This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. During the difficult Covid-19 situation, life isn’t as we would normally expect it to be. This puts additional stress on our mental health, and the mental health of family and friends around us. You are not alone – there are people and resources available to help. Every Life Matters has created some really helpful information and advice. Take a look here at their resource sheet full of information and telephone numbers, and their guide ‘Wellbeing and mental health during Covid-19’.

CCC Newsletter for the Eden Area – Welfare Support This week’s Cumbria County Council newsletter focuses on low level welfare support, aiming to give information guidance and details of useful contacts during these challenging times. Please click here for the full newsletter. Daily updated information about Covid-19 is available on the Cumbria County Council website – https://cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/

Today, 8 May 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day Today, 75 years on, the United Kingdom remembers the end of war in Europe. We’ve been speaking to some of our residents in our Assisted Living Schemes in Penrith, who have only been too happy to share their memories from the War and VE day, and this certainly makes interesting reading. With their permission, we’d like to share these memories with you. Mrs Louie Dent was 19 years old at the time of VE Day and she was working at Cocklakes in a plaster board factory among German and Italian Prisoners of War. She had wanted to join the forces, but her mother asked her not to as her father had been killed in a railway accident years earlier and Louie was needed to help at home. Louie remembers celebrations in Penrith were carried out in the Drill Hall at the top of Portland Place, which has now sadly burned down and was demolished in 1965.The Penrith Clock Tower (Musgrave Monument) was another favourite place to celebrate. Crowds gathered, singing and dancing, with people glad that the war was over in Europe! Big bands like the Squadronairs and local…

At 15:00 on 8 May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced on the radio that the war in Europe had come to an end, following Germany’s surrender the day before. Today, 75 years on, the United Kingdom remembers the end of war in Europe. The coronavirus outbreak means that there will be no street parties, parades or concerts this year, but nonetheless there is plenty going on to celebrate with people commemorating the 75th anniversary of VE Day within their own homes. Socially-distanced wreath-laying, a two-minute silence, a re-broadcast of Winston Churchill’s speech and an address from the Queen are among the national events taking place.  The government is encouraging people to watch the events on the BBC and to hold 1940s-style afternoon tea parties within their households.  Various events are still going ahead, including: We urge you to stay home, stay safe, and celebrate within your own household

Our Knit and Natter group at Sim Court contributed to knitting poppies that were to be displayed in Penrith town centre to commemorate VE day. Unfortunately, due to the current situation, this hasn’t been able to happen. However, some of the poppies have been displayed in the boxes down Angel Lane – here they are, all colourful, for you all to see