Our Support Hub is filled with activities and resources that will keep you inspired and motivated.
Like our Day Services, we really want all the activities to be an interactive and social experience. Please share with us any activities or resources which you have found useful over recent months. Plus, we would love to know your suggestions or ideas about what might be useful for you and your family at this time.
Looking after your mental health as we approach autumn
Some of us look forward to the autumn, with the promise of cosy jumpers, hot drinks and spending more time indoors. For some people the upcoming weeks are less appealing, with fewer daylight hours and colder temperatures. As the seasons change, you may notice a shift in your mental health. We’ve put together some helpful guidance on how to manage the transition to autumn and avoid it negatively impacting mental health.
Ways to manage your mental health this autumn
Pick out the best bits. Although there may be parts about the upcoming months that you don’t enjoy, there may also be things you’re excited for, such as bonfire night or Halloween or simply being able to wear cosy socks and wooly jumpers. Identifying what you are looking forward to and focusing on those activities can help us to feel more positive about the change in season.
Back to basics. The summer months can be a hectic time with travelling, increased responsibilities (like childcare), and a packed calendar of social events. The autumn time can be a perfect opportunity to wind down and focus on the basics that embody good health and wellbeing including sleep, food and exercise. You may have more time on your hands which you can use whichever way benefits you. Whether it’s cooking a new nutritious recipe or getting back into a book series you like, or simply taking more time to be in the present and relax.
Introduce new hobbies or activities. We might not be able to do all of the same things that we enjoyed in the summer, but why not use the autumn as an opportunity to source new interests. This could be something that’s indoor based, such as knitting, jigsaw puzzles, arts and crafts or writing. Or you could research local clubs or classes that take place in the evenings, which could be a great way to get of the house and make use of the longer and dark evenings, whilst connecting with other people.
Read more https://mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/looking-after-your-mental-health-as-we-approach-autumn/
Haunted Ghosts Tours, Spooky Thrills & Halloween Parades In Carlisle
Halloween is not just a single day celebration, it’s one entire season where tricks and treats happen, people put on their spookiest costumes and attend the eerie ghost tours in Carlisle. Other than the regular traditions, there are crazy parties and Halloween events in Carlisle lined up this 2023.
You can be a master at cooking Halloween special recipes with cooking classes near you, drink the night away with the special Halloween pub crawl, attend family friendly events, take a haunted house tour or even attend a spooky Halloween 2023 party in Carlisle.
There are so many things to do to make this spooktacular season even more fun, explore with us and find the best suited events for you!
Read more https://allevents.in/carlisle/halloween
Test your knowledge with this month’s quiz.
1. October is our tenth month of the year. What number month was it in the original Roman calendar?
2. What was the name of the first “talkie,” which opened in New York in October 1927?
3. What is the date of Halloween?
4. Which famous British admiral died at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805?
5. The Great Cumbrian Run took place on which date in October this year?
6. What was the name of the first satellite put into space, launched by USSR in October 1957
7. Why might the German beer festival Oktoberfest be said to be misnamed?
8. What was the name of the poem written about the Crimean War, which began in October 1853?
9. What are the two star signs for October?
10. Which important battle took place in October 1066?
11. Which Hindu festival of lights takes place in October?
12. Which Greek tycoon married President Kennedy’s widow Jackie in October 1968?
13. Which items were banned by law from food outlets on 1st October this year?
14. Which Beatle was born in October 1940?
15. What is the name of the festival held in Mexico on the last day of October, celebrating departed loved ones?
16. Who ‘sailed across the ocean blue’ in October 1492?
17. What is October’s birthstone?
18. Which French Queen, who said “Let them eat cake,” was executed in October 1793?
19. Disney World in Florida opened on 1st October in what year? Was it a) 1961, b) 1971 or c) 1981?
20. Which British actor played a Russian submarine captain in the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October?
Cumbria is a veritable hotbed of strange activity. From ghosts and spectres to fairies and magical stone circles, this is an area with something for everyone.
Let’s take a look at some of the most haunted places in Cumbria to go explore.
Castles are usually always a fairly good bet when it comes to spooky events and Carlisle Castle is no different. The castle dates back to 1093 when William II built it as part of his defence against the Scots. It is a Norman-style motte and bailey castle built on the site of an Old Roman Fort. The castle has had a somewhat troubled history and has changed hands several times.
