On Thursday 26 March 2026, Cumberland Council will proudly celebrate Social Prescribing Day 2026 with community events at:
- Maryport Library, Lawson Street, Maryport CA15 6ND
- Millom Library, Salthouse Road, Millom LA18 5AB 🕚** 11:00am – 2:00pm** Residents are invited to drop in and take part in a vibrant programme of wellbeing-focused activities designed to highlight the power of social prescribing and the strength of community connections across the county.
What to Expect
Visitors can enjoy:
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✔️ Free mini health checks (Health MOTs)
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✔️ Wellbeing activities
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✔️ Access to wellbeing support and advice
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✔️ Information from 30 local not-for-profit organisations
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☕ Free tea, coffee and cake (while stocks last) With 30 voluntary and community sector organisations attending across both venues, the events promise a welcoming and accessible space for residents to discover local groups, services and opportunities that support physical, mental and social wellbeing.
For full event details, visit cumberland.gov.uk.
Building on a Successful 2025 Celebration
This year’s celebration builds on the success of 2025, when the Cumberland Council Social Prescribing Team marked Social Prescribing Day with events at Whitehaven and Workington Libraries.
2025 Event Highlights
Attendance & Impact
- 201 residents attended
- 40 free mini health MOTs completed
- 30 support groups and services participated
- 26 direct referrals made on the day
- 9 different activities available
Event Aims
- Raise awareness of social prescribing
- Highlight the role of Library Community Hubs
- Promote local groups and services
- Support networking and partnership building
- Encourage community engagement and signposting
Feedback from Organisations
The feedback from participating groups was overwhelmingly positive:
“Variety of stalls” “Chance to meet with other organisations” “Increasing the visibility of our service” “The opportunity to connect”
100% of organisations said they would participate again.
Participants valued:
- Future referral pathways
- New partnership working
- Collaboration on projects
- Shared ideas and innovation
- Greater awareness of local services One attendee summed it up perfectly:
“I thought that holding the event in the library was a really great idea — the smaller scale events can often be more accessible for many people.”
Residents also shared what they enjoyed most:
“Talking to people” “Finding out information” “Looking at different support” “Company & seeing local activities” “Everything”
Part of a Global Movement
Social Prescribing Day is supported globally by the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA). Since its launch in 2019, it has grown into an international celebration recognising the impact of social prescribing in improving health and wellbeing.
Social Prescribing Day 2026 is a chance for:
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Organisations to share ideas
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Communities to **showcase innovation **
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Professionals to highlight evidence and impact
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Partners to celebrate link workers and volunteers
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Citizens to recognise that community is medicine The message for 2026 is clear: Together, we can build healthier, more connected societies.
Register your event or activity here****.
GSPA Social Prescribing Day Toolkit.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Planning is already underway for an even bigger celebration next year, as Social Prescribing Day 2027 will take place on Saturday 27 March 2027, creating even greater opportunities for weekend community engagement.
Gareth Presch, CEO of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance, said:
“Next year with the Global Social Prescribing Alliance we plan to make 2027 an even bigger day as it falls on a Saturday. We will work with local agencies to highlight the benefits of social prescribing across the county and demonstrate how community-led support transforms lives.”
SAVE THE DATE FOR 2027 - start to plan and register your global event here! hs
Join the Celebration
Cumberland Council’s 2026 events reflect the growing recognition that health is about more than medicine, it is about connection, purpose and community.
Whether you’re looking for support, hoping to discover local activities, or simply want to enjoy a welcoming space with a cup of tea and conversation, everyone is invited.
📅** Thursday 26 March 2026 �� 11:00am – 2:00**pm 📍 Maryport Library & Millom Library
Find out more at cumberland.gov.uk
Let’s make Social Prescribing Day 2026 a celebration of community, connection and wellbeing across Cumberland.