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HealthWatch Public Transport Survey

Help Shape Public Transport in Westmorland and Furness – Public Transport Survey from HealthWatch

Do you face difficulties getting to GP, hospital or other health appointments using public transport? We want to hear from you.

Transport is a recurring issue we hear about at Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness and your experiences could help improve the system for everyone. Wherever the Healthwatch team goes, we hear how difficult it can be to get to medical appointments if you:

  • Don’t own a car
  • Don’t have friends or family available to give you a lift
  • Aren’t eligible for patient transport services

From poor bus connections to high taxi costs, these barriers stop people from accessing the care they need. With Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils developing a new Cumbria-wide mayoral authority – which will have powers over both public transport and health and wellbeing – this project is more important than ever.

What we’re doing

We’re collecting first-hand experiences of travelling to health appointments by public transport (buses, taxis, trains, community transport schemes, plus volunteer car schemes), whether that’s:

  • Primary care (GPs, dentists)
  • Secondary care (hospital)
  • Follow-on care (physiotherapy, rehabilitation programmes, therapy sessions, support groups)

Your appointment doesn’t have to be in Westmorland and Furness as we’re aware many people travel to Carlisle, Lancaster, Whitehaven, Preston, Newcastle and Northumberland for treatment. We’ll combine survey results with case studies and information from engagement events to create a report to take to public transport commissioners and service providers.

Our aim: to make a positive impact on future service provision.

How to get involved

📝 Take our survey: it takes less than five minutes to complete, depending on how much detail you choose to give. To take the survey, click here. Survey closes 31st October 2025.

📢 Share the survey with friends, family, and community groups.

🗣 Invite us to speak at your organisation or group meeting.

Who we want to hear from: We want to gather experiences from anyone who uses (or tries to use) public, community, or volunteer schemes to reach healthcare. In particular:

  • Disabled people
  • Older residents
  • People with long-term health conditions
  • Anyone without access to a private vehicle

Every voice matters, whether your journey has been smooth or difficult.

Why your voice matters – the information you provide will:

  • Highlight real barriers faced by local people.
  • Give decision-makers the evidence they need to make improvements.
  • Ensure transport planning reflects the needs of patients across Cumbria

This is your chance to help shape how transport services work for healthcare access in the future.

Contact us: 📧 info@healthwatchwestfurn.co.uk

📞 0300 373 2820

Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness is a patient voice organisation, listening to what people have to say about their health and social care.

Fundraiser for 'Walks For All' Walks Coast-to-Coast

Cumbrian Volunteer walks Coast-to-Coast Route to Raise Funds For ‘Walks For All’

A Cumbrian volunteer has walked a unique Coast to Coast route to raise money for an accessible walks program.

Fenella Tratt set off from her home in Silverdale on Thursday, August 28th, making her way to Saltburn-by-the-Sea, to fundraise for the Dementia Friendly ‘Walks for All’ programme.

Completing the walk in ten days, Fenella is one of a team of volunteers at Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape who guide the walks for people living with dementia, and their carers.

Fenella said: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me, because I’d probably have given up halfway if they hadn’t!​ I think we’ll have raised nearly £2,000 by the time I’ve added it all up! Everyone seems to have been following my blog and enjoying coming with me along the way, which has been the best thing.”

Fenella was supported along her 120-mile route by partner, Den, who drove their campervan ahead to the next campsite on each leg of the journey, as well as dogs, Bobbi and Roxy.

The Dementia Friendly ‘Walks for All’ programme was launched in 2019, led by Feleena Taylor, offering weekly routes for different mobility levels from March to mid-December with monthly meetings in January and February.

Feleena said: “Fenella has been a long serving volunteer for ‘Walks for All’ since 2019 and has witnessed the huge impact it has made to members and their carers. What she’s enjoyed the most is seeing how the walks provide a challenge, and I think this inspiration led to her own fantastic walking fundraising challenge! She’s a star volunteer, and now long distance walker and fundraiser!”

Fenella was inspired to become a volunteer to honour the memory of her father who was a volunteer warden in the Lake District National Park, and lived with Alzheimer’s in later life.

She said: “I know that he would have loved these Tuesday mornings, walking and chatting.”

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261 Fearless Running Club

New Running Group in Arnside – ‘261 Fearless Club’

Do you dream of being able to run but don’t believe you can?

Why not pop along to our coffee and information event on Tuesday, 23rd September at 9.30am at Arnside House on the Prom.

Discover how a supportive, non-competitive, women-only environment can help you become a more healthy, empowered you.

