Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities – August 2026
August 6, 2026
Welcome to Cumbria CVS’s Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities for August 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 – Aligning NHS ICB Boundaries with strategic authorities (Cumbria Combined Authority) UPDATE
If you’ve been away on leave or just missed all the news as you are just so busy please find below is a quick summary of what has been happening and why it matters.
Back in June 2026 both ICBs covering the Cumbria footprint were sent a letter from NHS England asking them to :
Suggest minimum boundary changes necessary to your current footprint to align to strategic authority footprints, or
Explain why it is not ‘feasibly possible’ to amend your footprint to align to strategic authority footprints
Changes to the current boundaries could result in changes including:
- A combined Cumbria NHS area attached to NENC ICB
- A combined Cumbria NHS area attached to LSC ICB
- Other smaller scale changes
On 02.7.2026 Cumbria CVS held a meeting to gather the views of the third sector in Cumbria about this recent government request. A paper was produced from this meeting and shared with the CEO of NENC ICB and LSC ICB. This was added to wider stakeholder feedback and contributed to the final papers sent to NHS England by each ICB.
Final documents from NENC ICB and LSC ICB were submitted 14.07.2026
You can read these documents here:
- North-East & North Cumbria (NENC) ICB
- Lancashire & South Cumbria (LSC) ICB
The timeline currently indicates that we should hear in early Autumn where the future lies in relation to ICB boundaries in Cumbria. We should also get confirmation at that time about what changes will be implemented and what timetable will be followed. Current indications are that changes will be implemented in the new financial year 01.04.2027.
Click here for more information
COUNTYWIDE – Hope Haven stakeholder update August 2026
Our goal at Hope Haven has always been to provide mental health and wellbeing support that is truly accessible, breaking down barriers so people can get the help they need quickly and easily.
Between January – May 2026:
• Over 2000 people have received support from us.
• A quarter of those people had not engaged with CNTW’s NHS mental health services before.
Compared to the same period (January – May) last year:
⬇️ Admissions to CNTW’s adult acute inpatient wards in North Cumbria have gone down by nearly a quarter (23%).
⬇️ Local NHS Community Treatment Team referrals are down by 20%.
⬇️ There has been a 30% drop in people attending West Cumberland Hospital A&E due to self-harm, and 15% fewer people attending due to mental health.
We believe these changes are because people can easily access help much earlier, so they’re not reaching crisis point as often – and if they do, Hope Haven can support them through that crisis too.
We will continue to monitor and evaluate how well Hope Haven is working, and the impact it is having.
Activity timetable
We now have a timetable of regular FREE wellbeing activities and groups. These take place at our main base on King Street and other community venues around Whitehaven and Copeland.
There’s something for everyone:
• Get moving with walking rugby, bellicon, chair-based exercise, and local walks.
• Learn more about yourself and find a sense of purpose with ‘ikigai’ workshops.
• Find support and encouragement from people with similar experiences, or just have a chat and make new friends, at support groups and our ‘chatty café’.
All of our activities are free-of-charge, safe, non-judgemental spaces to help people look after their wellbeing.
View the full timetable on our webpage. A new timetable is uploaded here each month. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for the latest news and updates about activities.
You can help us to promote our activities by
• sharing our webpage in your own communications / newsletters
• sharing our posts on Facebook
• If you have a public waiting area with digital screens, reply to this email and we can provide you with an image to share. The Hope Haven team will also be distributing printed posters soon.
Walkthrough video
We know coming through the door of Hope Haven can be a big step.
We now have a walk-through video available, so people can take a look inside and see what to expect.
It also features some people who’ve come to Hope Haven talking about how it helped them.
Watch the video here.
WESTMORLAND & FURNESS COUNCIL area – The Extra Mile with new rural bus service
Westmorland and Furness Council is going The Extra Mile for rural communities with the launch of a new flexible, bookable bus service designed to improve access to public transport in areas where conventional bus services are limited or not viable.
The Extra Mile service allows passengers to book journeys when they need them, rather than relying on a fixed bus timetable or route.
The initial pilot scheme in and around Ulverston will go live on Monday 20.07.2026, with a second scheme for Penrith due to start later this year.
Using an app or telephone booking service, passengers can request journeys within the operating area, and the system matches requests 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.
Read more about the new service and download the app on the council’s website
CARLISLE area – Calling North Cumbria VCSE Partners – Join Our Community Appointment Days (CADs)
09.09.2026 Sands Centre, Carlisle 12 noon to 4pm (set up from 11am)
The NCIC Physiotherapy Team are inviting local third sector (VCSE) organisations to be part of the day to provide a Community Wellbeing Hub element. The Hub will work alongside the NCIC staff to support invited patients to connect directly with a whole range of services, support networks, activities and resources that might support people to live well with musculoskeletal conditions.
Please note this event is not open to the general public but users of the Sands Centre facilities may have limited access.
This is an exciting opportunity to engage with the 100 patients selected by NCIC from the immediate Carlisle area to attend the event and also to meet staff from NCIC’s physiotherapy team. You will have a chance promote your service and to contribute to this collaborative approach that places “What Matters to You?” at the centre of care. Whether your organisation supports wellbeing, physical activity, social connection, employment, self-management, carers, or wider community health this could be a great event for you to attend.
We have up to 20 tables available for the session.
Please note there will be no available plug sockets for your use.
The Community Hub space will be available for you to set up from 11am.
Click here to book a space
COUNTYWIDE – Mental Health Provider Forum meeting
Wednesday 16th September 10.30am-12.30pm
Westmorland Hotel, Tebay, Orton, Penrith CA10 3SB
These events are always an opportunity to meet with other people from third sector organisations who have in interest in all things mental health and mental wellbeing in Cumbria. The events are also a space to hear about the latest developments in relation to health and care and keep up to date with new initiatives, services and projects as they develop.
Speakers confirmed so far
– Andrea Aldridge, Chief Officer, Manna House – Homelessness and mental health
– Clare Edwards, Health Partnerships Manager – ICB Boundary update
– Representative from Cumbria Community Foundation – What Cumbria Community Foundation has learned about mental health and mental health provision through recent reports and organisational knowledge.
Click here to book onto the event.
CUMBERLAND COUNCIL area – Help improve how Adult Social Care and Housing works in Cumberland
Cumberland Council are setting up a Making It Real Board and are looking for people with experience of Adult Social Care, including people who receive support and unpaid carers, to get involved.
This is an opportunity to work alongside senior leaders to help shape what needs to improve and how services develop.
A Making It Real Board brings together people with experience of care and support and senior leaders to understand what is working, what is not, and what needs to change.
As part of the Board, you would:
- Share your experiences.
- Say what works and what does not.
- Help shape priorities for improvement.
- See how your input leads to change.
Meetings take place every three months, with opportunities to get involved in wider work if you choose. You don’t need any qualifications or previous experience of being on a Board. What matters is your perspective, your honesty, and your willingness to work with others to improve things.
The Council recognise and want to value people’s time. There is the option of receiving a payment in recognition of your contribution, and this will be discussed with you so you can decide what feels right.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria
You are warmly invited to join us as we officially launch a new phase of work for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria.
Date: Thursday 8 October 2026, 4pm until 6pm
Venue: The Common Room, Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
This event will bring together our key partners to celebrate the start of our new programme of work (2026 until 2031).
We will share details of our refreshed research themes, new priorities, and opportunities for collaboration across the region. There will also be opportunities for networking and conversation, and light refreshments will be available.
A full agenda will be shared ahead of the event.
Please complete this short form to register
COUNTYWIDE – Free Funded Places at University of Cumbria for Social Enterprise Leadership Skills Bootcamp
Free Funded Places for Skills Bootcamp in Business and Leadership for Social Enterprise
This Skills Bootcamp is designed to support individuals living or working in Cumbria, who are employed within a social enterprise or a trading charity, and who are looking to develop practical leadership and management capability. This course is due to start in September 2026, a timetable is attached for your reference. Applications can be made via our website: https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/courses/cpd-and-short-courses/business/skills-bootcamp-in-business-and-leadership-for-social-enterprise/
Applications must be initiated by the applicant’s employer or by the applicant themselves if they are self-employed. To be eligible for a place on the Skills Bootcamp participants must:
- be 19 or over on 1st August 2026 and should be resident in and working in Cumbria
- complete an official application form, we will send participants a link to Aptem to complete their application. This will happen once their employer has completed the application on the webpage linked above and our administration team will create the Aptem account.
- have access to suitable equipment to participate in online classes.
- have Employer Support, including a contributing to fees. For SMEs, this is £306; for employers with over 250 staff, this is £918. Contributions are payable on enrolment, via our online store. A payment link will be provided on enrolment. Skills Bootcamps are VAT exempt, so no VAT will be charged. For this course some participants are eligible for Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership funding to cover the employer contribution. To be eligible for Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership funding the social enterprise or trading charity must be based in Cumberland. Self-employed individuals are exempt from paying course fees and will be asked to provide evidence of self-employed status on application.
- not have undertaken any other Skills Bootcamp since April 2026
If you have any questions about the course or your eligibility, please contact: uocskillsbootcamps@cumbria.ac.uk
Please feel free to pass onto others that you may think would be interested. Please note the free places are Cumberland only, there is a small fee for the remainder of the county.
