Showcase Cumbria – Showcasing all that is great about Cumbria

Our Health Family Outing to Essence Wellness

By founder and editor of Showcase Cumbria, Mary Ballard

***Co-owner of Essence Wellness Gemma Hornsby-Lofthouse explaining all about floatation therapy and answering any questions they had prior***

As many of you can relate, buying presents for in-laws and parents can be difficult. You want to gift them something truly beneficial. When I came across Essence Wellness, I knew this was a great opportunity to gift my in-laws and husband the gift of health, so to speak.

Alan, my father-in-law, had a knee operation earlier this year and is now awaiting help on the other knee. With the wintry weather we were experiencing, I knew he would benefit from floatation therapy as well as my mother-in-law and husband. For myself, I opted for red light therapy, which is just 10 minutes. I liked the idea of not feeling achy and getting my body recharged. To my surprise, I found even more benefits as it helped with my asthma. I could breathe a lot better, and it soothed the aches that I got from asthma, that heavy weight asthma sufferers experience—like an elephant sitting on our chest. I came out of the red light therapy with no more pain and aches, and my chest felt pain-free, which was wonderful!

Essence Wellness Offerings

Floatation Therapy: This involves floating in a sensory deprivation tank filled with Epsom salt water, which allows you to float effortlessly. It helps reduce stress, alleviate pain, and improve sleep quality. For Alan, it was a perfect way to do leg exercises (bending/stretching) while feeling weightless, making it easier on his knees.

Red Light Therapy: This therapy uses low-level wavelengths of red light to treat various skin issues, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. For me, it not only recharged my body but also significantly improved my asthma symptoms, allowing me to breathe easier and feel less achy.

*David Lofthouse, co-owner of Essence Wellness showing me how the Red Light Therapy works*
*before my session on it.*

Essence Wellness is also a health hub of other practitioners so you can also book the following there; From sound baths and stress management to reiki and functional fitness classes, we’ve got something for everyone.

Reviews from My In-Laws

Janet – Carlisle: “After a friendly greeting on arrival from Gemma and David, I felt welcomed and relaxed. A clear explanation was given about the benefits of using the floatation tank. I found the whole experience most pleasant and relaxing, and the service given was excellent. We certainly plan to go again. Thank you, Mary, for the treat and the recommendation.”

Alan – Carlisle: “Staff were very welcoming and knowledgeable. I found the floatation very relaxing and soothing, and it was also easy to do leg exercises (bending/stretching) when feeling weightless. I would recommend it to anybody who would like to switch off their busy world for an hour. 👍”

My Husband’s Experience

My husband has suffered for years with increased frequency of one side of his neck swelling up, often lasting two weeks with fever, chills, and a lot of pain. After a session of floatation therapy, he had a little bit of a swelling, but it went away very quickly and not the usual 2 weeks of suffering. It was almost like he sweated it out (he did actually that night) and we are super hopeful that he won’t get it again as that has not happened before and he said it felt different and he feels so much better. He has had many GP visits, even an X-ray these past years and nothing had helped so this is the closest he had gotten to relief and help which is miraculous!

You can book the floatation, red light therapy and more by going on Schedule Appointment with Essence Wellness

They also have a wellness club you can join (you can cancel at anytime)

You can also buy gift vouchers as well on the link above or at Essence Wellness branch 109-111 Senhouse St, Maryport CA15 6BU

For more information on Essence Wellness, head to Wellness Clinic in Cumbria – Essence Cumbria – Nurse-led medical aesthetic clinic in Whitehaven, Cumbria and give their socials a follow; Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557876998948 They are also on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Skin Consultation

Also during my visit, I had a skin consultation with Gemma Hornsby-Lofthouse (who had been a nurse for decades and also had the aesthetics side to Essence for around 6 years). Knowing my skin had experienced lots of sun exposure without sun cream protection, I wanted to improve it with a family wedding on the horizon next year. The session was really insightful, showing various photos of my skin and the damage it had experienced. I am now looking to get treatments and would recommend booking a consultation which you can do on here https://www.glowday.com/clinic/essence-cumbria/gemma-hornsby

