Cumberland HDRC

14/11/2025

🎧The Art of Wellbeing audio now live!

We're excited to share that the audio from our Art of Wellbeing sessions, where we spoke about acts of kindness, health and wellbeing, is now available!

These sessions are a great reminder of how powerful creative methods can be for community engagement, opening up new ways to connect, learn and grow.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and to the wonderful artist Ragged Edge Productions who ran the sessions with so much enthusiasm and creativity.

Have a listen and let us know what you think!

In The Art of Wellbeing project, Stefan Escreet ran hands-on, sociable, creative sessions with groups all over Cumberland. Participants were guided through making paper puppets and inventing character biographies for them. We imagined these characters lived in the place we were in and this prompted....

29/10/2025

And just like that, recruitment for Community Co-Researchers has ended! 🎉

Over the past two months, Lianna (Research & Communities Project Officer) and Becky (Research Officer) for Cumberland HDRC, had the very difficult job of shortlisting over thirty-five expressions of interest and conducting ‘conversations’ with prospective community co-researchers, in preparation for our next phase of the Research Plan in 2026. What made the job so difficult was all expressions of interest that were submitted, were to such a high standard that it was plain to see Cumberland’s communities really want to support change and be part of the journey in tackling health inequalities!

❓What is a community co-researcher?
Community Co-Researchers (CCRs) will support community-led research by working closely with Cumberland Council’s HDRC team. CCRs bring invaluable lived experience and insight, helping ensure research is shaped by the realities of Cumberland’s communities.
The aim of this role is to support the design, delivery and sharing of research that reduces health inequalities, builds research-active communities, and informs local policy and practice.

🧍‍♀️🧍‍♂️I want to get involved- Are there other similar opportunities?

We are currently exploring another opportunity with the NIHR, who have an established Research Champions programme. This will be broader than the CCR programme with the HDRC, but it can be another way for you to be involved in embedding research and research activities in our communities across Cumbria.

📧If this is something you would be interested in, please contact Becky Clarke: Becky.clarke@cumberland.gov.uk

28/10/2025

Our Art of Wellbeing exhibition is officially HERE! Stop by to say hello to our paper puppet community and hear audio from their makers their thoughts and feelings about health and wellbeing where they live.

📅 25th October 2025 - 2nd November 2025

⏰ Monday - Friday, 11:00-15:00 & Saturday - Sunday, an hour before scheduled events

📍 Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven CA28 6SE

24/10/2025

📣 The doors are opening tomorrow for our Art of Wellbeing exhibition!

⭐️Don't miss your chance to meet Cumberland's newest community - your paper puppets

📆25th October 2025 - 2nd November 2025
⏰Monday - Friday, 11:00-15:00 & Saturday - Sunday, an hour before scheduled events
📍Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven CA28 6SE

It’s time to celebrate! 🥳

After weeks of connecting and creating, our Art of Wellbeing sessions have come to a close and now it’s time to join us at the exhibition!

📆25th October 2025 - 2nd November 2025
⏰Monday - Friday, 11:00-15:00 & Saturday - Sunday, an hour before scheduled events
📍Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven CA28 6SE

Our Cumberland communities came together to create incredible handmade paper puppets and share their stories about life in their communities, health and wellbeing. The exhibition features the unique creations and the powerful voices behind them in audio excerpts gathered along the way. For the curious, the creative, experience explorers, and everyone in the community, come and enjoy the creativity and voices of those around us.

Through craft and conversation, newspaper, felt tip pens, views and experiences created the extraordinary.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, our wonderful venues, our artist Stefan Escreet at Ragged Edge Productions, and Rosehill Theatre.

Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre
Yam Frae Yam Coffee Shop & Custom Framing
Cumberland Libraries Millom
St Bees Village Hall -Hodgetts
Keswick Museum
Colours Whitehaven
Lakes College
Florence Arts Centre
Kirkgate Arts & Heritage
The Maryport Settlement
North East & Cumbria Green Community Hubs
The Closet Carlisle
Harraby Community Centre
Cumberland Council

Access may vary to accommodate other events; we recommend calling Rosehill on 01946 692422 before your visit to confirm

17/10/2025

It’s time to celebrate! 🥳

After weeks of connecting and creating, our Art of Wellbeing sessions have come to a close and now it’s time to join us at the exhibition!

