Best Life is all about helping people feel confident, capable and connected. Our learners are supported to explore their interests, develop practical like skills and take part in meaningful activities in their community. Whether it's volunteering, learning new skills, or building relationships, every achievement is celebrated, and the last 12 month's have been full of them.
The Best Life group have taken part in several meaningful community partnerships this year, using their time with us to make a positive difference across Carlisle.
In January 2024, the group led a collection of empty Christmas chocolate tubs, which were donated to Greene King pubs as part of their national recycling initiative. These tubs were then recycled to help raise money for charity — a simple but powerful action that encouraged sustainability while supporting good causes.
Later in the year, the group dedicated some of their sessions to volunteering at Carlisle Foodbank. They worked alongside the Foodbank team to sort donations, select items, and prepare food parcels for people in the local area who needed support with essentials such as food and toiletries. The group approached the task with so much care and focus, taking pride in helping others and understanding the impact of their contribution.
They also arrived with extra donations collected from People First, adding even more value to the Foodbank’s shelves.
These experiences have helped the group build confidence, teamwork skills, and a deeper connection to their community — all while showing how much they are capable of giving back.
Our Travel Training team introduced a new KPI this year focused on carrying out quality checks across public transport services in Cumbria. This work is already well underway, with staff actively reviewing both bus and train routes to understand the real experiences of the people who use them.
As part of this, the team have been travelling on routes themselves, speaking with passengers, identifying barriers, and observing how accessible and reliable services are in practice. They’ve also begun engaging directly with local transport operators, sharing feedback, highlighting areas for improvement, and working together to create more inclusive and user-friendly journeys for the people we support.
This proactive approach means we’re not just teaching people how to travel — we’re helping shape a public transport network that works better for everyone.
Best Life learner Abi has now completed her course with us and is taking the next big step in her journey. She’s progressing to Carlisle College to begin a Pre-Supported Internship on their brand-new programme, an incredible achievement and a real milestone in her personal development.
Abi first joined Best Life because she didn’t yet feel ready for a large college environment. Over the past three years, she has worked closely with our team to build her confidence, develop her communication skills, and become more comfortable forming relationships with a wide range of people, from familiar faces to complete strangers.
One of the most powerful examples of Abi’s growth came last summer. She chose to volunteer at a Food Bank drive at our local Sainsbury’s, spending the day handing out leaflets, explaining the campaign, and encouraging people to donate. What could have once felt overwhelming became a moment where she absolutely shone — chatting with strangers, sharing information clearly, and bringing so much energy and enthusiasm that she helped generate huge support for the Food Bank.
These experiences have helped Abi grow into a confident, motivated young person who is now ready for the next challenge. Her determination, kindness, and willingness to push herself mean she is entering her new course in a brilliant position, and we couldn’t be more proud of everything she has achieved.
At the beginning of the year, every member of the Academy team was supported to create a Personal Plan. This gave staff the dedicated time with their line manager to talk openly about their hopes, goals and aspirations for 2025.
Through these conversations. people were able to reflect on what they want to achieve, the skills they want to develop and any opportunities that could help them grow in their roles.
These plans didn't just sit in a folder, they directly shaped our progress planning for the year. The insights gathered helped us understand where additional training was needed, how best to organises team capacity and cover, and how we can create an environment where everyone feels supported to develop.
It's been a positive way to make sure our workforce planning is guided by the voices of our staff, ensuring people have what they need to thrive and deliver the best possible support.