider Forum.

Let’s plan and support together this Winter and make sure the people who really need us get the best possible support.

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

You are invited to a FREE lunch on 30.09.2025 at Wigton Market Hall, Wigton.

This is an opportunity for you to meet the New team of ICC Third Sector Representatives who are the voice of our sector in the 7 ICCs across North Cumbria.
• Find out how the ICCs work in your area
• Why not offer to come & speak about your organisation’s services at an ICC meeting
• Share new projects and ideas for partnership working that you would like to talk about with other ICC staff
• Perhaps you have a strong lived experience story you want to share with ICC staff
• Find out how you can get more involved in ICCs in your area
The NEW NHS 10 Year Plan talks a lot about Neighbourhood Teams and delivering health and care through more integrated services. This is your opportunity to come and find out how this is already starting to happen in North Cumbria and how you can get involved.

We are delighted to announce that Mary Smith CEO of Growing Well has been elected as the NEW Chair of Cumbria Mental Health Provider Forum.

Mary is delighted and honoured to have been elected and is really looking forward to getting stuck into the work of the Forum. As she indicated in her personal statement ‘It will be a privilege to champion the passionate paid and voluntary workforce that supports some of the most marginalised people in Cumbria.’

Mary has spent the last few years replicating the work of Growing Well across 3 sites in Cumbria. As a result, she has a really good understanding and experience of working with both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils, the two ICBs (North East & North Cumbria and Lancashire and South Cumbria) and the two mental health Foundation Trusts that deliver mental health services across the county (CNTW in the North and LSCFT in the South).

As Chair of Cumbria Mental Health Provider Forum Mary will be working not just as Chair but also in a number of roles representing our sector and mental health including North Cumbria Mental Health, Learning Disability & Autism Partnership Board and Cumbria Third Sector Network Executive. She will also work closely with organisations supporting the South Cumbria Mental Health Partnership work over the next 12 months.

The Forum’s previous Chair Denise Majer whilst sad to leave the role is delighted to welcome Mary and knows that the Forum and all it’s members will be in ‘good hands’ for the coming years.

Mary will be picking up her role with immediate effect and will be hosting and chairing our next Cumbria Mental Health Provider Forum event Wednesday 24th September 10.30am to 1pm Penrith Rugby Club, Penrith. Please do come along and join us at this in-person event to meet Mary. A FREE lunch is available and they’ll be plenty of opportunities to network with Mary and other Forum members.

More details about the event and to book follow the link here.
Find out more about the Cumbria Mental Health Provider Forum by following this link: https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/health-wellbeing/mental-health-provider-forum/

Find out more about Growing Well https://www.growingwell.co.uk/)

We would like to say a huge thank you to all those who stood for election and those who voted in this process. It is great to know that so many of you value the work of the Forum and the opportunity to play an active part in it.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust will be hosting the first North East and North Cumbria multi-professional dementia conference later this year.
 
The event will take place on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, at The Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park, Newcastle from 9am – 4pm.
 
Please note that there is a delegate fee for attendance. An early bird rate is available until Friday 29 August 2025. For further details on the booking process and fees, please contact the team at MedDevelopment@cntw.nhs.uk

• Complete our survey and receive a £5 retail voucher
• Your experience matters – help shape future support in Cumbria.
Westmorland and Furness Council is taking part in new research across Cumbria to understand what makes it difficult for people to be in work.
We know there can be lots of reasons why people are "economically inactive", and we want to understand better what these are, so that we can plan and build better support to help people address the challenges they face.
• Tell us what makes it difficult for you to be working
• Complete an online survey - just a few minutes to complete
• Completely voluntary and totally confidential
As a thank you, you will receive a £5 retail voucher per person for a completed survey (one voucher per person and any duplicate surveys will be discarded)

Wellbeing drop-ins, walks and 'chatty café'
Lots of drop-in sessions and activities are now on offer to help people look after their wellbeing and get more help if they need it.

