West Cumbria Opportunities & Challenges 2025 12 13 Growing Up Experiences during the formative years of a child’s life and on their journey to adulthood can dramatically shape outcomes in later life. For some children in West Cumbria, their experiences during these early years are positive. They live in nurturing family environments, engage with learning and access enriching experiences in their community. For other children and young people, they are exposed to societal and familial challenges that curtail their opportunities and often develop into barriers that influence their lives for many years to come. Since 2019, all children and young people have been exposed to two experiences that have adversely affected their emotional and physical wellbeing. First, the closures of school and youth-based activities during the Covid-19 pandemic directly impacted upon their educational participation, the consequences of which are only now becoming apparent. When combined with limited opportunities to meet up with friends or engage in positive activities, children and young people now face increasing mental health issues which they are ill-equipped to deal with on their own. Second, the ensuing cost-of-living crisis has meant that, even with Covid-19 restrictions lifted, children and young people are living in family environments where significant financial pressures are shaping how they eat, are clothed, kept warm and engage in community life.1 Committed partnerships and organisations such as Always Another Way and Together We are working hard to tackle the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis, particularly in relation to the mental health of young people. • 96% of primary, infant and junior schools are rated as Good or Outstanding in their latest Ofsted reports • 92% of secondary schools have either Good or Outstanding ratings. • 6 secondary schools have improved their Ofsted rating since 2019, resulting in 13 out of 16 schools having either Good or Outstanding ratings.2 • Children and young people willing to step up and take positive action within their communities, often supported by VCSE organisations such as Cumbria Youth Alliance. • First Family Hub established in Whitehaven by Cumberland Council. Public, Health and VCSE sectors providing community-based support and guidance to families with children aged 0-19 years old (25 years old with SEND). • Businesses and primary schools working together to equip young people with knowledge, skills and aspirations, through the OneAim and Sellafield Ltd funded Primary Business Partnership. • Transforming West Cumbria programme delivered in partnership to improve the lives of vulnerable families, empower young entrepreneurs, encourage youth social action and increase mental health provision for young people (funded by Sellafield Ltd). • 7,081 children in West Cumbria aged under 19 are living in relative low-income families. • Numbers of children eligible for free school meals have increased. • Health and development of children negatively affected by school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. • West Cumbria has higher than national rates of children who are looked after. • A higher percentage of children aged 10-11 (year 6) and aged 4-5 (reception year) in Allerdale and Copeland are overweight or obese when compared with the England average. • Admissions to hospital for alcohol specific conditions for under 18s are far above the national average. • Significant increase in referrals for children and young people to mental health services. • Autism, speech language and communication identified as growing areas of need. 1 At a national level, a Child Poverty Taskforce is currently developing a Child Poverty Strategy. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-taskforce-launched-tokickstart-work-on-child-poverty-strategy 2 Of the 3 remaining schools, one is identified as requiring improvement. The latest Ofsted reports of 2 schools are currently unavailable. OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES 7,081 children in West Cumbria aged under 19 are living in relative low-income families.
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