Family festival date announced

Bouncy castle

AN ACTION-PACKED family festival will be held in Whitehaven to promote health and wellbeing.

Cumberland Council has announced this year’s date for its Health and Wellbeing Festival which draws hundreds of visitors each year.

All are welcome to attend the festival on Friday 4 August, from 10am until 3pm, at the Recreation Ground, Coach Road.

The event will provide free family entertainment alongside access to vital wellbeing services.

Pet therapy, bouncy castles, trampolines, face painting, exercise sessions, a climbing wall, tale trails, and a colour run, are just a few of the activities on offer.

The crowds will also be wowed by performances from a dance academy, acrobats, a magician, and a DJ.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will be joining a wide array of health and wellbeing support providers to showcase their service and provide advice and guidance to residents.

Organisations can help with loneliness, housing, financial hardship, benefits, welfare and more.

Martin Harris, Executive Portfolio Holder for Adults and Community Health, said: “This event keeps growing year on year, with around 750 people attending in 2022.

“We’re striving to create healthy communities and our festival gives us the opportunity to reach residents in a fun, friendly, environment.

“The summer holidays can be an expensive time to keep the kids busy and at this event everyone can come along and be entertained for free.

“There’s so much on offer, it really does provide fun for all the family.”

The event is sponsored by the Box Encapsulation Plant (BEP), Sellafield, project. Other funders and partners include Rosehill Theatre, Copeland Community Fund, Well Whitehaven and Copeland Wellness Service.

Catherine Melvin, Project Wellbeing Advisor at BEP, said: “The health and wellbeing of our people is at the heart of our wellbeing strategy.

“Our people are our greatest asset, and we recognise that a healthy, happy, and committed workforce is vital to our project success.

“Having the opportunity to work in partnership with the council for a second year helps us harness our combined strengths and bring robust support to our workforce and the wider community.

“We look forward to the festival's continued success.”