Families across West Cumbria have told me, time and again, that the system meant to support children with special educational needs and disabilities simply isn’t working as it should. Long waits, complex processes, and a constant battle to secure the right support have left too many parents feeling exhausted and unheard.

That’s why the Government is acting, with real investment and reform, to build a SEND system that works for families here in West Cumbria.

Last week, I was pleased to help secure a new package of support through the “Experts at Hand” programme, which will provide nearly £2 million to Cumberland Council to bring specialist expertise directly into our local schools. This is part of a £429 million national investment next year, and a wider £1.8 billion commitment over three years to transform how support is delivered.

What does that mean in practice? It means schools having direct access to educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists – the professionals families often wait months, even years to see. It means earlier help for children, without the need for lengthy assessments or bureaucratic hurdles. It means getting support in place quickly, locally, and without a fight.

This builds on the £4.2 million capital investment I helped to secure last month for Cumberland to create more specialist places and improve facilities in mainstream schools for children with SEND. That funding will help ensure more children can attend a school close to home, learning alongside their peers while being in an environment that meets their needs.

But investment alone isn’t enough. We also need to fix the system itself. That’s why the Government’s SEND White Paper – still out for consultation – sets out a clear plan to restore confidence, put inclusion at the heart of education, and ensure support is delivered earlier and more consistently across the country.

Crucially, these reforms are being shaped by the people who know the system best.

Last week, I again brought together parents from across West Cumbria, supported by BEE Unique and Autism Support Allerdale and Copeland, to hear directly about their experiences. Their honesty was powerful. They spoke about the challenges they’ve faced, but also about what good support looks like – and how transformative it can be when it’s done right.

As Minister for Children and Families, I’ve worked closely with colleagues across government to ensure that voices like theirs are not just heard, but acted upon. That has been central to shaping our reforms.

We are determined to build a system where every child can thrive – where support comes early, where schools are equipped to meet a wide range of needs, and where parents no longer have to fight for the help their children deserve.

There is still more to do. But with this investment, and these reforms, we are taking an important step forward for children and families across West Cumbria.

Josh MacAlister MP has officially opened a new free breakfast club at Northside Primary School, Workington, helping local families with the cost of living while giving children the best possible start to their day.

The club – the fifth to launch in West Cumbria since last year – is part of Labour’s national rollout of Best Start free breakfast clubs, with hundreds of schools opening their doors to provide children with a healthy meal and 30 minutes of free childcare before lessons begin. The programme is designed to support working parents, improve school readiness, and boost children’s life chances.

Families in Northside are set to benefit from more flexible mornings, with parents able to get to work on time, attend appointments, and manage daily routines more easily. The scheme is expected to save parents up to £450 per child each year while providing around 95 additional hours of support annually.

During his visit, Josh MacAlister met with staff and pupils and saw first-hand how the club is already making a difference.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Opening the new free breakfast club at Northside Primary School is a fantastic moment for local families. This is exactly what delivering on our promises looks like – practical support that makes a real difference to people’s lives.

“These clubs mean children can start the day ready to learn, while parents have more flexibility in the morning and more money in their pockets. It’s about breaking down barriers to opportunity and making sure every child, no matter their background, gets the best start in life.”

Research shows breakfast clubs can improve attendance, behaviour and attainment, helping children settle into the school day and focus on learning.

Gemma Brierley, Headteacher at Northside Primary School, said:

“We’re delighted to launch our new breakfast club here at Northside Primary. It’s already having a really positive impact – children are arriving settled, socialising with their friends, and ready to learn from the moment lessons begin.

“For many families, this support is invaluable. It gives parents peace of mind in the mornings and ensures every child starts the day with a nutritious meal and a calm, welcoming environment.”

The rollout of free breakfast clubs is part of wider government action to support families with the cost of living, alongside expanded childcare provision, holiday clubs, and measures to reduce school uniform costs.

The government has committed to extending free breakfast clubs to all primary schools nationwide, ensuring every child has access to a strong start each day.

Children and families across West Cumbria are set to benefit from a major new investment in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, as Cumberland Council receives £1.87 million to roll out a new “Experts at Hand” service.

The funding is part of a £429 million national programme to transform support for children with SEND, helping ensure they can access the right help earlier, without long waits or complex processes.

Whitehaven and Workington MP and Minister for Children and Families, Josh MacAlister, helped to secure the funding, which will bring specialist expertise directly into local schools.