For more information on Essence Cumbria – head to Home – Essence Cumbria – Nurse-led medical aesthetic clinic in Whitehaven, Cumbria and for

Business Expert Article Learn Something New Reader Discount

25% Discount Offer with Leader Connect

By Mary Ballard, Founder and Editor of Showcase Cumbria

Dear Readers,

I am thrilled to share an exciting opportunity with you! As many of you know, I have recently embarked on a journey with Leader Connect (a Cumbrian-based company), and I am eager to tell you about the incredible courses they offer. Currently, there is a fantastic 25% discount that you simply cannot miss!

What has truly impressed me about Leader Connect is the quality of their courses. They are designed to be easily integrated into your busy schedule, making it possible to learn between work/running your business and meetings. I have already gained so much knowledge from these courses, and I am confident you will too.

Affordable and High-Quality Learning

Leader Connect offers courses at an affordable price point, which is a refreshing change from what is typically available. Most courses are priced at just £11.99 each and include a recap and certification upon completion. There are also courses available for as little as £3.79, and this is before applying the 25% discount!

Expert-Led Courses

These courses are created by recognised and experienced experts in their fields, including Leader Connect’s founder, Course Director, and Coach, Neil Jurd OBE, who is also the author of “The Leadership Book.”

*Neil Jurd OBE, Leader Connect’s founder, Course Director, and Coach*

If you haven’t had the chance to explore Leader Connect yet, I highly recommend visiting their website here

They offer a wide range of courses with more on the way! https://leader-connect.co.uk/courses/?utm_source=Showcase+Cumbria&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Leader+Connect+Launch&utm_id=02

What You Can Expect

Full Podcast Collection: Dive into insightful discussions with industry leaders.
Exclusive Videos: Enjoy a variety of leadership videos, some of which are available without a subscription.

Special Offer

Use the code INTRO25 to get 25% off any course or the annual subscription for the first year. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your skills or those of your employees with top-notch content. It’s perfect for your Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

If you are interested in being a part of Leader Connect and have a course to offer, I would be happy to introduce you to Neil Jurd OBE. Just let me know! Email me on info@showcasecumbria.co.uk

Happy Learning!

Warm regards,

Mary Ballard
Founder and Editor, Showcase Cumbria

Business Expert Article

Leaders as Culture Architects: Crafting a Thriving Workplace Environment

By Richard Thompson, Co-Founder & Director of Odyssey Consulting Ltd

If you were building a house, you’d probably start by engaging an architect. Ideally a good one. That way, you can ensure the end product is well-built, on solid foundations fit for purpose and will last for years to come.

Workplace culture should be no different. Workplaces also need architects to craft healthy cultures that are well-built, on solid foundations, fit for purpose and will last for years to come. That’s how organisations will get the highest performance, the best retention rates and the least amount of risk.

Architects (of the building variety!) have years of training before they are let lose on the job. Leaders rarely have that luxury and are often thrown into leadership roles without the requisite learning and development to upskill them as culture architects. And that’s a mistake – organisations should be taking leadership development very seriously, investing in bespoke leadership development programmes that are tailored to their specific needs.

By its very nature, workplace culture is complex, nuanced and can be difficult to navigate. Leaders need to have the skills, knowledge and experience to handle tricky issues in order to set the tone and continually drive workplace culture forward. It’s also a never-ending job – culture shifts and changes like sand and leaders need to evolve and move with the times.

Off-the-shelf or one-off training interventions can be helpful but tend to be more educational in nature. To truly develop leaders into culture architects requires a more transformational approach that is delivered consistently over a period of time. Here’s how you can achieve that:

· Be intentional about creating a strategic goal for your leadership development programme – what are you hoping to achieve?;

· Create multiple touchpoints – workshops, 1:1 coaching, group coaching and self led-learning;

· Design content off the back of research – use your employee voice to understand where the skills and behavioural gaps are;

· Allow time for the learning to bed-in – learning touchpoints should be interspersed to allow time for reflection and practice;

· Create community learning spaces – cohorts should be encouraged to continue the conversation;

· Have an eye on return on investment – how will impact be measured to understand what comes next.

