Having seen the impact of the reports Cumbria Community Foundation have prepared over the years, I have been keen that we prepare one for Carlisle to complement those for West Cumbria (2019) and Furness (2021). Contents Foreword _ _____________________________________________________________________________________3 Introduction____________________________________________________________________________________4 Carlisle in Profile_ _____________________________________________________________________________5 Opportunities and Challenges _ _______________________________________________________________6 Carlisle Voices _________________________________________________________________________________8 Growing Up _ __________________________________________________________________________________10 Employment, Economy and Skills _ ___________________________________________________________21 Living In Carlisle ______________________________________________________________________________30 Ageing Well ___________________________________________________________________________________43 Health and Wellbeing _ _______________________________________________________________________54 Strong and Connected Communities _ ________________________________________________________64 Summary_ _____________________________________________________________________________________76 How to get involved___________________________________________________________________________77 Cumbria Community Foundation _____________________________________________________________78 Acknowledgements _ _________________________________________________________________________79 I came to Carlisle in 1989, found it welcoming and a great place to live and work. Following a 42-year career working in local government across Cumbria, I joined the Community Foundation Grants Committee and became a Trustee in 2018. I often say, “it’s the best job I’ve ever taken on”. I’ve been a Rotarian for over 30 years and have become involved in a range of community activities in Carlisle and across the wider region. Many of these activities have been health related including leading our local Dementia Action Alliance, now as part of the Age Friendly Carlisle project. This report has captured the views and voices of hundreds of local people, all deeply committed to where they live and combined it with the most up-to-date statistics. 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. The people of Carlisle have raised some challenging provocations to help shape the future of the area: • We need to improve the range and quality of employment opportunities to grow our economy and retain our people. • We need to celebrate and recognise just how special Carlisle is. • Some suggest we have a democratic deficit. Should Carlisle have a town council? • We need to build on the City of Sanctuary to help Carlisle be as welcoming and diverse as possible. • The wish to build on our cultural and leisure opportunities to retain and attract more people. Should we have a new, dedicated theatre? • How do we take advantage of our remarkable landscape to promote healthier lifestyles and mental health? • We need to prepare better for future climate events such as flooding. • We need to support and nurture our charities and community groups so that they can thrive and play a growing role in the life of the area. • We have great educational and training opportunities in the area and should make the most of them. • The report highlights a need for Carlisle to find its voice and identity. We encourage you to take up the challenge and work together to clearly articulate who we are and what we can become. I have learnt much about the issues facing our communities across the county and how sometimes relatively small financial interventions can make a big difference. At the same time, many of the issues we face should ideally be better supported by statutory authorities, but this is not always possible. Voluntary sector colleagues must step in to help and advise the most vulnerable in our communities and ensure we have sustainable local facilities available. 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. Kevin Walsh BEM Trustee, Cumbria Community Foundation Foreword KEVIN WALSH Trustee Carlisle: Opportunities & Challenges 2025 2 3
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