Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities – April 2026
April 2, 2026
Welcome to Cumbria CVS’s Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities for April 2026. This page will be updated regularly, so we are delighted you have landed here today and hope that you will keep coming back for updates during the month.
Lots of the News, Events and Opportunities information will also be appearing in our regular Health and Wellbeing Bulletin. This Bulletin is sent out to all current members of our two Networks: Action for Health and the Mental Health Provider Forum. If you have found this page useful why not join either or both Networks by following these links:
News – we will be using this as an opportunity to pick out particularly important/interesting articles from our most recent Bulletin and/or highlighting information that might be time sensitive.
Events – we will be using this as an opportunity to highlight events of interest to organisations interested in health and care issues including Network events. Most of these will be local Cumbria events but some maybe regional.
Opportunities – we will be using this to highlight health and care focused funding and project opportunities, representative roles and working groups you might want to get involved in and much more. These will focus on Cumbria but may also include regional opportunities.
If you’ve seen something you think we should be sharing, let us know! Email us:
Clare Edwards claree@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Holly Ferguson hollyf@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Sarah Penn sarah.penn@cumbriacvs.org.uk
COUNTYWIDE – Safety Net NEWS re: Referrals for services – Reopening Date Extended
We are writing to provide an update regarding the planned reopening of referrals to Safety Net. Referrals were due to reopen on 1 March; however, following a review, we have made the decision to extend the pause slightly.
Referrals will now reopen on Tuesday 7 April.This extension allows us to continue strengthening our internal processes so that when referrals resume, we are able to respond more efficiently and reduce the likelihood of future pauses. While this is taking a little longer than anticipated, it is an important step in ensuring we can manage capacity sustainably.
COUNTYWIDE – New Neighbourhood health framework released
On 17th March, care minister Stephen Kinnock shared the new NHS neighbourhood health framework, which sets out a list of “minimum interventions” to be delivered by integrated care boards over the next three years. The framework focusses on shifting care from hospitals into communities, while prioritising prevention and digital innovation.
The ambition is to:
• improve services for people who need routine healthcare
• improve proactive care for people with complex needs
• deliver “better alternatives” to hospital care, closer to home
This includes the creation of Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs), which can deliver multiple health, care and wellbeing services from one location.
There is a strong focus on plans being created based on need at neighbourhood level, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The document states, “These reforms will need to be led locally. ICBs need to reform services based on what’s right for their local population, and what the frontline tells them needs to change.” The minister also highlights the need for involvement of all parts of the health system, stating, “Neighbourhood health will only work as a joint endeavour between the NHS and local authorities, alongside wider partners.” The VCSE sector is referenced several times within the framework as an essential partner and there is consistent focus on person-centred care.
More locally-focused responses will follow in the North East and North Cumbria and across Lancashire & South Cumbria.
In the meantime Voluntary Sector North West have published an initial briefing on what this framework means for the VCSE sector, which you can read clicking HERE.
COUNTYWIDE – Connect to Work is now accepting referrals!
Connect to Work is a person-centred supported employment programme designed to help individuals with disabilities, long-term physical/mental health conditions, or complex barriers find or stay in work.
The programme is being delivered by Inspira alongside 8 VCSE delivery partners across the county, with support from Enterprising Cumbria and Cumbria Combined Authority.
Eligibility Criteria
Age: 18+ (with some exceptions for 16/17 NEETs)
Be unemployed, or in work but at risk of falling out of work due to either one of the below:
- A disability
- long-term physical or mental health condition (mild-moderate)
- A complex barrier to employment/ belong to a disadvantaged group
To refer someone for Connect to Work, please visit: https://www.inspira.org.uk/connect-to-work-enquiry
For further information please contact: Deborah.Naylor@inspira.org.uk“”
COUNTYWIDE – Action for Health meeting
Tuesday 21st April 10.30am-12.30pm
Penrith Rugby Club, Winters Pk, Penrith, CA11 8RQ
An exciting opportunity to join an in-person information and workshop style event.
