Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities – October 2026
October 27, 2026
Welcome to Cumbria CVS’s Health and Wellbeing News, Events and Opportunities for October 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 – Employment rights for carers National Consultation
Carers UK and employment rights for carers
Last month, the Department for Business and Trade launched a new consultation on employment rights for carers which is seeking views on paid Carers’ Leave and other entitlements such as a right to return to work after caring for someone at the end of their life. Carers UK have long campaigned for stronger legal protections and flexibility for working carers. They have prepared a briefing for organisations wishing to respond to the consultation and are running a webinar on 4 August to explore the consultation and consider how, together, we can maximise its impact. Sign up here to attend the webinar.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – CNTW changes to neurodevelopmental waiting lists
CNTW are introducing a new process to review the needs of everyone waiting for an assessment.
This will help make sure that people with the greatest need are seen as soon as possible.
How are they doing this and what will happen next?
People who are on an autism or ADHD waiting lists will receive a questionnaire.
They will receive a link by text message or hard copy versions if needed.
The questionnaire will ask about their current needs and circumstances. CNTW will then review and prioritise waiting lists based on patient needs and the level of support required.
More information can be found by following this link:
WESTMORLAND & FURNESS COUNCIL area – NEW Locality Working Proposals engagement exercise
Westmorland and Furness Council is inviting views on proposals to change its locality working arrangements, including how the Council works with elected Members, communities and partners to respond to local needs and priorities. The aim is to strengthen local influence and support a more community-focused and preventative approach.
The proposals include moving from three to five or six localities, replacing existing Locality Boards with new Locality Forums, and strengthening connections between Council services, elected Members, communities and partners.
The VCFSE sector has an important role in this ambition, bringing local knowledge, trusted relationships and community networks. We would welcome your views on how the proposed arrangements could build on these strengths, support greater community influence and enable more effective joint working.
The engagement exercise is running from 19 October to 27 November 2026. The proposal document, including maps of the geographical options and details of how to respond, are available on the Westmorland and Furness Council website:
You are welcome to submit written feedback at any point during this period.
The Council is holding an online briefing for VCFSE organisations:
Monday 9 November 2026, 0930 – 1030 Join briefing
The session will provide an overview of the proposals, explain the engagement process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. There is no need to wait until the briefing to provide your feedback.
All feedback received will help inform the final proposals before a Full Council decision anticipated in January 2027.
NORTH CUMBRIA NS area – North Cumbria Work and Health – Link and Think Event
A joint event between Cumbria CVS, Cumberland Social Prescribing Team, and the Cumbria Combined Authority Work, Health, and Skills Team. The aim of the event is to enhance connectivity in the work and health space, providing updates on major programmes, landscape, and networking opportunities. All culminating in greater engagement with programmes.
VCSE organisations and work and health programmes will be invited to bring stalls and pop up banners around the room.
Exact timings to be confirmed…
When
26th November 2026 – 09:30 to 13:00
Location
Wigton Market Hall
Church Street
Wigton, CA7 9AA
CARLISLE area – Community Appointment Day for NCIC Physiotherapy
Next NCIC Physiotherapy waiting list Community Appointment Day (CAD) 25.11.2026 at the Sands Centre in Carlisle.
Following the huge success of the September CAD day, with over 50 attendees, NCIC has set a date for the next session.
These days are a great opportunity for a range of third sector organisations to offer their services and support to people who are on NCIC waiting lists for physiotherapy appointments.
The day is appropriate for a range of organisations covering:
- Physical activity
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Advice and guidance (e.g. benefits support)
Community centres/community gyms etc.
Click here to book on.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – North Cumbria Work and Health – Link and Think Event
A Joint event between Cumbria CVS, Cumberland Social Prescribing Team, and the Cumbria Combined Authority Work, Health, and Skills Team.
The aim of the event is to enhance connectivity in the work and health space, providing updates on major programmes, landscape, and networking opportunities. All culminating in greater engagement with programmes.
The event is for:
- Social Prescribers, Care Coordinators, and Link Workers
- Health and Wellbeing Coaches
- Work and Employment Coaches
- VCSE organisations delivering Work + Health provision
- Anyone else working in the Work + Health space
Any VCSE organisations that deliver Work + Health programmes are invited to bring stalls and pop up banners to place around the room.
Timings:
9:30 arrival and networking
10:00 programme starts
12:00-1:00 buffet lunch provided and networking.
Full agenda to follow
*please inform us of any dietary requirements beforehand.*
Click HERE to book onto the event.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – Opportunity Mental Health Research into how different parts of the system work together to respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis
CNTW is inviting people to take part in the PIONEER-MH study, which aims to understand how different services—including NHS services, ambulance services, voluntary organisations and the police—work together to respond to people experiencing a mental health crisis.
They would like to hear from:
- People with experience of accessing mental health
crisis services
- Family members or carers
- Healthcare professionals
- Police staff
- Service managers, commissioners and policymakers
You can get involved through interviews, focus groups or workshops and share your experiences of how crisis services work in your area.
Participants may receive up to £30 in recognition of their time, depending on their role and level of involvement.
For more information or to express an interest, please contact:
Research assistants: Sara/Harry at PIONEERMH@CNTW.nhs.uk or 07970991212
CARLISLE area – Thriving Women Project
Lakeland Wellbeing CIC was successful in securing funding for another round of our fully funded programme for women in Cumbria.
The Thriving Women Project is a three day group programme for women who want to return to work or begin self employment. It is not a classroom course and does not use PowerPoint presentations. Instead, it offers a warm and welcoming space where women can reconnect with their strengths, rebuild confidence and leave with practical next steps. Every participant also receives three one-to-one coaching sessions with me.
When the programme previously ran in 2025/2026, 80% of participants moved into employment or training.
Details of the Carlisle programme:
Dates: 17th to 19th November
Time: 10am to 3pm each day
Venue: St James’, Carlisle
Lunch and refreshments are provided
Places: 12 available
Funding: Fully funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
The programme is open to women who are currently unemployed, on zero hours contracts or wanting to begin self employment. It is neurodivergent affirming and LGBTQ+ inclusive.
NORTH CUMBRIA NHS area – NEW regional funding to improve support for people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence
The NENC region has some of the highest domestic violence and abuse rates in the UK, while nationally, one in four women are affected by violence. Asking for help can be difficult, and often it’s not easy for professionals to spot the signs.
So, it’s fantastic news that the ICB has secured £4.7 million to improve support for people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. The North East and North Cumbria has been selected as one of just 12 ICBs in England to roll out Steps to Safety, a three-year national programme to help GP teams identify abuse earlier, connecting people to specialist support quickly and safely.
Over the coming months, NENC ICB will work closely with people with lived experience, voluntary and community sector partners, specialist providers, GP practice colleagues and wider stakeholders to shape the programme. A dedicated programme team will oversee mobilisation and delivery, with the aim of building on and strengthening existing services.
If you want to connect into this work, please contact our Health Partnerships Manager: claree@cumbriacvs.org.uk
