A HOSPITAL Trust has teamed up with a Barrow festival and other organisations to promote all aspects of health.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is joining forces with health and wellbeing organisations in Cumbria to stage a fun festival promoting both mental and physical wellbeing.

The ‘#BeWellFest: The Lost Art of Living’, will take place on October 6, starting10am at The Forum and Plaza, in Barrow.

Debbie Wilde, Chaplaincy Team Leader at Furness General Hospital and Rachel Tunn, Facilities Coordinator, are the main organisers of UHMBT’s contribution to the #BeWellFest.

Ms Wilde said: “This year we’re working in partnership with other organisations on the #BeWellFest.

Organisations involved include Bay Hospital Charity, St John Ambulance, the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), Parish Nurses within the local community, the Rotary Club, Age UK, Furness Carers and Mind in Furness.

“We’ll have lots of information on how people can receive support and how they can support each other,” said Ms Wilde.

“The main focus will be on how developing a healthy lifestyle can actually be enjoyable and a good thing.

“We’ve taken the theme ‘The Lost Art of Living’ around the Bay because we’re encouraging people to have a rethink about how they are living and think about the environment and impact we’re having on each other.”

The Forum is working with key partner Barrow Integrated Care Community (ICC), organising ‘Love Barrow Running Festival’, hosted by Life Leisure Barrow Park and Silver Sunday.

Silver Sunday, designed to combat loneliness and isolation, will provide free activities for older people such as bingo, beauty treatments, dancing and food at The Forum - starting 11am.

The running events will include a 10K run and a Mental Health Mile in association with Mind in Furness, and a Timed Mile for competitive runners.

Activities will include health information, dance, children’s activities, mini health MOTs, singing, and tasty and affordable recipes from Tracey Litt, catering manager at Furness General Hospital.

Ms Litt said: “We’ll be sharing recipes including meals for a family of four for under £3.

Rachel Tunn said: “The festival is the epitome of what needs to be sorted out.

“People can live much better when they take their health into their own hands.

“We can point people in the direction of organisations that can help them to improve their health.”

Cumbria County Council’s Emma Broadbent said: “The festival aims to improve people’s mental health with an emphasis on prevention.”