Get in touch by emailing: Arnside@261ClubUK.co.uk

GriefShare Logo

GriefShare Bereavement Support Group

Have you been bereaved? Grief is often a painful and emotional journey with many challenges.
GriefShare is a support group offering ongoing help, comfort and encouragement through videos, discussion and workbook. You will find practical help in the videos for the way ahead, reassurance from others in the group and further help in the workbook.
Meeting weekly on Wednesdays from October 29th 2025 until February 11th 2026 from 2pm – 3.30pm at CFM Community Centre, 101 Kellet Rd, Carnforth LA5 9LR (next to the High School). 

More details can be found on the GriefShare website: https://www.griefshare.org
You can register on the website for the group – type ‘Carnforth’ in the find a group search box,or email carnforthgriefshare@gmail.com, ring Elspeth on 01524 702966, or just come along on the day.

‘Loss of a spouse‘

Are you grieving after the death of a spouse? Or know someone who is? Come to this standalone session on 22nd October 2025 at 2pm at CFM Community Centre, 101 Kellet Rd Carnforth LA5 9LR, same contact details as above.

You’ll hear:

• Practical advice from others who’ve been there.

• What to expect in your grief.

• How to cope with life without your spouse.

• Why it won’t always hurt this much.

CancerCare 'Lights to Remember'

Local Cancer and Bereavement Charity Holds Unique Remembrance Event For The Public

A local charity who helps people affected by cancer and bereavement is inviting people to pay tribute to lost loved ones at a special remembrance event.

CancerCare North Lancashire and South Cumbria are hosting ‘Lights to Remember’ on Friday 25th April 2025 from 7pm at their Slynedales Centre in Lancaster. The grounds around the historic building, where many clients receive support after a cancer diagnosis or after losing a loved one, will be lit up with personalised candles bearing a name and a message.

The evening will have opportunities for reflection as well as contemplative live music. A team of CancerCare therapists will also be in attendance on the night should attendees feel the need to talk to someone.

‘Lights to Remember’ is kindly sponsored by Birchall Blackburn Law for the second time. Last year’s event was titled ‘Lights on the Lawn’ and it was rebranded for 2025 to encourage people who might not be able to attend the evening to use the charity’s online dedication wall. Here you can leave a photograph and a lasting message to a lost loved one, and the CancerCare team can place your light for you on the night.

‘Lights to Remember’ is for everyone who has experienced loss, not just those who have used CancerCare’s services. The event is free to attend, though there is an option to donate to CancerCare so they can continue to support children and adults affected by cancer or bereavement.

For more information, click here.

Eleanor Sweeney from Caton attended ‘Lights on the Lawn’ last year. Eleanor’s late husband Peter was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2019. Peter was supported by CancerCare’s Lancaster Centre via one-to-one counselling prior to 2020, continuing his sessions over the phone during the Coronavirus pandemic. Peter sadly died in May 2023.

New Playground Design

Date For Work To Start On The New Playground!

Although still awaiting final confirmation, all the hard work and effort of the fundraising group, together with the sponsors, donors and everyone involved in making this happen, will finally come to fruition next month.

Installation of the new playground is due to take place at the end of March, with removal of the existing playground taking place during the week before. While this will unfortunately mean that the playground will be closed from 24th March – and therefore over the Easter holidays, the other suggested installation date was not until September which would mean no new playground for the Summer holidays either.

Check out the fantastic new layout below, it will be well worth waiting for! An accessible playground for the future and for all children.

Playground PreviewDownload

Age Without Limits, Centre for Ageing Better – Campaign and Micro-grants

Age Without Limits, Centre for Ageing Better’s campaign to challenge ageism, is running its second annual Age Without Limits Day on Wednesday 11 June 2025, with the theme “Celebrate Ageing. Challenge Ageism“. It is a day for us all to come together and take action to end ageism – as individuals, with friends and family, in our communities and in our workplaces.

Micro-grants:
As last year, micro-grants are available to community groups and local voluntary sector organisations, big or small, based within Age-friendly Communities.
Grants of up to £500 are available, with an additional £150 to cover anything needed to make the event or activity more accessible. All events and activities will need to respond to the theme “Celebrate Ageing. Challenge Ageism”.

For inspiration of events and activities applicants could host, please read this blog and case studies from the March 2024 Age Without Limits Day. 

To apply, organisations or groups must fill in the application form and email it to grants@ageing-better.org.uk by

The application form, as well as an Information Document which all applicants are strongly advised to read before applying can be found on the Age Without Limits website by clicking here.

