Local Support and Information

 

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Self-help Leaflets

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust have created a fantastic collection of self-help leaflets on a whole range of topics.

ACCESS SELF-HELP LEAFLETS

 

Domestic Violence

No one should suffer domestic abuse.

If you are at risk or expreriencing abuse help and support is available.

To report: Call Cumbria police non-emergancy line '101' or report online

In an emergancy always call 999.

Domestic Abuse Partnerships Emergancy accommodation, in an emergancy, please contact your local Borough Council. There is a Statutory Duty to accommodate victims of Domestic Abuse. 

Local Support Services

Women out West (Whitehaven)

t: 01946 550103 / 07516 416040

e: contactus@womenoutwest.co.uk

Freedom Project (West Cumbria)

For women and Men affected by Domestic Abuse

t: 01900 671167 / 07712 117986

Cumbria Wide Services

Cumbria Victim Suppoort

t: 0300 3030 157 (local) Monday- Friday 09:00am-06:00pm

24/7 Support Line 0808 1689 111

e: cumbria.admin@victimsupport.org.uk

Safety Net

For women and men affected by Domestic Abuse - County Wide Service

t: 01228 515859

Self refer on the Safety Net website

The Birchall Trust

For women and men affected by Domestic Abuse - County Wide Service.

Visit the Birchall Trust website

National Services

National LGBT Domestic Abuse Victims

t: 0800 9995428

Mankind Initative

t: 01823 334244

Mens Advocate Line 0808 8010327

24 Hour National Domestic Abuse

Freephone helptile t: 01942 262 270

National Child Line t: 0800 1111

The Domestic Abuse Alliance brings together organisations working on the front line of domestic abuse accross the UK with the legal sector to deliver joined-up legal assistance and protection. They run the We Project App. Via the app, victims of Domestic Abuse can get free legal advice. Referrals can be made online via a one page form at Domestic Abuse Alliance or via telephone t: 0800 101 7110

 

West Cumbria Age UK

We're Age UK West Cumbria and our goal is to enable older people across the region to love later life. We believe that your later years can be fulfilling years and whether you’re on the quest to live well into old age or if you’re going through tough times, we’re here to help you make a positive change.

  • Age UK West Cumbria advice hotline: 08443 843 843 or Cockermouth business telephone number: 01900 844 680
  • Find out more on the Age UK website
  • Age UK, 93 Main Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9JS.

Information and advice, Information resources, appointments with specialist advisers, activity space and range of activities. help to access support and activities in the community.

 

Cockermouth Warm Sports

Age UK West Cumbria, Cockermouth Activity Hub

Visit the website for more information

Christ Church Cockermouth

Visit the website for more information

Cockermouth Christian Centre

Visit the website for more information

King's Church Cockermouth

Visit the website for more information

For more information on warm spots in and around Cumbria visit Cumbria County Council - Warm Spots

 

Carer Support West Cumbria

Could You be a Carer? 

A carer is anyone of any age who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

At Carer Support West Cumbria we have been supporting people who care for 25 years.

 

Alzheimer's Society - Dementia Support Allerdale

Our dementia support workers offer information and practical guidance to help you understand dementia, cope with day-to-day challenges and prepare for the future. They offer information to people who are worried about their memory and ongoing support to people affected by dementia. 

 

Mealshare - Kings Church, Cockermouth

We currently take food from a company called FareShare who collect over produced food from manufacturers, growers and suppliers, and sell them to charities like ours at low cost.

We take the basic ingredients, and have chosen to create meals from the ingredients to offer to people who for one reason or another need help over a period of time. Hence Mealshare. So far, we’ve made meals like Chicken Casserole, Beef and mushroom casserole, Pork and Bean casserole, Chicken curry. We’ve also been able to give out lots of fresh fruit and yogurts etc that can supplement meals.

The meals are either delivered fresh on Wednesdays, or frozen so that the user can pick them up (any morning) or arrange to have them delivered frozen - all they have to do is either reheat (from fresh) or defrost and reheat. We can organise meals for couples or for singles depending on the situation.

Mealshare is part of Kings Church Cockermouth, but the clear aim is support for those that need it. We’re working alongside Foodbank (not in competition with them), which is great in that there are two options within the town for those who need help.

We’ve had to go through various regulatory issues like food and hygiene law etc and we’re being helped by ABC and CCC in what we’re trying to achieve in the locality.

 

Mealshare is open to anyone who

  1. Is in crisis due to ill health - we are currently giving meals to people who, because of illness, can’t cook for themselves or their partners or struggle to cook because of a medical emergency. 
  2. Is in crisis due to an emergency in the family - it could be bereavement or sudden illness, or it could be an issue about employment, or sudden separation in the family.
  3. Find themselves with a serious cash flow issue and need help over a very short period
  4. Find themselves struggling with mental health issues and cannot find the energy to cook etc.

So, in essence, its a free to end user support through meals

 

Foodbank

The North Lakes Foodbank helps individuals and families in crisis, through the provision of emergency food supplies. All food is given to people who are experiencing crisis identified by care professionals – Advisory services for welfare and debt, Medical teams, Social Workers, Housing floating support teams, Childrens support teams, Church and Community/Charity Workers.  We have more than 125 of these care professionals who are voucher holders for us. They give out vouchers which are exchanged for the food which is nutritionally balanced to last the individual, couple or family 3 days. The amount of people through our Allerdale and Copeland we are feeding each month is growing rapidly, over 100% rise year on year. Some of the needs are as a result of benefit delay, low income, ill health, homelessness, sickness and housing issues. 

We collect food from customers at supermarkets, churches, schools and through local groups. We see food as a catalyst for change by providing emergency food immediately to meet a crisis situation with some practical help while Care Professionals look at longer-term strategies. 

 

Safeguarding Cumbria

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Abuse takes many forms, if you are concerned about a person's safety and well-being report it. Our local Allerdale contact is 0300 303 3589 or visit their website

If someone is at immediate risk of harm call 999

 

Cockermouth Community Hospital League of Friends

Giving back to the Community by providing help and support to our Local Hospital. To relieve sickness, preserve the health and assist the recovery of the patients of Cockermouth Community Hospital by providing or assisting in the provision of equipment, facilities and services which are not normally provided by, or ancillary to, those provided by the statutory authorities or by the doctors and to support the comfort of patients.

Visit the League of Friends website

 

Diabetes UK

Are you living with or caring for someone with diabetes?

Would you like some peer support and information in an easily accessible way? Diabetes UK are starting a Befriending Circle across Cumbria to provide distance based support for people living with diabetes. You will be matched with a befriender depending on your circumstances. For more information contact Jessica Graham via telephone: 01925 644 566

 

Cruse Bereavement Care

Cruse Cumbria - part of the national charity, Cruse Bereavement Care - is here to help anyone in Cumbria deal with the pain of grief. For more information visit the Cruse Bereavement Care Cumbria website or contact the helpline on 0300 600 3434

 

Suicide Bereavement Support

An average of one person is lost to suicide every week in Cumbria. Suicide Bereavement Support Cumbria offers four self-help support groups across Cumbria, where you can meet with other people who have been bereaved by suicide. They provide an opportunity to listen, to share, to gain understanding and to connect with others.

 

Linking Lives

Combating social isolation in Cockermouth and surrounding area

Who We Are

Cockermouth Linking Lives is a befriending service generally aimed at those over 60 who find themselves requiring some extra friendship and support.

We match volunteers with older people who would like to see a friendly volunteer visitor on a regular basis for around one hour, and perhaps go out for short outings to local places of interest.

image depicting isolation

 

Volunteers

Cockermouth Linking Lives relies on volunteers to deliver our service. Volunteers do not need any special skills as they   receive full training, support and advice for their role. They also provide references and receive the necessary criminal records checks (DBS) prior to beginning  visits. If you would like to volunteer, please give us a call for more information or an application form.

 

Need a Visitor?

Many people find themselves alone after their partner passes away or are isolated, due to illness or disability.  For one reason or another they do not get out, or see as many people as often as they would like. This is where Linking Lives comes in. We find a  compatible volunteer, based on interests, geography and personality. Visits are then arranged at times convenient for the volunteer and ‘Link Friend’.  If you know of someone who would benefit from having a regular visitor, or if you would like a visitor yourself, please contact us (see details below).

 

Contact Details

Cockermouth Linking Lives operates as a community franchise of Linking Lives UK (Charity No: 1170325)

Coordinator: Sue Gorman, Tel: 07957 515140, email: cockermouth@linkinglives.uk

Address: Christ Church Rooms, South Street, Cockermouth, CA13 9RU

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