Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

The summer holidays are a brilliant opportunity for kids to unwind, explore and grow in ways they often don’t get to during the busy school term. But they can also bring their own set of challenges for busy working parents and carers. If you’re wondering how to strike the balance between fun and structure or how to stop the phrase "I’m bored!" becoming a daily soundtrack – you’re not alone. The juggle can feel impossible and the added pressure of work commitments for you and your family can leave you feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Here are 10 practical, parent-approved tips from our Change Talks team to help you navigate the summer break and keep your child active, happy, and healthy, no matter what your plans look like. 1. Create a loose routine 2. Encourage outdoor adventures 3. Prioritise physical activity 4. Make time for friends 5. Limit screen time (without the battle) 6. Get creative indoors 7. Take mini breaks together 8. Help them keep learning (without feeling like school) 9. Pick your battles 10. Look after yourself too With a little planning and a lot of flexibility, this summer can be one to remember for all the right reasons. Not because everything went smoothly but because you shared laughs, made memories and got through it together. Trust that you’re doing your best and for your children, that’s more than enough! To read more and view all our tips please click the link in the comments for the full story.

This South Asian Heritage Month meet Nurse Reshma Nallumalayil who is celebrating her heritage by sharing her story and telling us about a special upcoming festival from the southern Indian state of Kerala, from where she hails. Reshma explains: “Since joining the Trust on on 23 May 2023, I've found it to be really inclusive so as it’s South Asian Heritage Month, as part of celebrations, I’ll tell you a little about India and where I grew up. It’s made up of 29 states, each with their own culture and language. “The universal Indian language is Hindi, but each state has its own ‘mother tongue.’ I grew up in Kerala in Southern India and its language is called Malayalam. At school from 6, I learnt Hindi and English. “Onam is Kerala’s grandest and most beloved festival, a vibrant harvest celebration that blends mythology, culture, and community spirit. It lasts a week and includes a spectrum of cultural events; this year it starts on 26 August. “Onam honours the annual homecoming of King Mahabali, a legendary ruler known for his generosity and justice. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar sent Mahabali to the netherworld but granted him permission to visit his people once a year, so Onam marks this joyful reunion, symbolizing humility, devotion, and prosperity.” “In Kerala we wear the traditional set saree, which is golden coloured, girls start wearing them for festivals as teenagers. So, during Onam I’d wear the set saree and a jasmine flower in my hair. “Celebrations during Onam include Pulikali, a special folk art tiger themed dance, otherwise known as tiger play, which tells a story centred around the festival. We also cook a special meal during Onam and eat with wider family with around 10 to twenty curries all served in a banana leaf.” “The Pulikali artists paint themselves with vibrant colours to resemble tigers and leopards and dance to the rhythm of traditional instruments like Chenda and Chengila, types of drums and they mimic the movements and roars of tigers. It really exciting and it takes place on the fourth day, so this year on 30 August, which is known as Naalaam Onam. “Around 200 Years ago, the King of Cochin initiated the dance and tradition to display the bravery and spirit of his soldiers and it’s a really exciting spectacle to watch as part of harvest celebrations in Kerala. We also make rangoli floral designs known as Pookalam during Onam. Poo means flower and kalam means artwork. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit about Onam and some of the culture from my home state of Kerala.” Read more about Reshma's story of life in India on our website: https://shorturl.at/A4vHm.