The new “Experts at Hand” service will give schools faster access to professionals such as educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists – meaning children can get support in place quickly, without needing to go through lengthy statutory assessments.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Too many families across West Cumbria have faced long waits and barriers to getting the support their children need.

“This £1.87 million investment will help change that – bringing specialist expertise straight into our schools so children can get help earlier, without parents having to fight for it.

“Whether it’s support from a speech and language therapist or advice from an educational psychologist, this new service will make a real difference for families across our communities.”

The funding will support a more joined-up approach between mainstream schools, specialist settings and local services, ensuring children with SEND can access help closer to home.

The announcement builds on the £4.2 million in High Needs capital funding already secured for Cumberland, which will be used to create more specialist places and improve facilities in local schools – helping more children learn in inclusive environments within their community.

It also forms part of the Government’s wider SEND reforms, set out in the Schools White Paper and currently out for consultation, which aim to restore confidence in the system and ensure support is delivered earlier and more consistently.

Last week, Josh brought together parents of children with SEND from across West Cumbria, supported by BEE Unique and Autism Support Allerdale and Copeland, to hear directly about their experiences and ensure local voices are shaping national reforms.

Josh MacAlister has praised the incredible impact of the Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project after attending its 30th anniversary celebration in Whitehaven.

The event marked three decades of dedicated support for young people in Whitehaven, bringing together volunteers, families, and local supporters to celebrate the organisation’s achievements. The day featured a community bake sale and a unique sponsored climbing challenge, where participants collectively reached the height of Mount Everest using the project’s indoor climbing wall.

Josh MacAlister MP joined in the challenge himself, climbing alongside young people and staff to help raise funds and awareness for the project’s ongoing work.

Speaking after the event, Josh said:

“It was a privilege to join the Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project in celebrating 30 fantastic years of supporting young people. The dedication of the staff and volunteers is truly inspiring, and it’s clear just how much this organisation means to the local community.

“The sponsored climb was a brilliant way to bring people together. I was delighted to make a tiny contribution to support such an important cause. Projects like this provide vital opportunities, safe spaces, and encouragement for young people to thrive.”

Stuart Dunnett, Project Director of the Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project, added:

“Reaching 30 years is a huge milestone for us, and it’s a testament to the generations of young people, staff, and volunteers who have been part of this journey. Seeing the community come together shows just how valued this project is. We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support and excited for what the future holds.”

Josh MacAlister MP and local fundraising legend Gary McKee are preparing to take on the London Marathon this weekend, as Gary nears the finish line of his extraordinary challenge to run 100 marathons in 100 days.

Gary, from Cleator Moor, has been raising funds for Hospice at Home West Cumbria, with a target of £100,000. If successful, it will bring his total fundraising for the charity to an incredible £1 million over the past five years.

Josh MacAlister MP has joined Gary for several runs throughout the challenge. 

Hospice at Home have already received £150,000 in government funding, secured with the support of Josh MacAlister MP, which will help complete the refurbishment and fit-out of Hospice at Home West Cumbria’s new headquarters in Workington. The upgraded facility will include a dedicated patient services area with treatment and therapy rooms, meeting spaces, and facilities for bereavement support.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“What Gary has achieved over the past 100 days is nothing short of remarkable. Running 100 marathons back-to-back is an extraordinary feat, but it’s made even more powerful by the fact he’s done it to support families across West Cumbria.

“I’ve been proud to join Gary for a number of runs during this challenge, and it’s been brilliant to see the support from the community up close. I’m really looking forward to running with Gary and Beau and tens of thousands of others in London this weekend for the final marathon. I’ve only got one to run – they’ve done the hard part – but I’m proud to play a small role in contributing to their £100,000 goal.

“Hospice at Home West Cumbria provides vital care at the most difficult times in people’s lives. Every donation will help ensure more families can access that compassionate support close to home.”

Gary McKee MBE said:

“It’s been an incredible journey over the past 100 days, and the support from people right across West Cumbria and beyond has kept me going every step of the way. It’s been great to have Josh’s support. 

“We’re now so close to our £100,000 target, and I’d love to see us get over the line this weekend. Hospice at Home West Cumbria means so much to so many families, and every penny raised will make a real difference.”

Josh is encouraging people to support the push towards the £100,000 target ahead of the London Marathon this weekend. You can find links to donate to their efforts at joshmacalister.uk/marathon-mp.

Students at Lakes College are set to benefit from over £600,000 of investment to improve facilities and support learning across the campus.

