In April 2026 the North Cumbria Social Prescribing Steering Group published a report into social prescribing, health and wellbeing coaching and similar approaches locally.

‘Passion, connection and community: Person-centred neighbourhood health in North Cumbria’ includes:

• National literature review with evidence relevant for the North Cumbrian context
• 8 case studies from different services – one from each Integrated Care Community
• Referral data from North Cumbrian organisations

 

 

 

You can view an Executive Summary of the report here: Executive Summary

You can download a compressed PDF version of the report here. This is a low resolution version – if you would like a higher quality PDF version, please contact info@cumbriacvs.org.uk

A full text only version of the report is available: Full report Word Version

 

Versions:

The report has a foreword from Monica Boulton, Strategic Lead for Healthcare Integration & Neighbourhood Health at National Academy of Social Prescribing.

Versions with forewords from the following are also available:

Ben Anderson – Director of Population Health North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board

Katrina Stephens – Director of Public Health at Westmorland and Furness Council & Colin Cox – Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing at Cumberland Council

Carolyn Otley – Chief Executive of Cumbria CVS (Council for Voluntary Service)

Dr Jenny Benson – Director of Programmes & Partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation

Dr Richard Massey – GP Partner – Caldbeck Surgery and Clinical Director Keswick & Solway PCN

 

Presentations from launch event:

Passion, Connection and Community SLIDES
Cumbria CVS SP Report – Presentation 7th May 2026 Monica Boulton

 

Case Studies

Longer versions of the eight case studies included in the report are available below:

Carlisle Rural case study (long version)
Carlisle Urban case study (long version)
Cockermouth & Maryport case study (long version)
Copeland case study (Long version)
Eden case study (long version)
Keswick & Solway case study (long version)
TSRC case study (long version)
Workington case study (long version)

 

Evidence:

The complete Evidence Summary paper from University of Lancashire is available here

Additional Evidence:

Local authority evaluations:

28532 WFC Health and Wellbeing Annual Report 2024-2025 (accessible May 2026)
PH Annual Report 2022-23 – Health & Wellbeing Coaching

Green social prescribing project:

FINAL Evaluation Report of Green Social Prescribing Lead
NHS Green Social Prescribing Development Fund Report

Active Cumbria projects:

Link Worker Report 2022_NW Active Partnership SP Forum V1
Link Worker and PA Provider Reports – Combined Summary 2023 V2
Evaluation of the Wellbeing Walking Group in Workington – Report_FINAL
Evaluation of Clear Your Head Kick About – Report

Thriving Communities:

Thriving Communities Carlisle Evaluation Report 2021-2022

Third Sector Referral Coordinator team:

A June 2026 article in Voluntary Sector Review, titled “Nurturing connectivity between the third sector and health sector: the effectiveness of a regional third-sector referral coordinator team in north Cumbria” provides a fresh look at the value of the important work of the TSRC team.

Read an evaluation of the Third Sector Referral Coordinator Health & Welfare Telephone Support Service, produced Spring 2025, by Dominic Gordon and Becky Linton of Cumbria CVS, Third Sector Referral Co-ordinator Team.

Read an Evaluation of the Third Sector Referral Coordinator Team: Nurturing Connectivity between the Third Sector and Health Sector, produced in January 2023 by Dr Meghánn Ward, Professor Tom Grimwood and Dr Laura Snell at Health and Society Knowledge Exchange (HASKE), University of Cumbria.

Read an Evaluation of the Third Sector Referral Coordinator Team, produced in February 2022 by Dr Laura Snell, Dr Tom Grimwood and Vicki Goodwin at Health and Society Knowledge Exchange (HASKE), University of Cumbria.