Drop-in sessions at The Senhouse Centre (3 Senhouse St, CA28 7ES)
• Mondays (except Bank Holidays): Family and friends drop-ins, 2pm – 4pm (for people who care for someone aged 14+)
• Tuesdays: Housing advice, 10am - noon
• Wednesdays: Wellbeing workshops, 10am – noon
Wellbeing Walks
Every Thursday at 11, you can meet Hope Haven staff outside 41 King Street for a gentle wellbeing walk.
These are gentle walks, on easy pavements and paths. The walks are around one hour long, but there are plenty of chances to rest if you need to.
Chatty Café
We’d love to see you at our ‘Chatty Table’ at The Next Chapter Coffee Bar café, Haig Enterprise Park, Kells, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 9AN. Volunteers are there every Friday from 10am – 12 noon.
When you come to the café, look out for the table with a yellow triangular sign, and volunteers wearing a yellow lanyard.
Feeling lonely and isolated can have a huge effect on our mood and mental wellbeing. But having a chat and connecting with each other can really turn someone’s day around.
If anyone who attends any of these sessions needs more support, we can also link them up with more one-on-one help.
These sessions are all free, and people can just drop in – there’s no need to book.
You can also find all our events on our Facebook page. (Share them to help us spread the word!)
‘Virtual safe haven' offers same-day online support
If you’re struggling and need someone to talk to, you don’t have to wait. We've launched a new 'Virtual Safe Haven' – giving people across Whitehaven and Copeland the chance to speak to a trained mental health support worker online, the very same day.
People can visit our webpage to book an appointment to speak to a support worker that same day, between 4pm–midnight.

Every household where the billpayer receives an eligible means-tested benefit will now be in line for the discount, after the Government removed restrictions that previously excluded many who needed help with bills.

In England and Wales, this means households in receipt of Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit and Universal Credit will now be eligible.

The Government is now issuing a call to eligible households to check they are named on their electricity bill, with suppliers set to rely on customers’ records as of Sunday 24 August.

Someone might not be named on their electricity bill if they have recently moved house and changed supplier.

Having the eligible person named on the electricity bill will help make sure households receive the £150 discount automatically.

Reminder to eligible households to get £150 off energy bills - GOV.UK

Online training webinars provided by Samaritans. They are aimed at practitioners supporting people who may be using the internet in relation to suicidal feelings or self-harm.

Booking info is via the link on the flyer below.

NIHR - online stakeholder workshop -How integrated care is delivered across the UK and how it can be optimised – 6th October – 09:30-12:30

An online stakeholder workshop and inviting people like you to join a discussion on how integrated care is delivered across the UK and how it can be optimised. We want to hear from people working in integrated care at any level, from commissioning to delivery, to share their views and experiences. Your input will help shape recommendations shared directly with the Department of Health and Social Care

NENC Learning Disability Flu Plan 25/26 Webinar Launch – 10th September – 12:00-13:00
The North East & North Cumbria Learning Disability Network has been working with partners across the Integrated Care System to develop a flu plan for 25/26.

Over the past five years, there has been a significant decline in flu vaccination rates among people with a learning disability

Respiratory illness continues to be the leading cause of death, with people with a learning disability dying on average 22 years younger than the general population.

Please join the Learning Disability Network webinar as we launch our flu plans for 25/26

We will let you know how you can be involved and provide you with information, tools and resources that will enable us to work more effectively as a system to increase the vaccination uptake and better protect this vulnerable population.

Further information and booking can be made below.

We are pleased to announce that CNTW will be delivering their 6 week ADHD Lived Experience Programme in collaboration with iCan Wellbeing Group.
The programme consists of 6, weekly 2-hour sessions that combine peer support and education. Our programme aims to empower you to understand your ADHD, recognise its impact on your life, and build upon your existing strengths. Groups are kept to 10 people maximum, and sessions are based on a variety of individual and group activities, videos and discussions.

You do not need a diagnosis to register but you will need to be on a waiting list for assessment.