As we move towards 2025, it is a good time for employers to reflect on the culture they currently have, the culture they aspire to create and to think about how they can nurture and develop their leaders to become true culture architects.

If you would like to discuss how Odyssey Consulting Ltd can help your leaders to become culture architects, please contact Richard Thompson via email richard@odyssey-consulting.co.uk or head to odyssey-consulting.co.uk to find out more.

Events Learn Something New Opportunities Things to do

The incredibly popular UlverSTEM event takes place on 16th November 2024

Chance to meet Professor Pumpernickel at UlverSTEM

The ever-popular UlverSTEM returns for its 6th year, as always, the day promises to be full of hands on fun activities to engage young people in STEM. Even bigger and even better than previous years, the event will once again take place at Ulverston Victoria High School, Springfield Road, Ulverston on Saturday 16th November, bring the family and drop in anytime between 9.30am – 4pm.

Aimed at 6-16 year olds, UlverSTEM is a free STEM educational event, an opportunity for young people and their families to discover and be excited about the prospect and opportunities that STEM subjects can offer in terms of education and a career. The day will feature a whole host of interactive and fun activities, if you would like to meet a robot, take part in fun chemistry experiments, or just learn more about how much fun science, technology, engineering and maths can be, then come along!

UlverSTEM is a great opportunity to meet local employers and find out more about what they do, this includes Siemens Energy, Oxley, Bender UK, Kimberly-Clark, NHS, BAE Systems, GSK, Orsted, the NHS, the Police and many more. There are shows and presentations throughout the day, with guests including the famous Professor Pumpernickel, Science Viking and Science Made Simple.

Career opportunities and skills development will also be key themes of the event, UlverSTEM is proud to partner with Furness Education & Skills Partnership. Alongside FESP, the event will be supported by Cumbria Careers Hub and local colleges and universities.

Free parking is available for visitors to UlverSTEM, the UVHS car park on Springfield Road, Ulverston LA12 0EB will be open, food and drink will also be available to purchase in the UVHS canteen.

Follow UlverSTEM social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out more and you can find out more on https://fesp.org.uk/ulverstem/

Essential Skills Opportunity Learn Something New Things to do Workshops

Get your home Christmas Ready!

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Join Sassy Property Styling Ltd Exclusive 6-week “Get Your Home Christmas Ready” program, and let them show you how to transform your space with ease, style, and joy.

Registration open NOW! First 10 to book pay just £399 🎁

Head to https://sassy-styling.passion.io

Charitable Causes Community

Cumbrian Primary School Judged ‘Outstanding’ By Local Charity

**Cheque presentation of monies raised by Bowness-on-Solway Primary School to Mark from Cumbria Cerebral Palsy.**

As well as being recognised by the Minister for Schools as being in the top 1% of schools in the whole country a small Cumbrian Primary School has just been judged as ‘outstanding’ for it’s fundraising by a local charity.

Bowness-on-Solway Primary School, with just 44 registered pupils, is located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at the very western end of Hadrian’s Wall with uninterrupted views of the northern Lake District fells. For a small school with such small class sizes, they are very fortunate to have extensive grounds with their own forest area and immediate access to the beautiful Solway Firth coastline including the beach.

” I am immensely proud to be the headteacher of Bowness-on-Solway Primary” said Headteacher Mr. Stuart Walsh, BSc (Hons), PGCE, NPQH “Our aim is to develop responsible, well-rounded citizens who make a positive contribution to their community. Our school council decided to nominate Cumbria Cerebral Palsy as our Charity of Choice for the 2023-2024 school year. With the help and support of our team of staff, the governors, parents, carers and pupils, we were able to run a range of exciting fundraising activities. We were pleased to welcome Mark from Cumbria Cerebral Palsy to receive a cheque for £827 from our fundraising efforts.”

