Listening, working, collaborating with communities across the North of England

Our Advocates noticed that many patients on Mental Health Wards were not fully aware of their right to an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA), or how advocacy could support them.

To change this, we began holding short, friendly IMHA outreach sessions directly on the wards at Carlton Clinic. These group sessions created a shared space where patients could learn about their rights, ask questions, and hear how advocacy can support things like care planning, tribunals, and having their voices heard.

By bringing advocacy into the ward community, patients felt more informed and confident to seek support, and staff gained a clearer understanding of how advocacy works alongside clinical care. Early involvement helped things run more smoothly and supported patients to take an active role in decisions about their treatment.

At the People First Cafe in Carlisle, we're helping NHS staff through the cost-of-living crisis, through extended discounts and an online ordering system, staff can access fresh food and drinks even when they cannot leave the wards.

We also support local charities, including Skills for People and A Wilderness Way, by offering discounted use of our facilities. These partnerships strengthen community connections and give learners valuable hands-on experience in hospitality.

The impact is clear: customer numbers have grown by 20 percent, staff feel genuinely supported, learners are building important practical skills, and our partner charities value the collaboration. All in all, small steps are making a big difference and helping our community grow stronger.

This year we launched the UDirect Support Virtual School Gate for families receiving children’s Direct Payments in Westmorland and Cumberland. Many parents and carers told us that caring for a child with a disability can be rewarding but also isolating. They did not always have someone to talk to or know where to find reliable information.

The Virtual School Gate provides a safe and supportive space for families to connect, share ideas, ask questions, and find trusted information, including webinars, resources, and guidance on local activities and services. It is a place where families can learn from each other and feel understood.

For the third year, People First brought together guests from across Cumbria to celebrate the People First Awards at The Halston. Learners from the People First Academy were celebrated for their achievements and qualifications over the last 12 months, alongside support from local businesses, authorities, and families. With over 200 guests in the room, it's safe to say, the room was full of energy and pride as everyone marked these successes together.

The evening also highlighted inclusive employment in action. Jill Johnston spoke on the importance of creating workplaces where everyone feels valued and able to contribute, and how inclusion must be embedded in everyday culture, not just policy.

We used the celebration to launch our ’35 in 35’ campaign, inviting 35 businesses to help 35 people into paid work in celebration of our 35th anniversary. The awards were a reminder of how collaboration and commitment can open opportunities and build a stronger, more inclusive community for all.

The Best Life group have spent this year getting involved in the community and making a real difference.

In January 2024, they collected empty Christmas chocolate tubs for Greene King pubs. The tubs were recycled to raise money for charity. A simple action that made a real impact.

Later, the group spent time at Carlisle Foodbank, helping to sort donations, pack food parcels, and also make sure families got the support they needed... they even brought extra donations from People First to add to the Foodbank’s shelves.

Through these experiences, the Best Life learners have further built up their confidence, worked together as a team, and strengthened their connection to local communities across Carlisle. But most importantly, they’ve shown how much they can give back and how much of a difference they can make.

This year, Healthwatch Cumberland and Cumberland Council brought together over 50 people with lived experience for the Power of Lived Experience event in Carlisle. The room was filled with energy as attendees shared their stories and experiences from the voluntary sector, council services, and health and care organisations.

The event gave everyone the vital opportunity to talk openly about what works, what doesn’t, and how services can improve. Discussions highlighted the need for better communication, more involvement in decision-making, and ways to make services more inclusive and trauma-informed.

Chris Jones-King, Director of Adult Social Care and Housing, said:

Across 2025, Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness connected with people through hospital pop-ups, drop-ins like Conversation and a Cuppa, community events, and their growing forum in Penrith.

They worked with the National Autistic Society and Team Autism to explore the experiences of autistic adults seeking a diagnosis. Through conversations with 22 people, they heard about long waiting times, limited support, and times when participants felt dismissed by professionals. At the same time, many shared the relief and clarity that came with finally receiving a diagnosis.

By putting lived experience at the center, the project is helping services better understand the adult autism journey and advocate for real change. Mike Stanton, Treasurer of the National Autistic Society’s Furness branch, praised the approach, calling it 'a model' for other agencies. The project shows just how important it is to listen to autistic voices when designing services that are supportive, accessible, and respectful.

In June 2025, Healthwatch Lancashire hosted a Women’s Health event to share findings from our 'Talk to Us: Women’s Health' project. The day gave space to reflect on the experiences local women had shared and to explore what needs to happen next to improve support across Lancashire.

The event also brought together local women’s health and wellbeing charities, giving them a chance to connect with the public and highlight the services and support available. More than 40 members of the public and professionals attended, sharing their experiences and ideas.

Since the event, conversations and connections made on the day have inspired further activity across the county. Feedback from participants is also helping shape how we continue this work, ensuring women’s voices stay at the heart of the services designed to support them.

In 2025, Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees spoke with 71 people across Tees Valley, listening to experiences of cancer care services. Through vital case studies, focus groups, and community visits, we created safe spaces where people could share their stories in their own words without fear or judgement. 

People shared the challenges they faced, including accessing GP appointments, delays in referrals, and a lack of emotional support after treatment. Many described feeling unsure where to turn once discharged. Other issues included inconsistent staffing, the loss of fast-track counselling services:a vital support for individuals and their families dealing with the impact of cancer, and also difficulties accessing financial help during treatment and recovery.

Our role was to listen and bring these experiences together. Feedback was shared anonymously with NHS Trusts and the Integrated Care Board to make sure patient voices shape service improvement. By highlighting both what works and where change is needed, we hope to support compassionate, timely, and equitable cancer care for everyone.

People First's Inclusion team supports the Lancashire Peer Advocacy Network, helping people with learning disabilities across the county come together to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Across 2025, the group campaigned on national issues like benefit changes and health inequalities, as well as critical local concerns including community safety and travel card changes. Three Open Forum events gave people who don’t attend regular meetings a chance to learn about important topics and share their views.

The network also connected with the wider community. Over 130 people visited the East Lancashire Voices stall at Accrington Carnival, including the County Councillor for disabilities, the Hyndburn Mayor, and the local MP. In Preston, the Face to Face group gathered feedback from over 50 people on planned benefit changes, which was shared with Lancashire MPs. In Lancaster, the Shaping the Future group highlighted the need for accessible support around menopause and mental health, encouraging people to speak up and access resources.

Through these activities, the network ensures people with learning disabilities have a voice, their experiences are heard, and services and policies respond to real needs.