New programmes starting September 2025.
To find out more and to register on to the programme please contact
Jade on: 01228 819101 option 2
Or by Email: JadeC@iCanwellbeing.co.uk

People First are a charity based in Cumbria and are looking to expand their training offer to support other VCSE organisations.

Please complete the below survey to help us identify training needs at your organisation.

The latest copy of the HDRC Newsletter with updates about:

Grant funding for cancer screening & diagnosis in rural areas

Latest training - follow this link to get more information 45861131528.docx

Including these

Four practical research review session with Tom Greenwood from University of Cumbria

The topics are:

15th September 2025 - research on carers (face-to-face)

29th September 2025 - homelessness and multiple disadvantages faced by communities in Cumbria (this session is ONLINE)

6th October 2025 - digital inclusion/exclusion in Cumbria (face-to-face)

20th October 2025 - food poverty and insecurity in Cumbria (face-to-face)

Please note that the programme content is still tentative - we are happy to receive suggestions for session topics.

If there is something you'd like us to cover, feel free to email the team at hdrc@cumberland.gov.uk

This training is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and free to participants.

Practical research review sessions with Dr Tom Grimwood - Cumbria House Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

The latest the Cumberland Council Social Prescribing Newsletter for September 2025.

New timetables for both the West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership Recovery College (WCMHP-RC) and the North Cumbria Recovery College (NCRC).

View the Timetables via our website, www.togetherwe.uk/recovery-college

📝 Ready to join a course?

• Enrol for WCMHP RC: https://forms.office.com/e/TzrkJXM9iy
• Enrol for NCRC: https://forms.office.com/e/H4Rk5kfawU

Teams from both Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumberland Council, alongside NHS colleagues, are inviting families across Cumbria to learn more about protecting children from childhood diseases and the importance of vaccination.

Families will have the opportunity to meet health professionals in an informal setting, ask questions about the childhood vaccines, and get clear advice on how to keep children safe and protected.

Upcoming events (you can attend any of these, regardless of where you live):

• Saturday 13 September – Market Place, Kendal
• Friday 19 September – Morrisons, Barrow
• Saturday 20 September – Hollywood Retail Park, Barrow
• Saturday 27 September – Dunmail Shopping Centre, Workington
• Friday 10 October – The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle
• Saturday 11 October – The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle

Read the full story

Staff and volunteer working in health and care roles (including those in the third sector) can access free & confidential alcohol support through the following programme.

DrinkCoach is FREE to all health and social care staff working in the North East and North Cumbria region and provides confidential 1:1 online coaching sessions with a qualified alcohol treatment specialist. Click the link to take the 2 minute test and find out more: The Alcohol Test | North-East and North Cumbria — DrinkCoach.

Please share this with your staff BUT NOTE it is not an offer open to the general public unless they also work in the health and care sector.

The event will launch the series of workshops that will be held over the next 6-8 months and include focussed discussions on the following priorities:
• Neighbourhoods and Connecting Communities
• Improving Transitions
• Supporting Unpaid Carers
• Empowering Voices
• Supporting the Workforce
• Harnessing Innovation

See Beyond Boundaries flyer attached for further information

We invite anyone with an interest in the delivery and improvement of Adult social care across the NW to come and join us – having the right people involved is key to success!
Please ensure your LA leads (in relation to the above priorities) are sighted on the event and they too reach out to their own networks, community groups and people with lived experience.

Click the link below for more information and the link to book on.

Does your organisation support people who are receiving palliative and end of life Care? Do staff/volunteers need support and training to improve their confidence and skills in delivering that care and support?

Please complete the survey below which will help in the design and development of training opportunities for colleagues in all roles delivering palliative and end of life support/care.

Staff Confidence Survey via MS forms before the closing date of 30th September.

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:

Newsletters (get our monthly e-bulletin and Funding newsletter first)
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Add your organisation to our member's directory and searchable map
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Right to vote at our AGM

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

Funding
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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!