Chaplain Yvonne

11/05/2026

Walking Rugby - More That an Exercise Session

It is:
🏉Having a laugh
🏉Getting out of the house
🏉Meeting new people
🏉Building Confidence
🏉Rediscovering your competitive side

Our walking rugby sessions are completely inclusive, beginner friendly for all ages, genders and abilities (18+)

If you having been thinking about trying something new then this could be your sign to come and give it a go"

📍United Reformed Church, Whitehaven
⏰ From 14.00 to 15.00
📅Every Tuesday afternoon

If you want to find out more, please get in touch on 01228 819101 (option 5) or email us on icanhopehaven@icanwellbeing.co.uk.

10/05/2026

Wednesday 13th May – iCan Wellbeing

Did you know that gentle exercise can support both the body and the mind.

For people living with dementia, staying active can:
• Boost your mood
• Improve your balance and reduce your risk of falls
• Support with your memory and focus
• Encourage social interactions

Our fabulous partner at ICan Wellbeing group CIO will be offering some light exercise classes.

📍Hope Haven, Whitehaven
⏰ 10.00 to 12.30 hours
📅 Wednesday the 13th May

Why not join one of our FREE exercise sessions. iCan will also have information about keeping fit and healthy and the benefits of exercise for dementia.

If you want to join one of our exercise sessions, please pop in to see us or give us a call on 01228 819101 (option 5)

10/05/2026

Are you interested in Art4Wellbeing?

Join our free art sessions that run twice a month with Amanda, one of our Wellbeing Facilitators who is also an artist.

We have spaces are available on our sessions on Friday 15th and 22nd May

Time: 10.30-12

The sessions focus on the relaxed and enjoyable process of creating and not on becoming good at art.

We create a relaxed meditative space and have fun thinking about shapes and colour. It’s a mindful process which can help us notice our environment and in the process lower stress and anxiety.

Each session has a theme and guidance so If you have never tried painting but would like to or haven’t done it for a while all are welcome.

To book your space, contact us on admin@icanwellbeing.co.uk or call us on 01228 819101

10/05/2026

Thanking God for 'bad luck' this morning 🙏

If you have watched the episode of the kids cartoon Bluey where the teacher reads a story about bad luck then you will perhaps appreciate why my TV breaking this morning and instead resorting to sitting outside in the garden with my breakfast is actually a blessing 🙏

According to the BBC this story is 'an old tale that originated in the Huainanzi, an ancient Chinese text dating back to 139 BC, and it reminds people that we have no control or no real way of knowing whether events that happen to us are "good" or "bad", in the grand scheme of things.'

In my photo you will see a large mug that says 'cup of positivi-tea'. A friend bought me this because she admired my positive outlook. When I look back at 'bad luck' over my lifetime, I have been able to grow through the experience and improve both my professional and personal development. When I look back on job interviews I wasn't successful at, I can honestly look back and go 'phew...thank goodness I didn't get that job'.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone. Even when something looks like bad luck....give it some time....it may turn out well in the end and a lot of that comes down to one's approach to the situation...while you wait have a cup of positivi-tea 🙂

08/05/2026

Dementia Action Week (18-24 May)

Dementia Action week is approaching really fast.

Our partners at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust are hosting a series of events across West Cumbria. The events are to raise awareness and to help raise money for the Memory and Later Life Fund.

Donations to the CNTW team's fundraiser will provide the team with additional resources for wellbeing sessions and meaningful activities for people receiving care from the Memory and Later Life team.

If you'd like to make a donation you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/memorylaterlifecumbria

Hope Haven will also running some Dementia Awareness events, with some of our partners and community services from the 12th to the 28th May. Keep a look out for more information over the coming days.

📅Dates for the Diary
📍12th - Age UK
📍13th - iCan health and wellbeing
📍14th - Admiral Nurse and carer session
📍21st - Dementia Awareness Training
📍22nd - Dementia Bus
📍28th - Reminiscence session with the Beacon, Whitehaven.

08/05/2026

Only 10 days to go until the next in our series of FREE sessions intended to help you as you support others in your family, neighbourhood and other groups and communities that you are part of.

💙 1 in 3 adults have experienced trauma
💙 1 in 5 have chronic mental health conditions

So if you meet and support other people in your daily life, you will be working with people with these life experiences - and many of your fellow volunteers will be in the same boat.

Please join us next Saturday morning to learn a little more about how to relate, communicate and support the people around you better from a local expert from STEP FORWARD – a great local programme to help people with chronic mental health issues into volunteering and work.

Book online here:
https://www.ticketsource.com/grasmoor-mission-community/supporting-mental-health-and-trauma-in-everyday-situations/e-embbez

or email Sue on
gmcoffice@grasmoormc.church

Cockermouth Town
Cumbria CVS
Step Forward into Volunteering and Employment

07/05/2026

Mental Health Chaplaincy: looking after spiritual, religious, faith and cultural aspects of identify that impact mental health.

A spiritual assessment can be a useful way to understand the relevance and importance of spirituality on mental and physical health.

What is a Chaplain? And what does a Spiritual/religious assessment mean?

Imagine I am holding a large golf umbrella with lots of coloured segments and each of those colours represents a religion, faith, spirituality and culture. Although chaplains have their own personal faith, we are there to support everyone. I had four referrals for a client from different areas of the Community Mental Health Team. This was encouraging to see that they all thought that including faith/spirituality would benefit the Patient's Care Plan.

A spiritual assessment can be done by anyone and does not need a Chaplain. However, a Chaplain does have a wealth of experience of navigating different cultures and religions and they are aware and reflective of not projecting a personal bias.

A commonly used framework for assessing spiritual/religious need is HOPE:

Hope: "What are your sources of hope and comfort?"
Organized religion: "Are you part of an organized religion, and are there any practices that are important to you?"
Personal practices: "Do you have personal spiritual practices, such as prayer, meditation, or reading sacred texts?"
Effects on care: "How have your beliefs influenced your health or your decisions about your care?"

Another is F**A:
F - Faith or Belief
This section assesses a patient's spiritual or religious beliefs and whether they find meaning in their life through them.
I - Importance or Influence
This area explores how important spirituality is in the patient's life and how it might influence their health care decisions.
C - Community
This part identifies if the patient has a spiritual community that provides support.
A - Address in Care
This final step helps the clinician and patient develop an action plan. It focuses on how the patient's spiritual beliefs should be incorporated into their overall care plan.

Is there anything you think should be in this assessment or questions that as a patient, you would like to be asked?

07/05/2026

Attended Cumbria Modern Slavery Champions Network Training Event today.

1 in 160 people worldwide in modern day slavery

2 in 1000 people in UK have been in slavery. 30% were children under the age of 18.

There was a lot of information to take on board and I will follow up with another post soon but for now I would like to thank:

👏 Jo Phillips - Modern Slavery Project Lead for Churches Together in Cumbria.

👏 Lois Bosatta - The Clewer Initiative (https://clewer.org.uk/)

👏 Cherry Harris - Streetlightuk working in Cumbria.

To learn more about Modern Slavery in the UK I recommend Unseen UK (https://www.unseenuk.org/) and 08000 121700 Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline.