Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities – March 2026
March 10, 2026
Welcome to Cumbria CVS’s Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities for March 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 – Understanding health inequalities
A new evidence hub from the Health Foundation explores health inequalities in the UK and the factors that drive it, including our surroundings and relationships.
Click here to read more.
CUMBERLAND COUNCIL area – New spring Family Hub timetable now available: 23 February – 27 March
Pick up a copy of the new Family Hub timetable in your local family hub or search for activities online at Cumberland Family Hubs.
There is something for every family whether you are looking for play sessions, support or just a friendly place to chat.
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 – FREE Jay’s Personalised Safety Planning Toolkit events Carlisle, West Cumbria and online
You are invited to the launch of Jay’s Personalised Safety Planning Toolkit, through a series of in-person roadshow events across the North of England.
The toolkit has been coproduced and designed to support the embedding of a more personalised approach to safety planning. It can be used across health and social care settings, as well as individuals themselves, their families, friends, and wider support networks. In these roadshows we will introduce the toolkit, explore how it can be used in practice, and provide space for discussion, networking, and refreshments.
The sessions are open to anyone with an interest in safety planning, including practitioners from across health and social care, as well as individuals who may use safety planning themselves, along with family, friends and other support people.
The events are free to attend, but registration is required. Please use the link below to view dates, locations and to book your place at one of the roadshows:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/jays-study-research-team-120845581801
If you have any access, reasonable adjustment or dietary requirements, there is space to let us know on the booking form.
We’d be grateful it you could share this information and link with your colleagues and networks who may be interested in attending.
For more information, contact us via email – jaysstudy@cntw.nhs.uk
WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCIL area – FREE webinars introducing NEW QWELL mental health service for adults
A series of FREE weninars to introduce the NEW FREE online mental health services for adults in Westemorland & Furness council area.
All professionals working with adults in Westmorland and Furness are invited to join one of four Qwell launch webinars taking place throughout March 2026. These sessions provide an opportunity for all professionals, whether new to the service or already familiar with Kooth and Qwell, to learn more about our service and how adults can benefit from the support available. All webinars are free of charge.
The session will cover:
Qwell as a mental health support service
Keeping our users safe
The evidence based outcomes from online delivery
Where we fit in the care pathway
How we support you to refer people to Qwell
Q&A
To reserve your place on one of our Westmorland & Furness specific webinars, simply complete the quick online booking form.
WESTMORLAND AND FURNESS COUNCIL area – Stakeholder survey on support for older people in Westmorland and Furness
Westmorland and Furness Council is launching a ‘Community Conversation’ on the future of care for older residents and is inviting VCSFE organisations to take part via an online survey for stakeholders.
The engagement programme, called “A Place Called Home: Your living choices in later life”, takes place over three weeks from Monday 9 March to 30 March across Westmorland and Furness. It will help inform the council’s future strategies for all aspects of its support for older people’s independence and wellbeing, including:
- adaptations, technology and personal support to help people remain in their own home
- reablement support and intermediate care beds to help people return to their own home after a spell in hospital, or avoid the need to go into hospital
- access to the right mix of affordable specialist housing offering support and care
- modern residential care, with facilities and services that are fit for the future
- specialist support for people living with advanced dementia
The online survey for residents focusses on awareness and preference for future living accommodation choices. The stakeholder survey is a wider opportunity to give views on the whole area of support for older people’s independence and wellbeing, and to influence the council’s future direction.
Both surveys will be live from Monday 9 March at the council’s A Place Called Home landing page.
SOUTH CUMBRIA area – Age Friendly South Lakeland Farming Survey
Age Friendly South Lakeland is looking to gain insight from our local farming populations about living and working on a farm within South Lakeland. Life on a farm is unique – full of challenges, rewards and hard-earned wisdom. As our farming community continues to change and our farming population grows older, we’re looking to better understand the real experiences, views and needs of farmers across South Lakeland. We’d really appreciate your thoughts on:
- What life is like as a farmer today
- The challenges and opportunities you’re facing
- Experiences around ageing in farming and planning for the future
Your voice matters and sharing your perspective will help shape support for farmers of all ages in our area. Have your say by completing our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/farmer-reduced
It will only take a few minutes and will make a real, local difference.
Please share with others in our farming community who may not be online.
Thanks for everything you do to keep South Lakeland growing.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – Lived experience research crisis support & Right Care Right Person
The team undertaking this research aims to understand and evaluate how community multiagency first response mental health crisis pathways in England work, who they work for and why, in response to the policing strategy ‘Right Care Right Person’.
They want to speak with people with different backgrounds and experiences.
- Do you have lived experience of a mental health crisis?
- Have you called for crisis help for someone you care about (family/friend)?
- Do you work within services that respond to mental health crises, such as NHS mental health services, A&E, ambulance, police or voluntary organisations?
If you are interested in taking part or want to find out more, please contact your local research assistant.
Name: Sara Long
Email: sara-jaye.long@cntw.nhs.uk
Website: https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/research-and-development/pioneer-mh/