New Hospital Consultation

Public Invited to Help Shape the Future of Healthcare in Lancashire and Cumbria

Members of the public are being invited to “help shape the future of healthcare” in Lancashire and South Cumbria by giving feedback on the proposed sites for two new hospitals.

The sites for replacements for Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary were announced on 2nd December2024 but, while the land has been acquired, the NHS said it “remains open to alternative suggestions”.

Kevin Lavery, chief executive of NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “We are eager to hear people’s thoughts on the proposed sites, how they could affect you, and any concerns or suggestions you may have. Two new hospitals on new sites are an exciting prospect, but no final decisions have been made.”

He added: “This is your chance to help shape the future of healthcare in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Feedback is vital as we continue to refine our proposals and ensure we are meeting the needs of our diverse communities.”

A series of public engagement events have been lined up for people to say how the proposed locations may impact them:

Monday 3 February, from 17:30 to 19:00, Lancaster Town Hall

Wednesday 12 February, from 17:30 to 19:00, Morecambe Football Club

Friday 14 March, from 10:00 to 11:30, Lancaster University

Thursday 20 March, from 10:00 to 11:30, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal

Professor Silas Nicholls, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This phase of public engagement is crucial in ensuring the replacement for Royal Preston Hospital meets the needs of our local communities.

North West Ambulance Service Ready For Winter

With winter fast approaching, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has announced plans to deal with the anticipated rise in demand for NHS and ambulance services, and ensure it continues to deliver high-quality care while supporting patients and staff during this peak period.
Over the past year, the service has recruited over 280 new staff members to the Paramedic Emergency Service, Patient Transport Service, and NHS 111 service. These additional recruits strengthen NWAS’s capacity to provide timely and appropriate care to those who need it. In addition, since February 2024, 32 new emergency vehicles have been added to the fleet, bringing the total up to 553 ambulances. All these vehicles will be available to respond to patients across the North West this winter.
Frontline staff are also being supported. To help them manage the increased demand, volunteers will be deployed to assist with staff welfare – offering refreshments at hospitals during peak times and helping to move equipment, staff, and vehicles around the region.
Over the last 12 months, NWAS has remained one of the top-performing ambulance trusts in the country. Fewer patients have experienced long delays, and they continue to work closely with local hospitals to reduce handover times, freeing up crews and ambulances to respond to new emergencies.
Dan Ainsworth, Director of Operations, emphasised: “We’re here for you this winter, as always, and our comprehensive plans will help us to maintain the high-quality care you expect. Winter brings unique challenges and increased demand, but we’re as prepared as possible.

To help us help you, consider getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccines if you haven’t already, keep your medicines cabinets stocked up, order repeat prescriptions in advance, make use of local pharmacies, and visit 111.nhs.uk for advice on non-urgent conditions.”

FREE Thermal Imaging Survey for Arnside Residents

Sustainable Arnside offered this FREE service last year and are offering it again this year to people who are interested in understanding the areas of their home they can insulate better and, in the long run, save money – which I guess is most likely all of us!

Thermal imaging can identify cold spots in your home, such as draughts around windows and doors, missing and defective insulation, water ingress, damp, and cold bridges. It can indicate both quick fixes and areas that require professional advice and support you on your journey to make your home warmer, healthier, cheaper to heat and lower your home’s carbon footprint.

The thermal imaging camera detects the heat emitted by objects and shows it in a colour-coded way – the colder areas are shown in blue and the warmer ones in red.

This year, alongside our amazing army of volunteer thermal imaging surveyors, we are working with two of our Cold to Cosy Homes home energy advisors to provide coverage of the whole of Cumbria. Anyone is eligible for the home survey. Both advisors and volunteers are trained to the same standard and will be offering the same basic thermal imaging survey.

Among the community groups volunteering to offer surveys to their friends and neighbours is Sustainable Arnside. Collectively, these fabulous volunteers will allow at least ten times as many households to benefit from thermal imaging surveys than if Cumbria Action For Sustainability worked alone. They have also provided high spec FLIR cameras which are calibrated to give accurate readings.

The window for conducting thermal imaging is late October as the weather turns colder, through to end of March, before the weather warms up. All surveys are carried out by volunteers in collaboration with Cumbria Action for Sustainability

To register your interest or for further information, contact: thermalarnside@gmail.com

To visit the CAfS website, click here.

Sustainable Arnside Thermal Imaging
Sustainable Arnside Thermal Imaging