There has been such a long and violent history that we may even have expected a few more ghosts than those on record at Carlisle Castle. Let’s start with the most famous of the castle ghosts – the phantom lady. In 1823, a young soldier was on duty and was terrified by the appearance of a ghostly apparition. So scared in fact, that he attempted to run her through with his bayonet. When it passed through her he fainted. He never recovered, dying of shock the following day! It has been suggested that the appearance of this phantom lady could be linked to the skeleton of a woman dressed in tartan and holding a baby which was found bricked up inside the Captain’s Tower in 1820. She has been putting an appearance every now and then ever since! In 1992, for three consecutive nights the alarms in the Kings Own Border Regiment Museum were triggered, but no sign of anyone could be found – at least not anyone living.
This next location is not exactly haunted in the more traditional sense of the word. You won’t find spirits here – at least not human ones. Instead, the rumours surrounding the famous Beetham Fairy Steps relate to fairies, just like the name suggests! The steps are carved into a giant limestone boulder and they were originally part of one of the Lake District’s corpse trails which were used to transport the coffins of the dead to their final resting place. In fact, if you look closely, you can make out some of the iron rings that were threaded with ropes to haul the coffins up the incline. The legend linked to the site is that if you are able to make it all the way to the top of the stairs without touching the sides, then the fairies will grant you one wish!
Castlerigg Stone Circle is one of Cumbria’s most breathtaking sites. It consists of 38 stones which vary in sizes and shapes. These are all completely un-hewn with some of them standing around 5 feet tall, although some of them have fallen over the years. This is only to be expected considering the circle is thought to be around 5000 years old. It is estimated that there would have been 41 stones originally making Castlerigg one of the most well-preserved stone circles in the UK.
There is very little doubt that stone circles can be magical and mysterious places, and this one is no different. The circle is famous for one particular strange occurrence – an unexplained light phenomenon. In 1919 a man names T. Singleton and his friends witnessed balls of light ‘dancing’ slowly over the stones. This is something that has been reported in various stone circles around the word giving weight to the idea that they are magical places.
Read more https://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/haunted-places/cumbria
Supplies Needed
Q-Tips
Black (or any colour) construction paper
School Glue
Skeleton Head (printable below)
Lay Out the Big Bones
Lay out the big bones of the skeleton before the small ones. This will ensure you have room for everything. Feel free to play around with the orientation of the bones.
Glue the Bones Down
Apply the glue directly to the Q-Tip before putting it on the paper.
This makes it much less messy! Start by gluing down the big bones and then move the smaller ones.
Imperfection makes it cute so don’t get too caught up on being symmetrical or perfect.
Print off and Glue Skeleton Head
Using our free printable, print out the skeleton head and bow.
Colour the bow and cut them both out. Using glue, attach the bow either to the head or make it a necktie.
Be sure to show kids their options!
Mummy dog’s recipe
This is a childhood favourite and always the most popular of our Halloween spreads!
Cut crescent roll dough into thin strips and wrap around hot dogs.
Bake according to crescent package directions and use ketchup or mustard for eyes.
I cut my hot dogs in half to make them bitesize.
Apple Jaws Halloween
Quarter apples and take a wedge out of the centre of each quarter
Dunk them in water with a little lemon juice to prevent browning.
Use silvered almonds for teeth, eyes are also optional.
The colours of autumn are spectacular in Cumbria, as trees turn from green to red, brown and gold. Against this lovely backdrop we can enjoy the sight of red squirrels foraging for nuts, spot red deer during the rut and marvel at the great numbers of migrating birds arriving on our coast.
From fells and peatbogs to beaches and woods, Cumbria Wildlife’s guide to Great places to see autumn wildlife in Cumbria recommends some special areas to see these stunning seasonal highlights.
Autumn colours are in full swing
There’s nothing quite like a sea of red, gold and orange leaves to evoke feelings of autumn, and the Lake District has this in abundance.
Marvel as the trees turn from green to gold in England’s only true mountain forest, Whinlatter Forest near Keswick; or visit Grizedale Forest near Coniston. Both offer hiking trails, bike hire, and Go Ape treetop treks to see the autumn colours from a new perspective.
There’s seasonal food and drink aplenty
From Michelin starred fine dining to hearty pub grub, if you’re looking to enjoy the Lake District’s cuisine then Cumbria has plenty to offer. Restaurants make the most of local produce to create seasonal menus to tempt the tastebuds – and with a plethora of home-grown fare on our doorstep, it isn’t hard to get a real taste of autumn in the Lakes.
It’s a photographer’s dream
Cumbria photographs beautifully throughout the year, but if you’re looking for atmospheric shots awash with autumn colour, now is the time to visit.
