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Dear Members

Once again as you read this Cumbria is experiencing/recovering from another bout of heavy rain. Properties across the county have been flooded and our precious transport links including the M6, trains and many major routes and smaller local roads become impassable. This is always a difficult and worrying time for those who have health and care needs and/or live in poverty or isolation and for those who care for vulnerable people.

At these times our sector provides so much support and so many specialist services to local communities and people. The support ranges from practical and emergency services to all the great hyper local flood/emergency support and resilience groups based in their local communities. 

Many of these organisations will have been out and about providing practical help, checking in on vulnerable householder, providing key points of contact and services for those in need.

Perhaps you are one of these organisations and want to share your services and contact details with a wider audience? If so, please send details to Holly and/or Clare (emails below) so that we can pop information in a future Bulletin. 

Alternatively If you and your staff want to know more about:

• local organisations who can offer help and support during an emergency
• how your organisation can plan, prepare and support people during flooding and other emergencies
• how to set up a community based emergency resilience/support group

Why not contact Cumbria CVS's Community Resilience Coordinator Liam Ryan 

Email:

liam.ryan@cumbriacvs.org.uk

You can find out more information about Liam and his role here

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

Update about building works on the Kings Street premises and news about all the fabulous activities happening in and around Whitehaven.

The latest newsletter includes:

• Training opportunities
• Update on Community Co-researchers recruitment

Invite to be involved in opportunistic smoking cessation research

North East and North Cumbria Regional Research Delivery Network are looking for potential sites to be involved in a study looking into whether brief opportunistic advice to quit smoking within financial guidance services, including provision of an e-cigarette and referral to behaviour support, results in more people quitting smoking than if no smoking cessation support is provided.

The title of the study is:  Brief opportunistic Smoking cessation Advice for financially Vulnerable Individuals accessing financial Support (SAVINGS): a randomised controlled trial

If you offer financial guidance for people, such as food banks, Job Centres, and Citizens Advice or any appropriate teams within local authorities and are interested in taking part, contact:

Stuart Hamilton

stuart.hamilton@nihr.ac.uk

A chance to catch up with the key discussions and messages from the recent Place Partnership Board.

Don’t forget your local representatives on the Board are as follows:

Carolyn Otley                              CEO Cumbria CVS

Craig Backhouse                       CEO Carers Support Furness

Phil Whiteley                               CEO Age UK South Cumbria

Do get in touch with them if you want more information about the Board or any of the topics discussed.

News includes:

• Introduction from the NEW Interim Chair of the Trust
• Latest performance data
• NEW Chief Executive sets out ambition to reimagine healthcare (from NCIC’s recent AGM)

Cumbria safeguarding Adults Board Newsletter October 2025

This months newsletter includes a range of learning opportunities and resources which can support you as a practitioner or the individuals you are working with.

Golden Connections

Join us every Friday at the Oval Centre - 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Good company, free refreshments, and the odd game of bingo, with a twist.
Please contact us to discuss our walking bus option for residents of Salterbeck.

For more information please contact us:
t: 01228 536673
e: admin@ageuknorthcumbria.org.uk
w: ageuk.org.uk/northcumbria

The CNTW Lived Experience Involvement Service Spotlight Report (April - September 2025).

This report highlights some of the involvement and engagement work happening across Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW).

This briefing sheet provides you with a quick update about all the GREAT FREE services available to staff and volunteers working in all areas of health and care across North East and North Cumbria.

Please share with your staff and volunteers and encourage them to use the services.

Older Adults Wellbeing Event
Whitehaven Cricket Club, Richmond Terrace CA28 7QR
Monday 24th November, 1-3pm

-Free Parking
-Health checks
-Information
-Help
-Advice
-Support
-Come along have a cuppa & a chat

The Route 38: The Cargo Link, a key new section of Carlisle’s growing cycling network which forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 7, has been completed.
The newly finished cycleway runs from Cargo to Carlisle’s Northern Bypass, delivering safer, more convenient, and sustainable travel options for residents, commuters, and visitors. With funding contributions from Active Travel England, Cumberland Council, Cycle Carlisle and Kingmoor Parish Council, the route provides a vital connection between local communities, schools, shops, and employment areas, making it easier for people to choose cycling, walking, or wheeling for everyday journeys.
Find out more about cycling, walking and wheeling on the Active Travel website following the link below.

