An ambitious scheme backed by the University of Cumbria to transform Barrow for future generations has secured £25 million from the government’s Towns Fund.

A cultural framework for Carlisle, that aims to give new life and vision to the city’s rich culture and heritage, is set to be launched at a virtual event early next month. The event will provide progress on Carlisle Culture - a partnership working to harness the rich arts, heritage and culture of the city for our future sustainability and growth. The four lead partners are University of Cumbria, Carlisle City Council, Prism Arts and Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery.

Kaz Stuart, Professor of Social and Health Inequalities at the Centre of Research for Health and Society at the university was one of 350 experts who shared what they think the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic will be over the next two to five years.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, is the new Chancellor of University of Cumbria. Stephen Cottrell became the 98th Archbishop of York in July in succession of Dr John Sentamu who had been the university's first Chancellor since 2007.

University of Cumbria has welcomed its first trainees to a new fast-track detective development programme. The 19 new officers at Sussex Police are among the first nationally to undertake the intensive two-year Detective Constable Degree Holder Entry Programme which offers specialist training in investigations. University of Cumbria is one of four universities with top tier police education expertise to join together as the Police Education Consortium to deliver new routes into policing.

Leading countryside experts united in the first virtual conference of its kind to explore two crucial proposals in the government’s far-reaching 25-year Environmental Plan.

A new University of Cumbria competition launched to inspire young people during the coronavirus lockdown is celebrating the literary loves and talents of teenagers. English Literature senior lecturers, Dr Penny Bradshaw and Dr Paul Ferguson, developed ‘Reading During The Lockdown’, a competition for 16-18 year olds.

University of Cumbria’s dedicated Institute of the Arts campus has been turning red as part of a global initiative shining a light on the continuing crisis in the live events sector. The #LightItInRed campaign, linked to the online #WeMakeEvents movement, recognises the struggles theatres, venues and live events are facing during the coronavirus pandemic period, and the calls on government to offer the sector a lifeline.

University of Cumbria is collaborating with Brathay Trust and Theatre by the Lake to deliver the Changing Culture Partnership, a scheme to develop and retain aspiring leaders in the arts, culture and heritage sector in Cumbria and North Lancashire.