Newsletters
AGM
Cumbria Branch Events 2024
Branch Committee Meeting 13th March 2024 9.30am at Penrith Rugby Club
Branch AGM 13th March 2024 10.00am All members are welcome at Penrith Rugby Club
Derwent Water, Keswick Boat Trip Friday 14h June
Transport will be available from Barrow via Kendal and Carlisle via Penrith with an option to travel independently and join the boat at Keswick.
Please email David Drinkald on ddrinkald@outlook.com if interested.
Cumbria Branch Events 2025
Greenhills Lunch Sunday 2nd March 2025
Kendal Lunch 23rd March 2025
Branch Committee Meeting Wednesday 12th March 2025 9.30am at Penrith Rugby Club
Branch AGM Wednesday 12th March 205 10.00am All members are welcome at Penrith Rugby Club
Other Information
Cumbria Welfere Officer Handbook November 2022
left to right Goff Metcalfe, Norman Robinson, Ken Darling and standing George McCrone and Tony Scougal
COVID19
Well done Cumbria Branch
Our members have been involved in assisting with various duties in locations within Cumbria where people have been receiving their Corona Virus vaccine, and within schools where Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) has been taking place.
I think that the majority of volunteers actually enjoyed being able to help within the community and one described it as being live a war time spirit. Some comments from those involved included the following:
“I have never felt so humbled to be able to assist with this. The look of relief on some of the elderly faces after getting the vaccine nearly brought tears to your eyes. Some of the recipients were virtually crawling up the hospital driveway with walking sticks, Zimmer frames and wheelchairs. Some had travelled long distances in atrocious weather conditions and they were all so grateful for any help or assistance”.
Another volunteer commented: “I learned during the day that some patients for the morning appointments understandably concerned about the travelling conditions from as far away as Keswick (almost 35 miles) and as a consequence had their times re-arranged. It was a pleasure to meet and greet the participants and directing them to the car park. On previous occasions arrivals up to an hour before their appointment were asked not to come on the car park but return nearer the time, a sensible action in the circumstances as the car park was constantly full” they then went on to say “On the day I was there we were able to be a bit more relaxed allowing them to keep warm in their cars until they could get in without waiting outside. Many were accompanied thankfully although some had driven themselves one gentleman from Keswick proud of the fact given his 90 plus years. His only concern was driving home in the dark”.
Cumbria Branch secretary received the following from the Director of testing for Cumbria County Council and although some comments were directed to her without the volunteers who put themselves forward in the first instance from throughout the County our involvement could not have happened.
“We are writing to you, with a personal thank you, following your involvment in the recent Lateral Flow Testing Pilot Programme across the secondary schools in Cumbria.
This has been an extremely dynamic and difficult programme to coordinate and its success could not have been achieved without your support in identifying volunteers to resource the pilots in the schools and also volunteering yourself. The value that you and all volunteers have added in supporting the wider public safety strategy against this terrible pandemic has not gone unrecognised. You have played a significat part in this fundamental piece of work that has helped to keep our communities across Cumbria safer and gain an improved understanding of the virus.
Although the pilot prgramme was impacted by the pending government lockdown at the time, it has been hailed a huge success by our Director of Public Health, Colin Cox.
A fantastic 3036 tests were carried out on the first day alone. In total, with a significantly reduced number of schools involved in days two and three, a total of 4377 tests have been completed, returning 20 positive results. All individuals were asymptomatic at the time of testing and this equates to 457 cases per 100k of the population that were not showing any symptoms and could therefore have unknowingly spread the virus to others in school, to their families and wider communities across Cumbria.
Feedback from all school Headteachers and those that took part on the pilot has been extremely positive. The expertise professionalism flexibility and willingness of all involved in this programme has added real value to the safety of our communities and a real sense of support and contribution in the Cumbria wide fight against COVID19.
Once again, thank you for your efforts in supporting Cumbria’s response to this terrible pandemic”.