Visitors to this year’s Carlisle Fireshow are being asked to dig into the bottom of their pockets and support local charities.
Although the event is free to attend, a charity collection is held each year. All donations go towards the Rotary in Carlisle (which donates most of its fundraising efforts to local good causes), and Every Life Matters, the charity supported by the Chair of Cumberland, Cllr Andy Semple and the Mayor of Carlisle, Anne Glendinning’s chosen charities - Meningitis Now.
Volunteers will be holding charity buckets on the entrance to the event and organisers are asking the Fireshow’s adult spectators to consider giving at least £2 each.
This year’s Carlisle Fireshow will celebrate Cumberland's countdown to the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027.
The sparkling event is organised by Cumberland Council and will be held in Bitts Park on Saturday 31 October, starting at 6.30pm.
The event date has been chosen following discussions with partners and to avoid clashing with planned Remembrance events on Saturday 7 November.
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Also in this week's newsletter...
We launched our Operation Impact in Whitehaven this week, bringing together officers from Environmental Crime, Trading Standards, Licensing and Planning to engage with local businesses and promote high standards across the town centre.
Operation Impact is designed to provide a visible council presence within key commercial areas, strengthen relationships with businesses and gather intelligence that may help inform future activity where required.
We'll be doing similar activities in other towns in Cumberland.
Work is set to begin on a new play area in Bransty, Whitehaven, as part of Cumberland Council’s commitment to improving play facilities for children and families across the area.
Installation of the new play area at Harbour View is scheduled to start in mid-October and is expected to take around six weeks to complete.
Urgent carriageway resurfacing works will take place on the A594 at Dovenby from Monday 12 October.
The work is expected to take three days to complete, subject to weather and site conditions.
To allow the resurfacing to be carried out safely and efficiently, the road will be closed in phases, with signed diversion routes in place throughout the works. While construction activity will take place between 8am and 6pm each day, the road closure will remain in place 24 hours a day during each phase.
Cumberland Council's Waste and Public Space communications campaign has been shortlisted for Campaign of the Year – Health and Safety or Educational Outreach at the 2026 MRW National Recycling Awards.
Together, the videos generated more than 750,000 views across social media, with one video becoming the most-viewed social media post ever produced by Cumberland Council.
The shortlist recognises not only the creativity of the campaign, but also the willingness of staff across Waste and Public Space to share their expertise and experiences. Thank you to everyone who helped make this campaign such a success.
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Bus services across Cumbria
Take part in the next phase of the Cumbria Bus Reform Pilot Study.
The engagement will explore how bus services could better connect people to jobs, education, healthcare and other essential services while making travel more affordable and accessible.
There are also community Conversation Events. Click the link to find out more.
Proposed changes to post-16 SEND transport
Cumberland Council is asking for views on possible changes to home-to-school transport for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who are in Year 12 or above.
The consultation includes a proposed financial contribution model. It aims to explore whether families could have more choice and flexibility in arranging travel, while helping the Council provide support that is fair, sustainable and focused on those who need it most.
No decisions have been made. The Council wants to hear from young people, families, schools, colleges, partners, residents and colleagues before any final decision is considered. If changes are agreed, they would be introduced in September 2027.
Find out more and have your say by 20 November 2026
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Petteril Bank improvements
Residents of Petteril Bank are being encouraged to have their say on the future of their neighbourhood through a new survey exploring what it's like to live in the area and what improvements people would like to see.
The survey covers a range of topics that influence health and wellbeing, including transport, access to green spaces, local services and amenities, housing, employment opportunities and community activities.
Feedback gathered through the survey, alongside comments collected at an earlier engagement event, will help build a picture of local priorities and opportunities for the area.
Residents will also have the opportunity to view the findings and discuss the results at a community drop-in session on:
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Tuesday 24 November - 2.30pm to 4pm - Meeting Room, Petteril Bank Family Hub, Burnett Road, Carlisle, CA1 3BX
There will be no formal presentations, and people are welcome to drop in at any point during the session to view the findings, ask questions and share their views.
Proposed Hackney Carriage taxi fares in Cumberland
We're consulting on proposed changes to the maximum fares that Hackney Carriages can charge across Cumberland.
The proposals include changes to:
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Standard daytime fares
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Evening and overnight fares
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Bank Holiday, Christmas and New Year tariffs
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Waiting time charges
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Additional passenger and luggage charges
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Other supplementary charges
We want to hear from taxi drivers, operators, residents, businesses and anyone who may be affected by the proposed changes.
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Cumberland Council representatives recently visited Beckstone Primary School to showcase the success of the Nourish Programme and discuss ongoing work to support healthier lifestyles for children and young people across Cumberland.
The visit was joined by Josh MacAlister MP, who met with school staff, Governors, council representatives and pupils to learn more about how the programme is helping to promote healthy eating habits and positive food cultures within schools.
During the visit, council representatives discussed a range of issues affecting children’s health and wellbeing, including the Government's rollout of free breakfast clubs and the opportunities this presents to support children to start the school day ready to learn.
At lunchtime, the group met with several of the school's Food Ambassadors, who play an important role in encouraging healthy food choices among their peers. The group also explored some of the practical initiatives supported through the Nourish Programme, including the school's fruity water stations, which help make healthy hydration an attractive choice for pupils.
The visit highlighted Cumberland Council's ongoing commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people, working alongside schools and partners to create environments that support healthy choices and help children thrive.
This work forms part of the council's wider ambition to give every child in Cumberland the best possible start in life through programmes that promote health, wellbeing and positive lifelong habits.
Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place from 9 to 15 October. During the week, some of our council buildings will be lit pink and blue in support of families affected by pregnancy and baby loss, and to help raise awareness of an experience that touches many lives.
At 7pm on 15 October, people around the world will light a candle and take part in the Wave of Light, creating a global display of remembrance for babies who left us too soon.
A special remembrance service will be held at the Burial Chapel at Richardson St. Cemetery in partnership with Cumberland Infirmary on Tuesday 13 October, offering a gentle opportunity for reflection, remembrance and support.
Throughout the week, Distington Hall's Chapel of Remembrance will also be open for anyone wishing to visit and remember. A remembrance book, wildflower seeds and candles for the Wave of Light on 15 October will be available for families and loved ones.
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The car park at The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven will be closed temporarily on Wednesday 14 October while the museum's summer exhibition is collected and taken away. The car park will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
The council operates a number of other car parks in Whitehaven - please see our website for their locations.
Adult Social Care practitioners, managers and partners gathered at the Civic Centre in Carlisle this week for the Festival of Practice, this year focussing on unpaid carers.
Bringing together carers, professionals and organisations from across Cumberland, the event featured speakers and exhibitors from organisations including Cumberland Carers Forum, People First, Mobilise, Family Action, CNTW, Alzheimer’s Society, Eden Valley Hospice and Shared Lives.
Throughout the day, attendees heard powerful personal stories and professional insights that shone a light on the realities of caring. Sessions explored the experiences of young carers, parent carers and people supporting loved ones later in life, while highlighting the services, resources and support available.
Collaboration was a key theme, with discussions centred on how organisations can work more closely alongside carers to better understand their experiences, recognise their needs and provide the right support at the right time.
The event concluded with a consultation on the Carers Strategy, giving both carers and professionals the opportunity to help shape future support for unpaid carers across Cumberland.
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