WeCan Cumbria

We complete this Series by having a chat with our Wellbeing Coordinator Dan Alexander who we are bidding a fond farewell to this week. We take the opportunity to discuss the project so far, highs, lows and goodbyes.If you would like anymore information about any of our groups please contact jenna@icanfitnesscumbria.co.uk

In this episode we chat to Nicola Berry who is a 36 year old Mum of 2 from Carlisle who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 29. Nicola chats to us about her journey since then and the Breast Care Group which she runs for people who need support during or after Breast Cancer Treatment.For more information about any of the support groups mentioned in this podcast  you can contact WeCan Cumbria or Carlisle Breast Cancer Support Group on Facebook.

In this episode we chat to 2 of the 5 ladies who are leading on Carlisle's new Connecting Communities partnership. Julia Clifford, Founder & Director of iCan Health & Fitness CIC and Denise Majer, CEO of The Glenmore Trust have partnered with Age UK Carlisle & Eden, CHOC & Carlisle City Council on a Wellbeing & Information Centre in the heart of Carlisle.

Drew chats to Jenna in this episode about his own Mental Health experiences which led him to set up a local football club which encourages men to take part in a bid to support mental wellbeing as well as keep fit. For more details contact Drew at Border City Green Football Club

In this episode we chat to Wendy Armstrong who is a 39 year old Wife & Mam from Carlisle. Wendy is sharing a chat with us about how she has come to accept her body for what it is and realised that there are far more important things about her than what she weighs. Wendy has banished the weighing scales & started to exercise because she wants to and because it makes her happy rather than as a punishment to herself.

In this episode we welcome Andy Coleman who has joined us to share experiences from his own childhood to help raise awareness around ACEs as well as his ADHD diagnosis. If you would like any more information or support for you, anybody that you know or an organisation you work for then you can try the links below or contact your local authority for details of training in your area. You can also seek support from your GP if you feel like any of the issues raised affect your physical or mental health. Believe in children | Children's charity | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

In this episode we chat to 36 year old Michael Johnson from Carlisle, Cumbria who has recently been diagnosed with Adult ADHD which has helped him to better understand and manage his behaviours, relationships and life.As always if you are affected by any of the issues raised, please talk to somebody. Reach out to a family member or friend, speak to your GP and ask for information and support.

Our guest in this episode is Liam Edmondson. Liam is the founder of Carlisle based Men's Peer Support Group Offload. He chats to us about his own personal experiences and how that led to him starting Offload to be able to help other men open up about their mental health.Offload Cumbria

In this episode we speak to Lisa Birdsall, who was a guest previously on Episode 11 Series 1- Bereavement by Suicide.Lisa revisits our conversation around Suicide Awareness, wanting to talk more about the risks & share her thoughts about how we can help more with the crisis that our community is facing.For extra support with any of the issues raised in this episode please reach out to one of the following organisations that can help.Every Life Matters - Suicide Safer Cumbria (every-life-matters.org.uk)Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listenSurvivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Overcoming the isolation of people bereaved by suicide (uksobs.org)Homepage | Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (thecalmzone.net)

In this episode we chat to Becky Towns who is currently running a project in Cumbria called Step Forward. The project focuses on supporting those facing Severe Mental Health Experiences and helps them find volunteering or employment opportunities. The project also aims to help break down the stigma surrounding Severe Mental Health and help Employers feel more confident to manage those facing it. https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/about-us/step-forward/Stepforward@cumbriacvs.org.uk

In this episode we chat to Natasha from Carlisle who is a valued member of our iCan Health & Fitness Community. She is sharing her story about how she learnt to become comfortable in her own skin- from a shy, uncomfortable teenager to a confident 35 year old who works full time as a model.

In this episode Jenna from WeCan chats to Kathryn from The Happy Mums Foundation in Carlisle about the emotions involved in the transition from Maternity Leave back into the workplace. The Happy Mums Foundation are currently working on making extra support available to parents & employers during this transition and welcome anybody to get in touch that would like to be involved.www.happymums.org.uk

In this episode we are joined by 2 guests- Amy Clark who is sharing her own lived experience of battling an eating disorder throughout her teenage years and Mum Lisa who contributes how that was for her as a parent.They also talk about the expert patient work they are doing with the medical education team now- if you would like to get in touch to help you can contact joanne.waddington@lscft.nhs.ukThere is also lots more support on the NHS website around Eating Disorders or you can find more information at The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk)

In this episode we are joined by Laura Earl who has recently set up a Community Interest Company encouraging families to get outside hiking to increase wellbeing.The Hiking Household | Family Friendly Walks | Cumbria

In this episode we are joined by the inspirational Judith Moore who is sharing her experience of living with her cancer diagnosis and how she has used her experiences and voice to make things easier for others who are going through the same thing.

In this episode we are joined for the second time by local Counsellor & Yoga Teacher Martyn Blacklock who shares some of his experiences and wisdom about relationships, how to create safety within them and remain true to yourself and your needs.

In this episode we are joined by Niall McNulty who joined us for a conversation about his experiences growing up Mixed Race in Carlisle. We chat about how he has made the transition from choosing to ignore his heritage as a Young Person trying to assimilate into a predominantly White Cumbrian School system to owning his heritage and celebrating it.For more information or support we would like to refer you to some fantastic local organisations who are working in our community to tackle some of the issues raised.https://antiracistcumbria.org/https://www.munitcarlisle.co.uk/https://multiculturalcumbria.org.uk/

Pride in North Cumbria (PiNC) is a charitable organisation that provides social & support services to LGBT+ people aged between 13 & 25 years.Pam Eland is the Project Manager and came to chat to us about some of the issues faced by members of the PiNC community.prideinnorthcumbria.org

In this episode we are joined by Deborah Earl who is the new Chief Executive at Carlisle Key. Carlisle Key is a local charity that supports young people who are aged 16-25 and homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Jamie Smithson, 32 from Carlisle, joins our host Jenna for a very raw & honest conversation about how he has adapted himself over the last couple of decades to fit into an alcohol culture and then how he chose to escape it and rediscover himself.Jamie now helps others to  do the same through personal coaching, you can find him on Instagram and Facebook by searching Reignite222.