Carlisle: Opportunities and Challenges was commissioned by Cumbria Community Foundation to examine the area’s social needs and community issues.
The report shines a light on some of the issues yet to be addressed including mental health, physical health, poverty and the strain on the charity sector.
The report highlights major investment in Carlisle and the surrounding rural areas, including projects such as St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine and improvements to Carlisle Station which are all set to benefit the area.
Kevin Walsh, vice chair of Cumbria Community Foundation, led the steering group made up of local people who worked on the report to ensure it reflected the needs and priorities of the Carlisle area.
Kevin Walsh (Image: Supplied) He said: “The report highlights the challenges facing our communities and the opportunities to make a difference.
“Carlisle has much to offer, it has a diverse economy, is well placed on the national transport network, good schools, a growing educational offer, hardworking people, a beautiful setting, deep and fascinating history, a diverse mix of community groups and charities and a great sense of community.
“However, sitting alongside this is growing poverty, alarming increases in mental ill health and major differences in life expectancy, low pay, increased risks of flooding linked to climate change, an ageing population and a charity sector under great strain as it seeks to respond to these issues.
“It is my belief that this report can be a catalyst for our local leaders, communities and organisations to consider how to work together even more effectively – to help build on our opportunities and address our challenges.”
The report also covers topics including employment and skills, health and wellbeing, and ageing well, and is based on extensive independent research and interviews across all sections of society in Carlisle and the surrounding area.
More than 400 people completed a survey giving their views on life in Carlisle, with the results also feeding into the report.
Ageing population has also been highlighted as an area of concern across the region.
Between 2011 and 2021 Carlisle’s population grew by approximately 2,500 people to around 110,000 people.
The proportional change in population of adults aged 65 and over in Carlisle also saw ‘substantial growth’ according to the report.
The number of people aged 65 to 74 years rose by just over 2,600 and 22 per cent of people in Carlisle were aged 65 and over at the time of the 2021 Census, slightly higher than the England average of 18 per cent.
The report also said that the city is experiencing ‘unprecedented demand’ for mental health services for adults, children, and young people, leading to growing waiting lists for diagnostic and treatment services.
The report also says that the Cumberland Council area currently has high rates of self-harm, addiction and suicide, with drug-related deaths and suicides ‘substantially higher’ than England averages.
The report also claims that public sector partners, and voluntary and community groups are working tirelessly to address the demand, including addressing the underlying causes of mental health concerns, but they have reported being ‘overburdened’ by the volume of people seeking assistance.
From conversations with children and young people in Carlisle, there is a perceived fear of crime according to the report.
Despite Carlisle generally being a safe place to live, children and young people reported not feeling safe, particularly at night, expressing concerns about antisocial behaviour, drug misuse and knife crime.
They also raised concerns about hate crime directed towards those who are neurodiverse, and those who have differing ethnicities or differing sexual identities.
The report also said that young people said feel that Carlisle doesn’t have a ‘city feel’ and lacks the shops, bars, restaurants and music venues present in other cities like Manchester and Glasgow.
This encourages some to want to move away, even though they like their home town, and leads young people to call for a more vibrant cultural and leisure offer that would encourage them to remain in Carlisle.
The number of older people living with a limiting long-term illness in Carlisle is projected to increase over time according to the report.
This will place additional pressures on the existing health and social care infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, where older people, alongside their carers may have poor access to essential services such as transport, care homes and health services.
Despite these challenges, the report does say Carlisle is a good place to live.
“Carlisle offers a good quality of life, is relatively safe to live in, with a positive community spirit, beautiful parks and an appealing natural environment,” said the report.
Blossom in Bitts Park (Image: Steven Coyles) “Through initiatives like Reimagining Carlisle there are exciting opportunities to engage in conversations about shaping a visionary future for the future.
“Carlisle has lower than average house prices with a good range of housing stock, and future growth needs anticipated by the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village development.
“Generally, people feel that Carlisle is a friendly and safe place to live, and residents have pride in local history, the natural environment and say that Carlisle is a picturesque city.”
The report also praises the city’s ‘diverse’ voluntary and community groups.
“There is a good range of voluntary and community groups operating to address local social, environmental and economic needs often acting as champions for Carlisle, its assets and people,” said the report.
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“Despite the setbacks presented by the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, people feel that there remains a strong community spirit in Carlisle.”
Andy Beeforth, chief executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “This report will be a focus for debate and action to make Carlisle and the surrounding area an even better place to live, work and study.
“As with our previous reports, we hope this will be a key resource for charities and public bodies to help with their strategic planning and future funding asks.”
