The Practitioner Forums bring together professionals supporting children and young people across Westmorland and Furness to connect, collaborate and share good practice. They promote partnership working by helping practitioners understand each other’s roles, explore local services and exchange ideas to improve support. Through open communication and networking, the forums foster a more coordinated approach to service delivery. To join, email WFSCP@cumbria.gov.uk.

Every Life Matters is proud to launch our very first Autumn Seminar Series, starting with two vital half-day sessions on Autism & Suicide Prevention this November:

📅 Monday 11 November 2025 📍 Barrow

📅Wednesday 13 November 2025 📍Workington

These seminars are designed for people who work with, volunteer with, or advocate for autistic people.

Learning outcomes:

• Recognise signs that an autistic person may be having thoughts of suicide and respond safely and clearly.
• Understand and use plain, predictable communication to reduce sensory/processing barriers.
• Understand autism-friendly approaches to self-harm self-help/self-management.
• Building support in your own setting and know where to signpost for further help.
• Include lived experience in safe, respectful and purposeful ways.

Duration: Half-day (Registration from 9 am, Seminars 9:30 am – 1 pm)

Cost: £39 + fees (refreshments included, lunch not provided)

All profits go directly back into suicide prevention work in Cumbria.

Sessions will be delivered by the Every Life Matters team, with a workshop led by Helen Storey MBE, an award-winning leader in autism projects and advocacy.

Book Barrow – 11 Nov 

Book Workington – 13 Nov

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE 25 NOVEMBER - 10 DECEMBER 2025

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

We have developed a suite of learning events during the 16 days, via Microsoft Teams.

If you would like to book a place on one of these training sessions, please use this form. If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on either alison.goodfellow@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk 

Back in May 2025, Westmorland and Furness Family Help made some minor amendments to the Early Help Assessment and Review Process in Westmorland and Furness. The updated process, which can be found on the WFCSP website, specifies each step of the assessment and review process, including opportunities for additional support that may be required when plans aren’t progressing.

The update highlights a requirement for Early Help plans to have a whole family approach to assessment and planning. The second change adds in an additional element which requires schools and settings to copy in the Family Help Business Support team email address (family.help.waf@cumbria.gov.uk) when they distribute reviewed Early Help Plans. These will then be uploaded to the child file.

These changes help to ensure that the Local Authority have access to the most up to date plan for the child or young person, which will assist the multi-agency Children’s Hub make clear and informed decisions. Furthermore, having access to the most up to date plan, will help to avoid data breaches by having the current coordinator recorded, and helps to make sure that the right people are receiving accurate and timely information for children and young people on Early Help plans.

The Family Hub service across Westmorland and Furness is developing. To support this work, families, children, and young people in South Lakes and Eden are invited to help shape the service in their local area.

Two online surveys have been set up: one for parents/carers and one tailored to young people. Whilst these are online surveys, the links can also be used by practitioners, colleagues, partners, or anyone working directly with families and young people to gather input face to face.

The survey will be open until the end of October, and every effort is being made to maximise input from families to ensure all community groups are represented.

Thank you in advance for supporting this important work.