Links to Useful Websites

Adults and community care

• Older People - North Cumbria Health website
• Morecambe Bay Network - information about specialist mental health services
• Department for Transport - information about car badges for disabled people (blue badges)
• Directgov - Disabled People section

Health and healthy living

• Cumbria NHS gateway website - information on health services in North Cumbria
• Cumbria Primary Care Trust - information on health services in South Cumbria
• Benzodiazepine Co-operation Not Confrontation (BCNC) - Advice for people dependent on prescription benzodiazepines
• Your First Stop - website offering expert advice and tips to help you stop smoking

Social Care Services

Commission for Social Care Inspection  - The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is the official watchdog for adult social care in England. It inspects and reports on adult social care services to help improve quality for people who use services.

If you or someone you know is looking for care, visit the Commission's award-winning website where you can:

• Search the comprehensive directory of care homes and other services, like home care, to find your local services
• Download free, independent reports on the quality of every registered care service to help you make an informed choice 
• Get straightforward advice and useful checklists on how to choose a good care home or care service.    

Information is available in many accessible formats:

• Easy to read pages for people with a learning disability
• Nine languages including Polish and Chinese
• Accessible web pages approved by the RNIB.

• Commission for Social Care Inspection - Looking for a care home? Get free, independent reports on the quality of your local homes and care services to help you make an informed choice.

DeafVision  - provide services for people of all ages with hearing impairments under contract with Cumbria County Council.

• DeafVision

Equalities issues

Cumbria County Council works closely with three partner agencies on equalities issues.  These partners are:

• AWAZ - their vision is to help create strong and vibrant black and minority ethnic communities, fully engaged in the decisions, which affect their growth and development
• Cumbria Disability Network - a forum for the county's disability organisations to meet together to share information and raise and pursue matters of concern to affect policy and practice, particularly in relation to local authorities and statutory services
• Gay Cumbria - their mission is to give the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community in Cumbria a voice and also to provide help and support to those who are unable or choose not to socialise on the gay scene

Advice on Disabled Access

• AIDIS - helpline giving straightforward, non-techie advice on computers and adaptations to people with disabilities
• Direct Enquiries - website giving information about venues which are accessible to people with disabilities

Benefits and Discounts

• Cinema Exhibitors Association Card - card offering free tickets to carers accompanying disabled people visiting the cinema
• Seniors Discounts - website offering discounts and news for older people

Advice on Careers

• Furness Social Care Learning Resource Service - provides internet linked computers, reference books, journals, CD-ROMs and DVDs for people studying social care and for training providers

Other sources of help

• Community Legal Service - for sources of benefits and legal advice
• Cumbria Energy Efficiency Advice Centre - energy efficiency advice to householders
• Tunstall - Cumbria County Council's partner providing Telecare equipment