Want to better understand the links between smoking, poverty and health inequalities? Join Fresh and the NENC Smokefree NHS Taskforce for a free lunchtime learning session exploring how we can work together to create a healthier, smokefree future. Taking place on Thursday 5 November, 12:30pm to 1:30pm, the session will feature Noah Traill, Senior Policy Officer at Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), who will share insights from ASH’s report, Ending Smoking Inequality: An Action Plan to Reduce Poverty and Improve Health. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of health inequality and financial hardship, particularly in disadvantaged communities. This engaging session will explore the impact of smoking on individuals […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 24 September 2026 saw the Research and Evidence Team (North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board) deliver a presentation on ‘Exploring the Neighbourhood Health Survey Findings’. Join the Research and Evidence Team for a deep dive into the findings from the neighbourhood health survey, completed live at the North East and North Cumbria Neighbourhood Health conference held in June. The session explored key outputs from the survey, including how well people in each area understand neighbourhood health, how their role contributes, and insights into leadership and collaboration at a […]
A recent Boost Lunch and Learn explored Tend VR-MBI, an eight-week virtual reality adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), designed to support people experiencing depression and anxiety. Delivered through eight 45-minute VR sessions, Tend VR-MBI uses immersive environments to help people learn and practise mindfulness skills and techniques for managing low mood and anxiety. A mobile companion app supports participants to continue practising and applying these skills in everyday life. The programme can be used at home or within healthcare, community and workplace settings. Six studies have reported reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, high completion rates, positive outcomes within NHS services and the potential to reduce staff time […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 16 July 2026 saw Hamdi Hamzah (Research & Evaluation Officer) deliver a presentation on ‘What Mobilising WorkWell Taught Us: Practical Lessons for Strategic Commissioning’. This session explored how the Research & Evaluation team in North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) captured WorkWell programme learning by using qualitative research methodologies involving relevant Neighbourhood Health teams (previously known as Local Delivery Teams). As part of the NHS WorkWell service in our region, NENC ICB aims to support more than 2,000 people in our region to stay well and […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 30 June 2026 saw James Crosbie (GP, Gastroenterologist, Clinical Lead for Alcohol Harm Prevention) deliver a presentation on ‘Introducing the Alcohol Toolkit for Primary Care’. This session explored the newly launched Alcohol Toolkit for Primary Care – a practical, evidence-based resource designed to help primary care teams confidently identify and respond to alcohol-related harm. Primary care teams are well placed to have meaningful conversations about alcohol, and this toolkit supports a consistent, effective approach aligned with national guidance. In this session, we introduced the toolkit and demonstrated how it can […]
Reaching people where they are is a key part of delivering more accessible, proactive health and care. Across North East and North Cumbria, innovative approaches are helping to connect with communities who may not otherwise engage with traditional services. One powerful example of this in practice is Monty, Newcastle GP Services’ community health bus. Bringing care closer to people Monty is a purpose-built mobile clinic staffed by experienced nurses and healthcare professionals. It delivers a range of essential health and care services directly into communities, focusing on areas where need is greatest. Services include: Health checks Cervical screening Blood pressure monitoring Vaccinations Smoking cessation support Diabetes screening By bringing […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 29 April 2026 saw Lisa Jones (Assistant Director for Integrated Commissioning, Sunderland City Council) deliver a presentation on ‘Learning from failure, before it happens: the Sunderland approach’. This session explored how Sunderland City Council used a whole‑system pre‑mortem to stress‑test their neighbourhood health programme before implementation. Instead of asking what might go wrong, the team intentionally imagined the programme had already failed – and worked backwards to uncover the real risks, blind spots, and assumptions that could derail success. Lisa shared why this proactive approach was chosen, how it helped […]
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 […]
Brought to you by Boost in collaboration with North Cumbria Knowledge and Library Service, this LUNCH & LEARN session on 30 January 2026 saw saw Dr Quynh Nguyen (GP and NIHR RSS Fellow, Northumbria Primary Care) deliver a presentation on ‘Re-useable tourniquets for sustainable phlebotomy’. In this session, Dr Nguyen shared local organisations’ experiences with the Daisy Grip reusable tourniquet. This innovative product is transforming clinical practice by significantly reducing single-use plastic waste and delivering real cost savings. We heard first-hand how switching to Daisy Grip has helped teams streamline procurement, cut down on unnecessary waste, and support sustainability goals. Dr Nguyen discussed practical implementation, patient and staff feedback, and […]