📆25th October 2025 - 2nd November 2025
⏰Monday - Friday, 11:00-15:00 & Saturday - Sunday, an hour before scheduled events
📍Rosehill Theatre, Moresby, Whitehaven CA28 6SE

Our Cumberland communities came together to create incredible handmade paper puppets and share their stories about life in their communities, health and wellbeing. The exhibition features the unique creations and the powerful voices behind them in audio excerpts gathered along the way. For the curious, the creative, experience explorers, and everyone in the community, come and enjoy the creativity and voices of those around us.

Through craft and conversation, newspaper, felt tip pens, views and experiences created the extraordinary.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, our wonderful venues, our artist Stefan Escreet at Ragged Edge Productions, and Rosehill Theatre.

Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre
Yam Frae Yam Coffee Shop & Custom Framing
Cumberland Libraries Millom
St Bees Village Hall -Hodgetts
Keswick Museum
Colours Whitehaven
Lakes College
Florence Arts Centre
Kirkgate Arts & Heritage
The Maryport Settlement
North East & Cumbria Green Community Hubs
The Closet Carlisle
Harraby Community Centre
Cumberland Council

Access may vary to accommodate other events; we recommend calling Rosehill on 01946 692422 before your visit to confirm

14/10/2025

NEWS: We have secured £2.5 million funding to lead a transformative three-and-a-half-year research initiative aimed at tackling mental health inequalities across the region. This marks a turning point for mental health research in Cumbria, where communities have long faced challenges related to access, isolation, and disadvantage.

22/09/2025

We want to hear from you! 👂

As part of the work we are doing, we are collecting evidence and data around our research themes across Cumberland. So far we have had a number research, consultation and evaluation reports from our partners and it's been really helpful for us to review and understand existing evidence relating to determinants of health. It is amazing to see the amount of research activity and use of evidence by partners and community organisations.

To deepen our understanding and make sure all voices are heard, we'd love to hear even more from you.

What information we're hoping you can help us with -

Anything that would help us to understand things like poverty, housing, employment, mental health, neurodiversity, substance use, obesity, food insecurity, or cared for children, particularly:

· Who experiences these issues and how prevalent they are?

· What causes, drives or exacerbates these issues?

· What services reduce or improve these issues?

This may include any statistics you might have, needs analyses, community maps, service designs or specifications, evaluations of projects, or wider research you might have conducted.

Not sure if what you have counts as evidence? Reach out to us and we can chat about it! You can find us at hdrc@cumberland.gov.uk or drop us a comment below.

We truly appreciate everything you send our way, every piece helps keep us informed and connected.

19/09/2025

Our Art of Wellbeing sessions have been making their way across Cumberland! From Whitehaven to Millom to Workington to Egremont to Gosforth, we’ve met students, young people and community members who shared their views on local life and what a healthier, connected future could look like.

A huge thanks to everyone who joined us, including our wonderful puppets!

19/09/2025

Join us for our next Art of Wellbeing session at Carnegie Connections on Tuesday 23rd September 10.20am - 1.30pm for puppet making and conversations about health and wellbeing. All welcome and we'll see you there!

Join us on Tuesday 23 September, 10.30am - 1.30pm for the first of our new Carnegie Connections events, a series of creative community taster sessions.

Get creative and try fun, hands on crafts. Meet others and connect in a friendly space.

During these sessions you can find information and support through local services whilst feeling better and getting tips on health and wellbeing.

Our September session includes a creative puppet-making and discussion workshop with Stefan Escreet from 10.30am, as part of the Art of Wellbeing project. Or you can come along just for a cuppa and a natter, everyone is welcome.

Refreshments will be served during the morning, with a hot lunch at 12.30pm.