We were delighted to welcome representatives from NHS Charities Together 💙 to The Chai Centre in Burnley yesterday, where they captured the impact of their greener communities funding for an upcoming project. Thanks to their generous support, we've been able to transform our outdoor space and deliver nature and wellbeing sessions in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust. These sessions are helping local residents connect with nature, improve their wellbeing, and feel more supported in their community. During the visit, colleague Hasan Sidat, shared how The Chai Centre plays a vital role in the community. We also spoke with Rebecca and Katie from Lancashire Wildlife Trust, who led a women’s group session and highlighted the importance of accessible green spaces and nature-based activities. A huge thank you to NHS Charities Together and Lancashire Wildlife Trust for helping us make a real difference in Burnley 💚 #GreenerCommunities #NHSCharitiesTogether #LancashireWildlifeTrust #Burnley #TheChaiCentre

Celebrating a year of our healthy lungs project! 🫁 We recently held a special celebration event at Blackburn Central Library to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Burdett Project for nursing healthy lungs over the past year. This project aims to tackle inequalities in respiratory health, for people with learning disabilities from minoritised ethnic communities, across Lancashire. Here is a breakdown of what our Learning Disability Team have achieved so far: - 26 workshops delivered - Over 380 attendees - Reached special schools, community hubs, day services, and provider services - Shared messages through community radio, mosques, health events, and conferences The team were joined by the Director of Nursing of our Specialist Network, Jacquie Shenton, and Associate Chief Nurse for Patient Experience, Engagement and Safeguarding, Paul Jebb, along with colleagues from primary care networks, self-advocacy groups, and even our neighbours from Bradford’s keeping my chest healthy project. Our Learning Disability Service would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s been a part of this journey. The team is excited for what’s next and keep an eye out for updates on the HSJ Awards 2025 and future publications!

Yesterday, over 80 colleagues gathered for a special day at our Professional Development Conference - an event that not only focused on leadership and growth but also proudly celebrated South Asian Heritage Month. The day was filled with inspiration, connection, and powerful storytelling. We were honoured to welcome a fantastic line-up of internal and external speakers who shared their experiences and passion for leadership, inclusion, and development. External speakers included: • Sheeba Philip, Nurse Consultant, East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals • Ingvar Ingvarsson, Lecturer, University of Cumbria • Shivraj Kumar Dandagi, Practice Development Facilitator, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Internal speakers included: • Karmini McCann, Deputy Chief People Officer and Director of Organisational Development and Inclusion • Rebekah Roshan, Deputy Chief Nurse and Quality Officer • Professor Paul Jebb, Associate Chief Nurse for Patient Experience, Engagement and Safeguarding We also heard moving personal stories from colleagues who shared their leadership journeys but one lasting message was echoed throughout the day: “Leadership at LSCft isn’t just a role for a few – it’s a pathway open to all of us.” The day ended on a high with live performances from three of our talented nursing colleagues, followed by a vibrant dance performance in honour of South Asian Heritage Month - a joyful and meaningful close to a memorable day. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and helped make the day so impactful. #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #SouthAsianHeritageMonth #NHS #Inclusion #LSCft

Our Deputy Chief Nurse, Rebekah Roshan is launching our South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations at the Trust by sharing her beautiful and powerful story. Rebekah says: “I have chosen to share my story in the hope of helping others to see that it absolutely is possible to overcome challenges and to not only step into, but to succeed in spaces you didn’t think you could or should step into. This year’s theme of the month, #RootsToRoutes, resonates with Rebekah on a personal level, having smashed through her own glass ceilings, she grew up in Manchester with her parents, her dad from Pakistan and her mum of White British origin. Rebekah’s personal story of pride and celebrating her heritage is authentic and inspiring and everyone can learn from it. Read her honest and open account on our website. https://shorturl.at/OXvUq

Today sees the start of South Asian Heritage Month which this year has the theme #RootsToRoutes. It’s about stories, identity and belonging and creating a space for people to share who they are, so all month our South Asian colleagues will be sharing their stories and we can all learn from them. One in every 14 people in the UK has South Asian heritage so South Asian Heritage Month means so much to so many people. At the heart of it all is the ability to celebrate what it means to be South Asian, commemorate history, and educate people along the way. It is a month for everyone, regardless of your own heritage or identity. South Asia isn’t one story. It’s a mix of cultures, languages, faiths, and traditions, to celebrate the heritage of people with roots in the South Asian countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Learn from stories from nurses, doctors, a therapist and a senior leader who will launch our Trust celebrations on Monday. Join us as we celebrate this month, watch this space and celebrate with us!