Cumbria Cerebral Palsy’s General Manager Emily Breaks was astonished at the amount of money raised by just 44 pupils. She said “It is truly ‘outstanding’ that a small primary school with just 44 pupils has raised so much money to help our small charity. It also shows that when a group of people work together over a year the difference in the size of the amount raised is significantly higher than a one-off event.”

If you have a pupil at your school with cerebral palsy then Cumbria Cerebral Palsy would like to hear from you and would be pleased to offer you any help, guidance or support or even assist in helping buy your school a specialist piece of equipment.

For further details please contact Emily on 07849 294750 or email her at emily.breaks@cumbriacerebralpalsy.net

Awards / Award Nominations Community

Life membership for Lakeland RC founders

**Lakeland RC founders Ian Hill (centre) and John Knox, with Ian’s son Alex standing between them, and Ian’s wife, Leonie, seated front right (Picture Credit Nicola Jackson**)

Keswick-based Lakeland Rowing Club has recognised the contribution of two of its founders by awarding them honorary life membership.

Ian Hill and John Knox, who have been friends and keen rowers for sixty years, set up Lakeland in 2007 with two other local oarsmen to further the sport they love.

At the time, there were no rowing clubs between Brampton and Lancaster, an area of several hundred square miles including some of the most beautiful stretches of water in the Lake District.

By 2016, there were enough members to split into two independent clubs: Lakeland RC on Derwentwater and, for those in the south of the county, Windermere RC.

Lakeland chair Julia McCumiskey, who presented their life membership certificates at Saturday’s ceremony, said: “Lakeland RC would not be the thriving club it is today without the foresight and dedication of Ian and John. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”

Ian and John, who is the club’s life president, rowed for the University of Cambridge’s Clare College in the 1960s and went on to race together at Henley Royal Regatta for many years.

Although the pair no longer compete, they have remained members of Lakeland RC, generously contributing their time and resources to support its growth.

They have also introduced family members to the sport, with Ian’s son Alex, daughter-in-law Hannah and grandson Sam all playing an active part in the club.

Lakeland now has around 100 members, who attend evening and weekend sessions or form crews for impromptu weekday outings. It also runs low-cost adult and junior learn-to-row courses from April to September every year, with bursaries available to help with fees.

Beginners, or returning rowers, who would like to know more about opportunities at Lakeland RC can visit www.lakelandrowingclub.com or find the club on Facebook – just search for the Lakeland Rowing Club page.

Community Things to do

November Events 2024

November Events In Cumbria 2024

Community Events Things to do Wellness

Essence Hosts Open Afternoon to Celebrate Maryport Christmas Light Switch-On

Essence is delighted to announce an Open Afternoon on 16^th of November, from 12 noon to 4 pm, coinciding with the Maryport Christmas light switch-on. This festive event offers the perfect opportunity to explore the wide range of wellness and aesthetic treatments available at Essence. There will be mince pies and prosecco to those who pop in as well as a chance to receive a free skin analysis from Gemma Hornsby-Lofthouse, the founder of Essence. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a taste of the aesthetic treatments offered at the wellness centre.

In addition to the free skin analysis, several practitioners will be offering discounted taster sessions:

Jen Wilson, Jen Wilson Wellness: Specializes in stress management and overall well-being workshops.
Emma Dollochin, Revive Active: Offers functional fitness classes and will introduce sports massage services starting January.
Kerri Hunter, Wild Daisy Holistics: Expert in massage and reflexology.
Charlie Stevens, Soulway Therapy: Provides sports massage and energy healing.
Mandy Huddart, Firefly Holistics: Offers reiki, reflexology, and Indian head and facial massages.
Rachel Stevens, Rachel Stevens Holistic Therapy: Practitioner of Angelic Reiki and Usui Reiki.
Nikki Wingfield, Solway Shiatsu & Qigong: Specialist in shiatsu and qigong practices.

