Whitehaven's Health and Wellbeing Festival has been hailed a resounding success.
Around 2,200 visitors flocked from across Cumberland to attend the festival on Friday (August 4) led by Cumberland Council.
The event, held at the Recreation Ground, Coach Road, provided free family entertainment alongside access to vital wellbeing services.
Fifty organisations came together, alongside Cumberland Council’s Social Prescribing team, to provide advice, guidance, and activities to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Organisations helped with issues such as loneliness, housing, financial hardship, benefits, welfare and more.
Emergency services were on hand to provide popular interactive sessions around fire safety and emergency first aid.
Visitors also enjoyed pet therapy, bouncy castles, trampolines, face painting, exercise sessions, a climbing wall, tale trails, and a colour run. The crowds were also wowed by performances from a dance academy, acrobats, a magician, and a DJ.
Cllr Lisa Brown, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Governance and Thriving Communities said: "I am truly thrilled by the overwhelming response and positive outcomes of this event. It's amazing that more than 2,000 people enjoyed the day and I’m sure everyone is already looking forward to next year.
“It highlights the essential role of social prescribing in our community and the transformative impact it has on individuals' lives.
“We remain committed to furthering the reach of events like this as we continue our commitment to have health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do as Cumberland Council."
The event was sponsored by the Box Encapsulation Plant (BEP), Sellafield, project. Other funders and partners include Rosehill Theatre, Copeland Community Fund, Well Whitehaven and Copeland Wellness Service.
Catherine Melvin, Project Wellbeing Advisor at BEP, said: “The relationship that has been formed between the BEP and social prescribing team has had such a positive effect on the community.
“Seeing so many people connect with services has really brought home the importance of the work that the team does.
“We look forward to growing this relationship further, in the future, so that we can help more people in the community.”
Social prescribing helps people improve their health and wellbeing by connecting them with community groups, activities, or services. For more information email social.prescribing@cumberland.gov.uk.
Visitors who attended the event are asked to feedback on their experience at https://forms.office.com/e/4F7sNTZMEt.