Led by Triple AAA this event will cover aspects of neurodivergence with a focus on Autism and ADHD aiming to:
Bust some myths
Help you improve your services
Help you better support your staff
A 2 hour session with FREE Networking Lunch
Click HERE to book onto the event.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – ‘Passion, connection and community: How to get person-centred neighbourhood health right’ A celebration of social prescribing and link working in North Cumbria
Join us to mark the launch of an exciting report which showcases the power of community-based, holistic, link-worker based health and wellbeing support.
The report tells the story of Cumbrian people who have benefitted from social prescribing approaches, through a series of case studies.
They have faced challenges including bereavement, addiction, homelessness and ill-health. Link work and community support from the VCFSE sector has helped empowered them to improve their health and given them hope for the future.
It also brings together the most recent research on the benefits of social prescribing both to the system (financial savings, reduced burden on healthcare) and to the individual (mental health and wellbeing).
Come and hear from members of the steering group on how the report was put together and what it means for the future of neighbourhood health in North Cumbria.
Let us know if you would like a stall to showcase your organisation or team.
A buffet lunch will be provided at 12noon.
Click HERE to book onto the event
EDEN area – Your Practice – Your Drop-in event
Your Practice – Your Drop-in Looking after you the Eden way.
The roadshow/event is for the community; we are looking to include as many organisations as possible to let the patients know what is available in their surrounding areas.
The aim of this day is to ‘showcase’ your services. To raise awareness and build community connections, show the support and services you can offer to the patient of the practices.
Let people know what’s out there!!!
Eden Primary Care Network which consists of the 10 practices across Eden are very excited about this first roadshow and will be having another in Kirkoswald in May and another in Upper Eden in June. We don’t have specific dates for those just yet but would absolutely appreciate your attendance and support with these as well.
Click HERE to book a stall
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – Silloth share and support
Your Community Food Hub. We are open to everyone living in the CA7 area.
Christ Church, Criffel Street, Silloth
3rd Wednesday of every month 12-2.30pm
Buy food at low prices If you are unable to pay, you won’t be turned away
No appointment or referral needed
We’re asking for £5 donation per bag
Click here for more information
COUNTYWIDE – Big Bike Revival Grant funding applications open for 2026
By providing solutions to perceived barriers, adults are enabled to learn to how to cycle and to increase their cycling levels for short, everyday journeys.
Events focus on presenting cycling as a practical, normal and habitual way to get around locally.
The Big Bike Revival is delivered across England by a wide range of community-embedded partners who understand the local need. An extensive programme of FREE events offering services that fix bikes, teach skills and lead rides, motivate adults to either start or return to cycling. Social and inclusive activities help adults of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to discover the joys of cycling and help make cycling become a normal travel option.
Delivering Fix-Learn-Ride events
The programme delivers three types of event based on the FIX-LEARN-RIDE model.
- Fix events – offer basic services to repair cycles and provide essential checks to ensure cycles are safe to ride
- Learn events – offer instruction, training or skills for adults to learn to maintain or repair their cycle or learn cycle skills to help them feel safer when cycling
Ride events – offer led rides for adults to practise cycling locally, build confidence and learn new routes in a social environment
SOUTH CUMBRIA NHS area – Let´s support stroke survivors together this Stroke Awareness Month
Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age. During this event we aim to raise awareness on
• Recognising symptoms (F.A.S.T)
• Prevention and risk reduction
• Stroke resources and local support for anyone affected by stroke
Free blood pressure checks will be offered during the event (Kendal ICC and Better Health Kendal)
Meet other local networks who can help you access services and local recourses in the area
Castle Street Community Centre, Kendal, LA9 7AD
Thursday 7th May 13:00 – 15:00
This is a free drop-in event open to the general public
Tea/coffee and cake will be provided
For more information please contact
Charlene Athersmith email: charlene.athersmith@stroke.org.uk mobile: 07739746099
Click HERE for more information