Our award-winning health education initiative, Change Talks, is making a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of young people, school staff, and families. The Change Talks programme has provided over 450 hours of targeted workshops in schools over the past academic year, with transformative results. Albany Academy in Chorley have worked closely with the team to address emerging mental health concerns. The school’s safeguarding officer explains: "We’ve been working with the Change Talks team and have a strong and collaborative relationship. They have delivered bespoke groupwork on self-harm, body image, eating disorders, risk taking behaviours and unkind behaviours, tailored exactly to the needs of our students. Their flexible, evidence-based approach has had a real impact for our students." To read more about this groundbreaking work and their new PSHE platform click the link in the comments.https://https://lnkd.in/e4DzQgX3

Exciting opportunity for a consultant psychiatrist in Barrow in Furness! 💙 Are you a consultant psychiatrist with a passion for improving the lives of older adults and developing your career? We’re on the hunt for someone who is passionate, conscientious and enthusiastic to learn and grow. In return we can offer support, flexibility, a hardworking multi-disciplinary team to work with, picturesque surroundings and a recruitment and retention premia of £40K (subject to eligibility). We’re passionate about the development of all of our doctors. In the video below, our chief executive and chief medical officer and deputy chief executive, share what life is like for medics at the Trust, opportunities for development in the areas you're passionate about and the impact you can have as a leader. Apply by clicking the link in the comments below.

Twelve months ago, LSCft made history by setting up the first secure parkrun event at a mental health facility in the UK.🏃 Based at Guild Lodge, the course was created with the aim of promoting physical and mental wellness and reducing stigma. Almost 100 colleagues and patients have taken part so far, achieving 49 PBs and clocking up an impressive 1,420,000 metres (the distance between London and Rome!) But physical improvements aside, the real differences our colleagues have noted have been in the overall presentation of our patients, with parkrun improving their moods and challenging negative thoughts. In December 2023, Mike Holt, Event Director and Associate Director of Social Work attended Professor Brett Smith’s ‘Moving Social Work’ presentation, which focuses on increasing activity and the benefits this generates for mind and body, creating resources and strategies for social workers to deploy as part of practice. Mike spoke to fellow delegates about how running outdoors had positively benefited him when he’d put on some weight during the lockdowns and how he’d transformed our staff football team, the Whittingham Warriors, into a running group when the league was stood down. Mike said: “One of the delegates I was talking to was Katy Cleece, the Social Work Research Lead in the Trust, and parkrun ambassador for several events in the region and our coalition that day was the start of the parkrun journey.” At Saturday’s anniversary event, Mike surprised one of our regular parkrun participants by presenting her with the first 25 event milestone merchandise. V (not her real name), has been running parkrun religiously and has progressed from beginner to being the fastest female on the course and completing her first marathon, something she describes as a “bucket list moment”. V said: “People talk about the runner’s high but it’s more than that. Running has boosted my self-esteem, made me healthier, given me a sense of achievement and allowed me to make friends with people I wouldn’t have ordinarily met. At parkrun I still get asked what department I work in – people automatically think I’m staff and one of the best things about parkrun is that there’s no judgment or titles. I’ve even been invited out for breakfast with some of the staff members after the run.” Evaluations show: 100% of those attending report enjoying the event, half have experienced improved mental health, half experienced increased motivation and nine in 10 have reported improved social and relationship benefits. Mike concluded: “A special shout out needs to go to our staff volunteers who continue to support the event, as without them it would not be possible. This includes regulars Phil Horner, Jen Turner, and Karmini McCann.” Social Worker and parkrun Ambassador Katy Cleece is exploring the role parkrun can play for people who have had contact with adult or children’s social care. She’s documented her thoughts in a parkrun blog, link in the comments.