Step Forward into Volunteering and Employment

02/05/2026

🌟 🌟

We usually spend our Saturdays shining a light on the incredible organisations making a difference across Cumbria… but this week, we’re turning the spotlight on ourselves 💛

Today, we’re proud to highlight Step Forward into Volunteering and Employment!

Step Forward is all about supporting individuals across Cumbria living alongside mental health experiences to build confidence, develop skills and take positive steps towards volunteering and employment. We work closely with people to help them move forward at their own pace, providing guidance, encouragement and opportunities in a supportive environment.

Through our work, we aim to break down barriers, create pathways, and empower people to feel valued, capable and ready for what’s next.

Being part of Cumbria CVS means we’re also connected to a wider network of organisations, opportunities, and support — helping us make an even greater impact across our communities.

If you’d like to find out more about what we do, take a look here:
👉 https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/about-us/step-forward/

Thank you for being part of our journey and for supporting each week — celebrating the amazing work happening across Cumbria.

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

We hope you all find time to do something you enjoy over the bank holiday weekend 💜💚💙

After today, the Step Forward Team will be away until Tuesday! If you need support in that time, here's where to turn 👇

01/05/2026

✨Client Feedback✨

WOWWW! What an honour it is to support such wonderful and talented individuals! The Step Forward team is so so proud of our amazing clients!

➡https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/about-us/step-forward/step-forward-online-referral-form/

30/04/2026

📣 Free Training Opportunity for Community Volunteers 📣

Our wonderful Shelley will be delivering a ' Supporting Mental Health and Trauma in Everyday Situations' session at Christ Church Cockermouth in May!

📍 Christ Church Community Hall, Cockermouth
🗓 Saturday 16th May
⏰ 10:00am – 12:30pm

This free session is designed for anyone supporting adults who may have experienced trauma or mental health challenges. It will explore ways to listen, communicate and support others more sensitively in everyday situations.

The training is part of the New Skills for Spring programme of free Saturday morning sessions for community volunteers.

If you would like to attend or find out more, please contact:
📧 gmcoffice@grasmoormc.church
📞 07593 265593

This is a great opportunity to build confidence, develop supportive skills and strengthen the way we support people in our communities 💙

29/04/2026

💙 NHS Volunteer Opportunity – Carlisle 💙

Step Forward would like to share a volunteering opportunity with the NHS Sexual Health Clinic in Carlisle.

The team is currently looking for volunteers to join their admin team, helping provide important support to the clinic staff and patients.

The role involves welcoming visitors and helping with general enquiries, using the computer booking system to check patients in for appointments, and carrying out basic admin tasks such as scanning and photocopying documents into patient records. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in an NHS healthcare setting while supporting a busy and important service.

You don’t need previous experience, but it would be helpful if you have good organisational and computer skills, strong communication skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Volunteers are asked to commit to one morning or afternoon per week.

📍 Location:
Sexual Health, Solway Clinic
Hilltop Heights, London Road
Carlisle, CA1 2NS

📅 Closing date: 5 May 2026

If you would like to apply or find out more, you can view the role here:
https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9262-26-0637?location=Carlisle&distance=30&searchByLocationOnly=true&language=en

If you have questions about the role, you can contact Layla Wilson, Voluntary Services Lead, at Layla.Wilson@ncic.nhs.uk
or call 01228 836238.

If you’re working with Step Forward, you can also let us know during your next session and we can take a look at the opportunity together.

28/04/2026

Hi Everyone,
We are still need lots of roles to be filled so that we can go ahead this Saturday.

We are on the look out for timekeepers, marshals, barcode scanners and a full finish token team.

Please let us know if you can help! 🙌🏻

28/04/2026

🚶‍♀️✨ ARE YOU READY TO STEP FORWARD INTO VOLUNTEERING OR EMPLOYMENT? ✨🚶‍♂️

Our referrals are OPEN – and you can refer yourself or someone else 💙
Step Forward supports adults (18+) living in North Cumbria who live alongside mental health experiences to move towards meaningful volunteering and employment in a way that feels right for them.

We offer:
✅ Person-centred, strengths-based support
✅ Help to build confidence and skills
✅ Support into volunteering placements
✅ Support into employment opportunities
✅ Ongoing guidance every step of the way

Whether you’re looking to take that first step yourself, or you’re a professional, family member or friend supporting someone – we’d love to hear from you.

🔗 Make a referral here:
https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/about-us/step-forward/step-forward-online-referral-form/
📧 stepforward@cumbriacvs.org.uk
📞 01768 800350

Let’s take that next step together 💫

28/04/2026

Please share this with anyone who may be interested! We wouldn’t be the place we are today without all of our wonderful volunteers! Just a couple of hours or a week can make all the difference to us - do get in touch and come and meet our friendly team!

28/04/2026

📢 Apprenticeship Opportunity – Administration Support Apprentice

We’re sharing a great opportunity for anyone looking to start a career in administration with Inspira

📍 Location: Carlisle
⏰ Hours: 37 hours per week
💷 Salary: Starting at £15,392 per year

As an Administration Support Apprentice, you’ll gain valuable experience working in a busy office environment while completing a formal Business Administration qualification.

Key duties include:
• Answering telephones and greeting customers
• Maintaining electronic records
• Supporting advisers with appointment preparation
• Assisting with group sessions and administrative tasks

This is a great opportunity for someone motivated to develop administration skills and progress into a long-term career.

👉 Find out more or apply here:
https://www.inspira.me.uk/who-we-are/job/administration-support-apprentice-job-ref-254

📩 Alternatively, applicants can send their CV and covering letter to: hr@inspira.org.uk, or if you are working with Step Forward, let us know you are interested during your next session and we can have a look together!

25/04/2026

🌟 🌟

This week, we’re proud to highlight our wonderful hosts, Cumbria CVS (Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service) — an organisation dedicated to supporting and strengthening the third sector across the county.

Cumbria CVS provides help, advice, training and support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations throughout Cumbria. By bringing organisations together, they help create a strong, collective voice for the sector, ensuring charities and community groups can make an even greater impact.

Their mission is simple but powerful: to increase impact, influence and investment in both Cumbria CVS and the wider third sector.

Guided by values of leadership, excellence, equity, integrity and voluntarism, Cumbria CVS champions the vital role that charities, volunteers and community organisations play in improving lives across Cumbria.

They also run a Volunteering Opportunities database, helping organisations recruit volunteers and making it easier for people across the county to find ways to give their time and skills to causes that matter to them.

If you’re looking to volunteer or recruit volunteers, you can register here:
👉 https://volunteering.cumbriacvs.org.uk/

Find out more:
🌐 https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/

📧 info@cumbriacvs.org.uk

📞 01768 800350

24/04/2026

✨Client Feedback ✨

To make a referral to Step Forward please visit - https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/about-us/step-forward/step-forward-online-referral-form/