This Connect & Learn session on 1 July 2026 saw colleagues from across the North East and North Cumbria come together to explore ‘Leading system-level change – what next for our community?’. Our Connect & Learns are a series of online learning events, planned with the purpose of sharing and spreading improvement work across the North East and North Cumbria health and care system. A new report from the Northern Triangle explores the real-world challenge of leading change across health and care systems – where solutions lie beyond the control of any single organisation. Rather than offering a simple framework, the research provides a powerful reflection of the lived experience […]

On 18 June, colleagues and partners from across North East and North Cumbria came together at St James’ Park for the Neighbourhood Health Learning Conference – a day focused on learning, collaboration and practical action to improve health and wellbeing closer to home. Coordinated by Boost, the event brought together partners from across health and care, local government, the voluntary and community sector, and local communities to strengthen connections and build a shared ambition for neighbourhood health. “There’s a diverse range of partners here today… talking about how we can make a real difference for our population.”   Exploring what enables neighbourhood health The day focused on key enablers including […]

A new report from the Northern Triangle explores the real-world challenge of leading change across health and care systems – where solutions lie beyond the control of any single organisation. Rather than offering a simple framework, the research provides a powerful reflection of the lived experience of system leadership, highlighting the importance of relationships, shared learning, and collective leadership in driving meaningful change. Boost is proud to feature in this work as a relational learning system – focused on building the “social glue” that enables improvement across partners and communities. To bring these insights to life, we’re hosting a Connect & Learn session on Wednesday 1 July, 1.00–2.30pm. This interactive […]

Autism Central is a national peer education programme designed to support families and wider networks of autistic people of all ages across England. Delivered by the Anna Freud Centre and commissioned by the NHS, the programme offers free, accessible support to help people better understand autism and navigate services with greater confidence.   Supporting the whole network Autism Central recognises that support around an autistic person extends beyond immediate family. The programme is open to anyone in that wider network, including parents, carers, siblings, partners, children, friends, colleagues and neighbours. The support is co-produced and co-delivered with autistic people and their families, ensuring that learning is grounded in real lived […]

Understanding the views of our communities is vital to how we improve services and reduce health inequalities. The new Community Engagement Library helps make what we hear easier to find. Created by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board in partnership with local councils, NHS trusts, the voluntary and social enterprise sector, and Healthwatch, the library will help make insight easier to access, share and use across health and care. As a central hub, it brings together engagement reports in one searchable space, helping ensure valuable learning and feedback doesn’t get lost over time. Designed for people who listen to the views of communities and people who need […]

A powerful new resource has been developed to support people with learning disabilities across North Cumbria to have more open, informed conversations about death, dying and bereavement. Created through strong partnership working, the Death, Dying and Bereavement Resource Pack brings together easy‑read materials and practical activities designed to support individuals, families and professionals when navigating some of life’s most challenging moments. The pack aims to enable compassionate, accessible and person‑centred conversations, ensuring that people with learning disabilities are better supported to understand and express their wishes, feelings and experiences.   A collaborative, co‑produced approach The resource has been co‑produced with more than 25 partners and led by Eden Valley Hospice, […]

Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 18 March 2026 saw Kaye Walsh (Lead Nurse, Congenital Heart Disease Network) deliver a presentation on ‘Heart to heart: Co-production of a peer support resource for young people living with CHD’. Living with a long term health condition is challenging, and for young people navigating transition into adulthood this can be particularly difficult. Young people look for others with lived experience to help them navigate the turbulence of their condition and the impact it has on their everyday life. In this session, we heard about a group of young people, […]

Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 3 March 2026 saw Paul Court (Chief Executive of Healthworks) deliver a presentation on ‘Healthworks: Driving impact and reducing health inequalities’. Following a 30th Anniversary Impact Event, Paul joined us to share the work and impact of Healthworks. We heard how targeted, community‑based programmes are delivering an estimated £46.2 million in savings to health and social care services, easing pressure on overstretched systems and aligning with NHS Long‑Term Plan priorities to tackle health inequalities, improve population health, and strengthen out‑of‑hospital care. Insights from the Impact Report 2024-2025 were spotlighted, featuring […]

This year’s Social Prescribing Day is on 26th March – an annual celebration recognising Social Prescribing Link Workers, local community groups and regional and national organisations which support people’s health and wellbeing. To mark the day in the North East and North Cumbria, Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East (VONNE) are hosting a free online conference, 10am – 12pm, commending ‘The Power of People’. The team welcome anyone working across health and care, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, public health, local authorities and health research to join them at the event as they celebrate the fantastic work of social prescribing in all its forms across our region. Speakers will […]

Northumbria University is hosting a series of online co-production workshops to develop evidence-based training resources on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia. These resources aim to increase knowledge, raise awareness, and improve understanding of how best to support children with DCD/Dyspraxia and their families.   Who are these workshops for? The workshops are open to participants from across sectors, including: Healthcare professionals: Paediatricians, GPs, school nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists. Education professionals: Teachers, teaching assistants, SENDCos, school leaders. The wider community: Clubs and groups, parents, families, and anyone interested in supporting children with DCD/Dyspraxia.   Why take part? Training resources will be co-developed with: Academics and researchers. Practitioners from healthcare and education. Families […]