Being out in the cold or adverse weather can be dangerous, especially if you have nowhere else to go.

Local Council Homelessness Teams monitor weather conditions throughout the year and have Severe Weather Emergency Protocols in place so we can provide emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough.

If you see someone who is bedded down or about to bed down in the open air, please let them know so that we can offer support.

You can do this by visiting the link below or contacting the Homelessness Team in your area.

Come celebrate our vibrant community. One world, many cultures, all together!

Thursday 27th November 
14:00-18:00
The Rum Story, 27 Lowther Street, Whitehaven CA28 7DN

Join us for an evening that celebrates the heart of our community! Taste delicious food from around the world, live music and performances, and inspiring speakers from our local community. Explore displays showcasing our shared achievements and take part in a night that celebrates diversity, unity, and the love that brings us together

Westmorland and Furness Council is looking to open up more employment opportunities within the council for people with learning disabilities.
Across Westmorland and Furness, the rate of employment for people with a learning disability is 2.4 per cent – below the national average (5 per cent). This means almost all (above 97 per cent) of people with learning disabilities in Westmorland and Furness are unable to work.
In a bid to increase this figure, the council is launching a pilot project to explore how it can create meaningful work opportunities for people with a learning disability and ensure they have the right support to thrive as part of the council’s workforce. Staff in Adult Social Care have begun conversations with people who use their services, to hear about their experiences and their desire to find work.

Cumbria Community Safety Partnerships: Modern Day Slavery refreshed pathways & guidance. 

Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) in Cumbria have published refreshed pathways and guidance for practitioners when working with suspected victims (adults & children) of modern day slavery including exploitation.

CumbriaMed Research Webinar on Innovations for Wellbeing - Thurs 27 November, 12:00-13:00

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: Innovations for Wellbeing
Date: Thursday 27 November 2025
Time: 12:00–13:00
Location: Zoom (registration required)

Register: tinyurl.com/pcsm-webi5

Speakers:

• Prof David J. Nutt - Professor of Neuropsycho-pharmacology and Director of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London

 "Psychedelics for Depression"

A psychiatrist and leading authority on brain-acting compounds, he studies how psychedelics may unlock rigid neural networks to treat depression. Founder of DrugScience, he champions evidence-based drug policy and led groundbreaking neuroimaging studies, including the first LSD brain scans.

• Prof Amanda Taylor-Beswick - Professor of Digital Social Science, University of Cumbria

& Georgia Denham - Senior Youth Worker and Youth Participation Lead, Carlisle Youth Zone

 "Young People as Co-Researchers: Building Agency to Influence Health and Other Systems"

Amanda and Georgia work at the intersection of youth voice, wellbeing, and digital society. Amanda, a social worker turned academic, researches how technology can drive social good and prepare future professionals for a digital world. Georgia, a theatre graduate and youth leader, uses creative performance to empower young people and strengthen their influence in their communities.

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)

A screening of a new animation created with the experiences, words and images of mums in North Cumbria.

Come and watch the short film and hear about how it was created, and what we can all do to support mums and mums-to-be in our communities.

Please share far and wide!

Click here to book a place.

We just wanted to let you know that Safety Net will be temporarily closing to new referrals from 3^rd November 2025.

Over recent months, we’ve seen a significant increase in referrals and are now operating at more than double our service capacity. To ensure we can continue to provide safe, ethical, and high-quality support, we have made the difficult decision to pause referrals for an initial period of 4 months. Which will then be reviewed.

I would like to reassure you that this temporary pause will not affect our delivery. All scheduled sessions and ongoing support will continue as planned.

This pause will also allow us to:

• Complete assessments currently awaiting allocation.
• Review and refine our intake processes.
• Develop more sustainable systems to improve the overall client journey.

Our priority is to ensure that we are providing a high-quality, safe service for all clients. This temporary measure is intended to safeguard both client safety and service quality, while putting procedures in place to manage capacity more effectively in the future.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, if you would like to discuss this in more detail and please forward this to anyone you feel should be made aware within your teams.

