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Armed Forces Day 2026
An event to commemorate Armed Forces Day, a national celebration of the UK's Armed Forces - past, present and future - will be held in Carlisle’s city centre pedestrianised area on Saturday 27 June.
Organised with the support of local armed forces organisations, it will be held between 10am and 4pm in Carlisle city centre.
Organisations represented will include: the Cumbria Museum of Military Life, Lancs Association Branch, Cumbria Army Cadet Force, Cumbria Police, Age UK North Cumbria, Carlisle Sea Cadets, RAF Air Cadets, Solway Aviation Society, Royal British Legion, Armed Forces Careers Office Carlisle, SSAFA Cumbria branch, Carlisle United Sports Trust, RAF Spadeadam, The RAF Association, The Military Vehicle Trust, Sport In Action and Cumberland Council.
The Armed Forces Day programme will also include live music provided by the Border Concert Band.
A big thank you to Roxane UK who have donated 200 bottles of spring water for the event to keep everyone hydrated.
Armed Forces Week will conclude with the flag-lowering ceremony on Saturday 27 June from 3pm.
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Look out for additional events taking place locally, with parish and town councils sharing details online and through social media.
As part of the Armed Forces week celebrations, the HMS Raider Naval ship will be docking in Maryport Marina on Sunday 28 June.
HMS Raider (P275) is part of Coastal Forces Squadron (North), based in HMNB Clyde.
The ship, operated by a team of seven sailors and led by an experienced Lieutenant, primarily contributes to the delivery of Force Protection for surfaced submarines transiting to and from HMNB Clyde, outside of navigation training, weapons training, and conducting regional engagement.
The ship will be open to visitors between 11am and 3pm. For reasons of safety, visitors must be able to enter and leave the ship via the gangway and navigate internal ladders unaided. Wheelchair access is unfortunately not available.
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Our latest Armed Forces newsletter brings together key information and updates for the Armed Forces community across Cumberland, including details about Armed Forces Day and other upcoming events taking place locally. It also highlights the range of support available for serving personnel, veterans and their families, alongside local hubs, clubs and opportunities to connect with others.
Also in this weeks edition:
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With hot weather and the summer holidays fast approaching, we’re reminding everyone to enjoy the Lake District safely and responsibly.
Cumberland Council is working closely with Cumbria Police, the Lake District National Park Authority and local partners to tackle inconsiderate parking, irresponsible camping and anti-social behaviour in popular areas such as Borrowdale, Wasdale, Buttermere and Honister.
If you’re visiting, please park safely and legally, poorly parked vehicles can block narrow roads and prevent access for emergency services, residents and farmers. Wild camping should be done responsibly and only with permission, and littering, fires and damage to the landscape will not be tolerated.
Follow Leave No Trace principles and take your litter home.
Remember, lakes and rivers stay cold even in warm weather, if you fall in, float on your back and call for help.
Why not leave the car behind and use local shuttle buses where you can?
Join us at Distington Walled Garden on Saturday 4 July, 10am - 4pm, for this year’s Summer Artisan Fete.
Set in a beautiful garden setting, it’s the perfect opportunity to browse a range of local artisan stalls, with everything from handmade candles to delicious preserves on offer.
Take time to relax and enjoy the surroundings, with the café open from 10am to 2pm and refreshments available until 3pm.
Whether you’re planning a day out or just looking for something a little different, everyone is welcome.
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Co-production Week starts on Monday 29 June, running until 3 July. It is a national campaign promoting working with people to design better social care services.
This year’s theme ‘Care equity: who gets care?’ explores how access to support is shaped and how lived experience can influence decisions.
Co-production means working alongside people from the start so services reflect what matters in everyday life, such as feeling safe, supported and connected.
We recently welcomed England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, to Cumberland as part of national research for his forthcoming Annual Report, focusing on health in small towns and rural communities.
During his visit, he met with our Public Health team and a range of partners to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with improving population health across rural and coastal areas.
The visit included time in Workington and Caldbeck, where frontline teams and local initiatives demonstrated the impact of place-based working, strong partnerships and the important link between community services, food systems and health outcomes.
Discussions also highlighted the wider determinants of health across Cumberland, including access to services, housing, employment and community resilience - particularly in our more rural and coastal communities.
This was a valuable opportunity to showcase the work taking place across the Council and with partners, and to help ensure the realities of delivering services in Cumberland are reflected in national policy development.
The Edge, Cumbria’s Coastal Activities Centre in Whitehaven, has received its first major accolade after winning at the prestigious North West Awards for Planning Excellence 2026.