To find out more and book your place go to
https://carnegietheatre.co.uk/home/community/carnegie-connections/

These events are open to all. Suggested donation £3.

We hope to see you there!

Age UK North Cumbria Cumberland Council North Cumbria Primary Care Alliance

28/08/2025

Job opportunities with Cumberland HDRC & CVS - Community Co-Researchers & Support Officer

Recruitment still open!

We are well underway with recruitment to our exciting roles here at the HDRC, in partnership with Cumbria CVS! Thank you to those of you who have submitted your expressions of interest to the Community co-researcher roles!

We are hoping to recruit 16 across the Cumberland geography and would love to see more expressions of interest from the following community panels: South Cumberland, Whitehaven and Coastal and Workington Together!

What areas do these community panels cover?
South Cumberland: Gosforth, Millom Without, Cleator Moor East & Frizington, Cleator Moor West, Egremont, Millom
Whitehaven and Coastal: Bransty, Egremont North, Hillcrest & Hensingham, Howgate, Kells & Sandwith, Mirehouse
Workington Together: Mossbay, Moorclose, Harrington, Seaton, St Michaels, St Johns & Great Clifton

As a Community Co-Researcher, you’ll play a key role in:
• Supporting research that reduces health inequalities
• Ensuring research reflects real-life experiences
• Helping build stronger, more research-active communities
• Influencing local policy and services through community insight

Our Community co-researcher Support Officer role is also still live! This relationship-focused role is all about pastoral and practical support — helping Community Co-Researchers feel confident, included, and emotionally safe in their work. You’ll play a key part in creating an environment where everyone feels valued and able to contribute meaningfully.

Recruitment for both Community co-researchers and Support officer roles, close on 5th September. If you would like any further information, please contact the HDRC team: HDRC@cumberland.gov.uk

CCR vacancies - https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/vacancies/community-co-researcher-hdrc-cumberland/

Support worker vacancy - https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/vacancies/community-co-researcher-support-officer-hdrc-cumberland/

22/08/2025

We've been having a fabulous time at our Art of Wellbeing sessions and you have been too! Every Art of Wellbeing session has been fantastic and insightful into what health and wellbeing looks like in our Cumberland Communities.

For our second Art of Wellbeing session at St Bees, people from different backgrounds and ages came together to build a picture on what St Bees is like to live in, what is available in the area, such as guided walks, activity groups and a strong sense of community. But it was shared that there is little to do for children and young people, without travelling further afield and how this can affect our health and wellbeing. It was an opportunity to witness diversity at its core - expressed through stories, voices, and creative expression. Raw, real, fun and beautifully human. A joy to share space with kids and adults - plus, creating Dancing Queen, Amy the puppet, was a pleasure!

Our session at the Closet did not disappoint! In a small, quirky space in Carlisle, we talked about the importance of nature, which our younger participants felt very strongly that being in nature makes us well. And the importance of looking after ourselves and doing what we enjoy to make us happy, can help our health and wellbeing.

Keswick was incredible transcendental experience - all the rainbows of emotions! Very sincere and fun session - genuine moments, good energy and meaningful conversations. It was a privilege to listen to people's personal stories, witness their performances - from heartfelt singing to the creative storytelling of puppet journeys. Shout out to Roy and Colin! Jen Bell and Tuesday's Tonic group programme are vital for the older people living with dementia, their carers, and those who are experiencing loneliness.

View our upcoming sessions and book your space via our link:

https://linktr.ee/cumberland.hdrc

19/08/2025

On Friday, Whitehaven came alive with energy and buzz for the Whitehaven Wellbeing Festival, a vibrant celebration of health, connection, and community spirit. There was over 80 organisations who came together and an incredible 2100 people attended. It was the perfect platform for us to share our Art of Wellbeing project and also our community co-researcher roles, both unique and fanstic opportunities for the people of Cumberland to play an active part in shaping and understanding the wellbeing needs of our communities. A huge thank you to the social prescribers, partner organisations, and every person who stopped by and said hello.