PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Only 47.8% of children (in 2022/2023 ) across the UK meet the physical activity levels recommended by the Chief Medical Officer. In Cumberland this was even worse with only 45.1% of children meeting this requirement.33 Women and girls, people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, people with disabilities, and those from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds have particularly low activity levels – a challenge that Active Cumbria and Sport England are working hard to address.34 VAPING A recent survey conducted by Cumberland Council revealed troubling statistics about vaping among school-aged children. Out of 5,114 pupils surveyed, 5% of primary school pupils in Year 6 had tried vaping, while the figure was significantly higher among secondary school pupils in Years 8 and 10, with 33% reporting they had experimented with vaping.35 ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE Worryingly in a recent survey across Cumberland, 24% of pupils of secondary age indicated that they had taken an alcoholic drink in the last 14 days.36 Hospital admissions due to substance misuse among individuals aged 15 to 24 years in Cumberland is significantly higher than both national and regional averages. Cumberland’s rate stands at 80.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 67.7 in the Northwest and 58.3 across England.37 MENTAL HEALTH Since 2019, there has been a dramatic rise in referrals for children and young people’s mental health services, with the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust seeing nearly a 100% increase in referrals between 2019 and 2022.38 This surge in demand has led to significant challenges, including long waiting times, limited service options, and difficulties in accessing specialist support. Additionally, reports indicate that many children and young people are grappling with loneliness, a trend that has continued to rise since the Covid-19 pandemic.39 Cumbria faces higher rates of hospital admissions related to mental health challenges and self-harm among young people compared to both regional and national averages. The rate of hospital admissions due to self-harm for those aged 10-24 in Cumbria is 464.8 per 100,000 population, significantly higher than the Northwest average of 346.6 and the national average of 319.40 Additionally, Cumbria has a higher rate of hospital admissions for mental health conditions in individuals under 18, with a rate of 110.4 per 100,000, compared to 86 in the Northwest and 80.8 across England.41 There has been a massive increase in referrals to our organisation for young people with mental health problems. We cannot cope with the demand. There are lots of cases of attempted suicide, self-harm, and domestic violence. We have also seen increases in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as transgender issues too. It’s quite a challenge for our workforce. Voluntary Sector Representative 35Vaping Factsheet for Professionals Working with Young People: Cumbria Youth Substance Misuse: Cumberland Council, 2023 https://cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/ Internet/537/38232/38404/45117145956.pdf 36Cumberland Council, Family Wellbeing Data Analysis Summary, February 2024. 37Department of Health and Social Care, Fingertips: Hospital admissions substance misuse 15 to 24 years (2020/21 – 2022-23) https://fingertips.phe.org.uk 38Being a Child in Cumberland – What we should focus on and what should we change: Cumberland Council, 2023). 39https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/press-release/younger-brits-report-higher-levels-of-loneliness/ 40Hospital admissions as a result of self-harm - 10-24 years 2022/2023: Public Health England, 2022, https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/ 41Hospital admissions for mental health conditions <18 years 2022/23: Public Health England, 2022, https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/ Carlisle Youth Zone Since opening its doors in April 2011, Carlisle Youth Zone (CYZ) has become a successful hub of support and opportunity for those aged seven to 18 (and up to 25 years old with additional needs). With a current membership of 3,000, CYZ reaches nearly one in five of Carlisle’s young people from its target demographic. CYZ’s purpose-built youth facility has a gym, music room, library, climbing wall, sports hall, café, arts area, dance space, and recreation zones. This enables CYZ’s youth workers, volunteers and mentors to create a fun, safe environment. Open six nights a week plus daytime at weekends, young people can meet friends, discover their talents, learn new skills and access support – all for just 50p per visit – with seven youth clubs available per week. Young people are at the heart of everything CYZ does, co-creating its offer to ensure it is responsive to their interests, aspirations and needs. This commitment to listening has resulted in an upward trend in attendance. Young people are stepping up to contribute both to CYZ and their wider community through Young Leadership programmes, conservation projects, and public art installations and performances. CYZ has an increasingly diverse membership and was named Organisational Champion at the 2024 Diverse Cumbria Awards. Its mantra of ‘no child missed’ provides focused engagement for young people needing more targeted youth support, including Young Carers, LGBTQ+, those experiencing mental health difficulties, SEND, care-experienced, and young people living in poverty. A CYZ representative said: “We are proud to be making such a robust and direct contribution to the life chances and wellbeing of Carlisle’s young people. We know from listening to young people and their families that providing the right support, at the right time, in spaces and places which feel safe has never been more needed.” “We have been alongside a generation of Carlisle already, and we are committed to the next. We are building a growing evidence base of the difference that consistent and reliable youth work makes. Our impact data from 2024 highlights significant and measurable contributions to building confidence, enhancing social and emotional skills, improving health and wellbeing, and growing aspirations.” “We are working with an increasing range of partners so that as young people’s needs and aspirations change, they can count on CYZ to be here – a space where they know they are seen, valued, and heard.” As a member recently said, ‘Youth Zone has consistently provided me with opportunities to grow as a person, both in my happiness and confidence, and in my skills and passions. Youth Zone is my second home.’” CASE STUDY Carlisle: Opportunities & Challenges 2025 16 17
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