The landmark development was awarded Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy, recognising projects that make a significant contribution to economic prosperity. The category celebrates outstanding work across regeneration, commercial development, infrastructure and public realm improvements.
Delivered through partnership working, The Edge was funded by both Sellafield Ltd through its SiX (Social Impact Multiplied) fund and the Coastal Communities Fund, with Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners leading the development. Cumberland Council submitted the project for the awards in recognition of its role in supporting economic growth, attracting visitors and creating new opportunities for the local community through the planning system.
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Eligible children can attend fully funded summer activities available through the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme.
This programme is fully funded by the Department for Education.
The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven has received an outstanding 97% overall quality score following its latest VisitEngland Quality Assessment, carried out earlier this month.
The result represents an increase on the museum’s previous assessment and strong recognition of the high-quality experience offered to visitors.
The VisitEngland assessor highlighted the consistently high standards across all areas of the museum, recognising the strength of its offer and the care taken to ensure a positive and engaging visitor experience.
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Cumberland Council has won a prestigious national MJ Award for its innovative work with care experienced young people.
The council was recognised in the Innovation in Children’s and Adults’ Services category, highlighting its commitment to improving outcomes and giving young people a stronger voice in shaping services. Congratulations to all staff and partners involved.
Give a Day Week is back from 29 June to 5 July, bringing people together from across Carlisle to support a wide range of community projects.
This year, Cumberland Council teams are getting involved in a number of projects throughout the week, including the Bitts Park Big Clean Up on Tuesday 30 June and Wednesday 1 July, and Woodland Wonders at Kingmoor Nature Reserve on Sunday 5 July. These projects are all about coming together with local communities to care for and improve our shared spaces, with activities ranging from gardening and planting through to painting and cleaning.
There are opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part, whether you can spare an hour or a full day. It’s a chance to get outdoors, meet new people and play a part in supporting local places and communities.
Give a Day has been running for around 12 years and continues to inspire individuals, groups and businesses across Carlisle to take part in projects big and small.
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A new opportunity is opening up for young people across Cumberland as part of the Tour de France Grand Départ 2027.
The Readiness to Work programme will give 18 to 25 year olds the chance to gain real world experience by volunteering at this globally recognised event, alongside practical training in skills like CV writing, interviews and personal development.
With Carlisle hosting the Stage One finish and Keswick the Stage Two start, the Grand Départ will put Cumberland on the world stage and this programme is designed to help local people be part of that journey.
We’re encouraging young people to get involved, build confidence, develop valuable skills and take their first steps towards employment while playing a role in a once-in-a-generation event.
Anyone aged 16+ can sign up now to be a JOY Maker volunteer.
A wide range of transport options are available across the area, helping residents stay connected whether travelling by bus or through community transport schemes.
Significant investment in the Cumberland Go bus network has made public transport more accessible and affordable than ever. Passengers can now enjoy single journeys for just £3, alongside 18 new and enhanced routes connecting Carlisle, West Cumbria and key coastal communities. These improvements are making it easier for people to travel for work, education, healthcare and leisure.
Highway improvement works completed on route to Wasdale Head
The highway improvement works on the C4018 between Greendale Junction and Wasdale Head, one of the most scenic and popular destinations in the county, are now complete.
The scheme, which began on the evening of Wednesday 27 May, has delivered essential drainage improvements alongside resurfacing works to enhance road conditions along this well-used route.
Overnight resurfacing works planned across key West Cumbria routes
We will be carrying out a series of carriageway resurfacing works, in partnership with Connect Roads, across key routes in West Cumbria this July.
The resurfacing schemes will take place at the following locations:
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A595, Rosley Crossroads to Crofton Layby – starting 2 July 2026 for eight nights
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A595, Bothel - starting 12 July 2026 for three nights
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A596, Heathcote - starting 15 July 2026 for two nights
Essential bridge repairs to take place at Blaze Bridge in Lorton
We will be carrying out essential maintenance works on Blaze Bridge on the U2199, Lorton to help maintain the safety and condition of the structure for road users. The works are scheduled to begin on Monday 6 July 2026 and will take place over five days, subject to weather and site conditions.
The Beacon in Whitehaven - Car park
Due to the arrival of The Beacon Museum's summer exhibition and the large vehicles that are needed to transport it, please be aware that the site's car park will be temporarily closed from 6am on Wednesday, 1 July. The closure is expected to be in place until around 1pm when the car park's availability will return to normal.
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Join Team Cumberland
See if there is a job for you at Cumberland Council on our jobs page. You can also find out more about life at the council on our dedicated careers page.
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