*Owner Gemma Hornsby-Lofthouse founder of Essence Wellness centre alongside some of the many practitioners now at their growing health hub*

Guests will also have the opportunity to tour the floatation room and red light therapy room, experiencing the unique facilities that Essence Wellness has to offer.

No need to book in advance – simply turn up at Essence, located at 109-111 Senhouse St, Maryport CA15 6BU. Be sure to follow Essence Wellness and Essence Cumbria on social media for the latest updates and visit their website for more information

Join them for an afternoon of relaxation, rejuvenation, and festive cheer!

Events Expert Article Wellness

The Wonder of Walking

by Lee Irving, Holistic Lifestyle Coach and director at Wellbeing by See Events

When did you last take a walk for no other reason than for the good of your wellbeing?

What I mean is not just a task orientated walk to get something done, like walking the dog or because you didn’t have the car, or you needed to get the numbers up on your pedometer, but just because you enjoy it and it makes you feel good. Hopefully this article will help you appreciate the latter as opposed to the former. You see, as human beings we are designed to walk, and walking has many health benefits, many more than simply exercise.

Let’s look at walking compared to running as an example. You might think ‘running is going to get you to where you want to be faster’, or ‘running is better for you’. The first may be true and the second might be in some cases, but not always.

Let’s consider it from the point of view of stress. Stress effects an awful lot of people these days and I am always looking at ways that I can help people reduce stress in their lives. I know that whenever I run, especially if I sprint, I am activating the sympathetic arm of my autonomic nervous system; often referred to as the ‘fight or flight response’. This is because the primitive part of my brain that is responsible for turning on a stress response like this is connected to my body and reacts to any sudden exertion as a physical response to a threat and sets off the danger alarm. It sounds very much like an overreaction and in most cases it is, but, as I said, this is a very primitive system designed to keep us alive hundreds of thousands of years ago when there really were frequent life or death situations and it is still very much in charge today.

When I walk that part of my brain is getting the message that all is well, there are no imminent threats and life is good. When this happens my autonomic nervous system is in the parasympathetic branch or ‘rest and digest’, instead of tension I feel calm, I am more able to think clearly, my heartrate and blood pressure drop, I am more able to think creatively and be more nurturing towards myself and others, my awareness is opened up to notice and take in more information, I am responsive rather than reactive. Needless to say, when stressed I can expect the opposite of these positive states of being.

Many things in modern life can throw us into a stress state; work load, poor relationships, meetings, presentations, being late, the list goes on. So, whatever the cause of your stress, a walk in nature is a remarkable cure not just because of the slow pace but also because the sounds in nature resonate with our own energy signature at a cellular level. Trees and shrubs release airborne chemicals called phytoncides as a way of communicating to each other which are also proven to reduce stress levels in humans and increase white blood cell counts. Noticing the sights, sounds, smells and textures of nature brings our attention into the present moment which reduces mental stress like anxiety because when we are in the moment we cannot think about our problems, this is mindfulness. So why not get yourself into nature for a quick walk the next time you are feeling a little stressed.

Some tips for a nature walk –

· Go slowly – The mind and body are connected so when the mind starts racing the body will too. Check on your pace and slow it down if necessary.

· Use your senses to promote mindfulness – What can you see, hear, smell, feel or even taste.

· Hug a tree (or at least place the palms of your hands on one) – The tree will ground you. A bit like an electrical appliance needs earthing so do we as we are electrochemical machines.

· Talk to passers-by – We are social beings and working from home can have a negative effect on our social skills and needs.

· Make a quick nature walk a reward for completing tasks – Breaking up daily tasks can make them seem less overwhelming as they appear as a whole.

Find out more on Wellbeing by See Event, head to https://www.see-events.co.uk/

SHOWCASING ALL THAT IS GREAT ABOUT CUMBRIA