Healthwatch Westmorland & Furness’s latest newsletter is packed full of articles and information all about rural transport across the area

Including:

Understanding Patient Transport in Westmorland and Furness

Understanding Patient Transport in Westmorland and Furness - Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness

An article that explains what patient transport is, who can use it and what alternative travel options are available locally if you’re not eligible.

Coppermines Valley - upcoming walk

When: Saturday December 7th 2025

Where: Coppermines Valley, Lake District

What: A full day walk, starting around 9am an finishing approx 4pm. We will cover around 6 miles in total, and this walk is graded moderate (more info on walk gradings on our website).

We take regular breaks throughout the day to explore mindfulness techniques, and participants have the opportunity to connect with a coach and counsellor from our wellbeing team during the walk.

Who: For anyone over the age of 18. We are not a crisis charity, but we are here to support anyone - whether they are struggling with the day to day and need some time out, or they consider themselves to be thriving and want to sustain their mental health through physical activity outdoors in nature. No pressure, no judgement.

Your opportunity to build relationships with other third sector organisations working in the health & care sector across our NHS region and to work together to increase the power and voice of our sectors needs, wishes and issues.

Neurology: Monday 10th November, 10am – 11.30am, online

Ageing Well: Wednesday 19th November, 10am – 11.30am, online

People Facing Multiple Disadvantage: Tuesday 2nd December, 10am – 11.30am, online

Women/VAWG: Thursday 4th December, 1pm – 2.30pm, online

The online meeting invitations are circulated to people signed up to each specific Network mailing list. If you would like to receive invitations you can sign up to whichever of the mailing lists interest you through our online form here.

If you have any queries about the Networks please get in touch with Beth Reeves, Interim VCSE Engagement Manager: beth.reeves@vonne.org.uk

Introduction to our Integrated Care System and VCSE Partnership Programme

Are you interested in the VCSE Partnership Programme 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 our bi-monthly introductory session, where we break down these key topics and 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.

Our next session is coming up on Monday 15th December, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Register

Join our Health and Care Research Partnerships Network

Are you a VCSE organisation or researcher working on health and care-focussed research? Or are you interested in learning more about this space and the latest research opportunities? Why not consider joining our Research Partnerships Network. 

Led by Francesca Morland, VONNE's Research Partnerships Coordinator, our VCSE Research Partnerships work exists to support researchers and VCSE organisations to collaborate on projects and build new ways of working based on reciprocity and sustainability.

Having consulted with the research and VCSE sectors, and in line with our commitment to information sharing, we have designed a new research bulletin which will be launching in January 2026.  

By joining our Research Partnerships Network, you'll receive our bi-monthly bulletins, containing updates on our recent work, opportunities for collaboration, blogs and opinion pieces, and more. You will also be the first to hear about our latest training opportunities on research partnerships.

Sign up to the network here.

Lots of news and information including  Children’s Grief Awareness Week (17-23 November) and National Grief Awareness Week (2-8 December).

An updated Service User and Carer Reference Group Newsletter from the last meeting in October 2025 which focused on With You In Mind.

Your experience matters! We're developing a new service. It will support people to stay in work or return to work after illness – and we want your input.

Join our workshop in Carlisle on Tuesday, 18 November, 4-6 and help shape the future of workplace wellbeing.

 💷 Attendees get £50 for their time!

👉Interested? Apply to attend our workshop

Let’s work together to make a difference!

Come along to our free football play session designed especially for babies and toddlers to get active. Plus, take a look around a fire engine.

Find the event at Westfield Family  Hub, Westfield, Workington, CA14 5AP
(Behind Westfield Primary School)

16th November 
1-3 pm Dad’s event
We'll also have friendly faces on hand with advice and support  for you.

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 first)
Focus on Funding online - the latest funding opportunities
Governance Support
Add your organisation to our member's directory and searchable map
Advice
Policy Templates
Training and events
Funding support
Networks
Free job adverts
Volunteering support
Right to vote at our AGM

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!