West Cumbria locals invited to name new community wellbeing hub

Local organisations are asking people in West Cumbria to help them name a new community wellbeing service, which will be launching soon.

The as-yet unnamed service will include a hub in Whitehaven town centre, bringing together a range of services and staff from the NHS and other organisations under one roof.

People who are struggling with their mental health will be able to get specialist support there by simply walking in.

The hub will also offer help and advice with issues which often affect people’s wellbeing, like housing, money and employment. And there will be support for the families and carers of people who are unwell.

And there will support offered throughout the West Cumbria area, not just in Whitehaven town centre.

The work is being funded by NHS England, as part of a new drive to provide more mental health support in local communities.

People can choose from a shortlist of four names, put forward by local groups:

• The Space
• Peace of Mind
• Hope and Anchor
• Hope Haven

You can vote for the hub’s name online. Voting will close on 15 November.

We spoke to local people from various community groups and who’ve got support from mental health services before. They all wanted the name to reflect what this new service will offer to people: space to reflect and find peace, and hope for recovery.

Julia CliffordFounder, iCan Wellbeing CIO

Julia Clifford, Founder of iCan Wellbeing CIO (one of the local organisations working together to provide the hub) said: “We’re so excited to see what name the community chooses. It’s really important to us that local people are involved throughout this whole process.

“To gather these suggestions to put to a vote, we spoke to local people from various community groups and who’ve got support from mental health services before.

“They all wanted the name to reflect what this new service will offer to people: space to reflect and find peace, and hope for recovery.

“This will be a new way of working, based right in the heart of our communities, helping people to get help early and live healthier, happier lives.”

Services will be provided by a group of local organisations working together: Cumbria Health; Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW); Everyturn Mental Health; Home Group; iCan Wellbeing Group CIO; The Well Communities CIC; and Whitehaven Community Trust.

Since the funding was announced at the end of August, the group have been working on securing a base in Whitehaven town centre. They hope that work will be completed early next year so the hub’s building can open next Spring.

“In the meantime,” Julia explains, “we’ll be starting our work from temporary bases in some other local buildings, getting help to where it’s needed.”