The funding will be used for a range of practical upgrades, including essential roof repairs, improvements to classrooms and welfare facilities, enhancements to the external environment, and new technology to strengthen digital learning.

This investment will help ensure that students and staff have the facilities they need day to day – with more modern spaces that support both teaching and learning.

Lakes College is one of 175 colleges that will benefit from the government’s £307 million investment in further education colleges this year, which is part of an overall £1.7 billion investment committed by the government to modernise colleges by the end of this Parliament.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:

“The young people at Lakes College are the engineers, bricklayers and designers of the future, and they and the dedicated staff teaching them deserve the best possible environment to learn and succeed.

“This £307 million investment will repair and modernise facilities across all 175 colleges in England, giving young people the spaces they need to build the skills they need for good careers, helping to drive economic growth.”

Josh MacAlister, Minister for Children and MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said:

“I’m delighted to have worked with the government to secure vital investment for Lakes College – the heart of further education in West Cumbria.

“I’m already working with the college on its investment plans and drive to create more opportunities for more young people across West Cumbria to get the education they need to achieve their full potential.”

It follows the government’s announcement of £570 million to increase capacity in colleges to train the next generation of skilled workers.

More widely, Labour’s ambitious Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper set out plans to unlock opportunity for young people and drive growth for the country by improving the quality of further education. This includes the introduction of structured professional development for further education teachers and an expectation that colleges deliver at least 100 hours of face-to-face English and maths teaching for those who haven’t passed those GCSEs.

The government has also announced the creation of V levels as a brand new vocational pathway to provide clearer, stronger options for young people, allowing them to mix and match academic and vocational subjects and setting them up for the jobs of tomorrow.  

There’s a quiet but important shift happening in how government thinks about investment – and it really matters for places like West Cumbria.

For too long, decisions about public spending have been made on narrow criteria, often overlooking the wider impact on local communities. Contracts have too often gone to the lowest bidder, with too little thought about whether they create good local jobs, support skills, or strengthen the places they operate in.

That’s now changing.

The Government has set out plans for the biggest overhaul of procurement in a generation – using the £400 billion it spends each year not just to buy services, but to back British workers, support local businesses and deliver real benefits for communities.

At the heart of these reforms is a stronger focus on what’s called “social impact” – making sure that when public money is spent, it delivers more than just a contract. It should mean apprenticeships for local young people, opportunities for small firms, and investment that stays in the community.

That approach speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities we face here in West Cumbria.

We are a place with huge strengths thanks to our world-leading nuclear industry, which brings billions of pounds of public investment into West Cumbria every year. The NDA Group has received a record funding settlement from this government over the course of this Parliament.

But that can sometimes act as an anchor on our economy, not a springboard to diversify and strengthen our local economy; creating new opportunities, attracting more investment and ensuring that prosperity is shared across our towns.

That’s why I’ve been working closely with Cumberland Council, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and other partners on how we can better align investment already coming into our area with those same principles.

The aim is simple: to make sure funding linked to the nuclear sector delivers the greatest possible benefit for local people – supporting jobs, improving infrastructure and helping to diversify our economy for the long term.

That work is ongoing, and there is more to do. But the direction is clear. We are bringing partners together, focusing on a smaller number of priorities, and looking at how we can take a longer-term, more strategic approach to investment in West Cumbria.

This builds on the wider progress we’re already making – from plans for Pioneer Park, to improving our rail connections, to the regeneration of our town centres.

What links all of this is a belief that places like ours should not be an afterthought. When public money is spent, it should work for communities like ours – creating good jobs, supporting local businesses and building a stronger future.

The changes being made nationally on procurement point in the right direction and help us make the strongest possible case for this locally so that here in West Cumbria we’re ready to lead the way.

New figures reveal a significant boost to neighbourhood policing in Cumbria, with 34 additional neighbourhood police officers recruited across the county – part of a nationwide uplift of more than 3,000 officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in neighbourhood roles.

The increase comes as part of the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will see 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel by the end of this Parliament – an increase of more than 75%.

Across the country, more than 3,123 additional officers and PCSOs have been deployed into neighbourhood roles in less than a year, helping to restore a visible police presence in communities.

In Cumbria, this uplift means more officers on the beat, tackling anti-social behaviour, supporting local residents, and working closely with communities to prevent crime.

Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said:

“This investment in 34 additional neighbourhood officers is a major boost for policing in Cumbria. It means more visible patrols, stronger community engagement, and a greater ability to respond to the concerns residents raise with us every day.

“Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of effective law enforcement – building relationships, preventing crime before it happens, and ensuring people feel safe where they live.

“We are committed to making sure these additional officers deliver real impact across Cumbria, supporting our communities and tackling crime head-on.”

Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, added:

“People across West Cumbria want to see more neighbourhood policing – officers who know their communities, are visible on our streets, and can respond quickly to local concerns. That’s exactly what we are delivering with these 34 additional officers.

“This is a vital step forward for our communities, helping to tackle anti-social behaviour, reduce crime, and rebuild trust in local policing. And this is just the start – nationally, we are committed to delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood police by the end of this Parliament.

“Residents in West Cumbria are rightly demanding safer streets and stronger local services. With more officers on the ground, we are beginning to see real progress and a renewed focus on the issues that matter most to local people.”

Recent data shows arrests have already risen by 5% nationally, demonstrating the impact of renewed investment in neighbourhood policing.

Two years ago, the picture at our local hospital was bleak.

Waiting lists were at record highs. Services were being pulled back. Staffing shortages were so severe that A&E had to close on several occasions. For many people across West Cumbria, confidence in the NHS was being tested like never before.

That didn’t happen overnight – and it was never going to be fixed overnight either.

But today, things are starting to change.

Waiting lists are slowly beginning to come down. A major recruitment drive is underway to bring in more doctors, nurses and frontline staff. And, crucially, we are now seeing real investment in vital services- urgent and emergency care, women’s health, and support for older and frail patients.

I saw that progress for myself last week on my latest visit to West Cumberland Hospital.

What stood out most wasn’t just the plans on paper – it was the people making it happen.

I met Leanne and her team on the Frailty Hub, who are doing incredible work helping older patients get assessed, treated and safely discharged on the same day. In many cases, that means avoiding a hospital admission altogether – better for patients and better for the system.

I also spent time with Elaine (who has dedicated 40 years to the NHS!) and the team behind Same Day Emergency Care. Their work is all about making sure patients are seen quickly, treated in the right place, and don’t spend longer in hospital than they need to.

These are practical, frontline improvements that are already making a real difference – easing pressure on A&E and improving patient experience.

And they are being driven by the dedication and professionalism of NHS staff here in West Cumbria, who continue to go above and beyond every single day.

There is still more to do.

That’s why I’ve been working closely with Ministers to secure additional support to help our local NHS improve faster. The inclusion of our Trust in the Government’s new programme for improvement means expert help will be brought in to tackle long-standing challenges and accelerate progress.

That means driving down waiting times further, improving A&E performance, and ensuring faster diagnosis and treatment for conditions like cancer.

Just as importantly, it means backing the new leadership at the Trust – giving them the support they need to deliver lasting change.

After years of drift, we are now seeing a clear sense of direction.

The journey isn’t finished, but the progress is real – and it’s thanks to the hard work of local staff, new leadership, and the investment we’ve fought to secure.

Our hospital’s best days are ahead of it – and I’ll keep working to make sure that becomes a reality for everyone in West Cumbria.

Watch the video of my visit last week

Josh MacAlister MP has visited West Cumberland Hospital to back ambitious plans to improve urgent and emergency care for patients across West Cumbria.

During the visit, Josh met frontline NHS staff and thanked them for their hard work, as well as seeing first-hand how new investment will support faster treatment and reduce pressure on A&E services.

He visited the Copeland Unit, where a new frailty hub is being piloted – helping older patients receive treatment on the same day without needing to be admitted to hospital. Early results show around three quarters of patients are avoiding admission.  

Josh also visited the hospital’s Same Day Emergency Care unit, where plans are in place to extend opening hours and expand staffing – meaning more patients can be assessed, treated and discharged on the same day, including into the evening and at weekends.  

These improvements are part of wider plans to transform urgent and emergency care locally – reducing overcrowding, cutting waiting times and helping patients get the right care more quickly.  

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“It was fantastic to visit West Cumberland Hospital again and see first-hand the work underway to improve urgent and emergency care for local people.

“I want to thank staff for everything they are doing in challenging circumstances – there is real progress being made.

“What’s exciting about these plans is that they are practical changes that will make a real difference: helping people get treated more quickly, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions, and easing pressure on A&E.

“The new frailty service is a great example of that – already helping patients stay out of hospital and get the care they need sooner.

“I’ve been pushing for more support to help our local NHS go further and faster, and this investment will help do exactly that.

“I’ll keep working with the Trust and Ministers to make sure people across West Cumbria see the improvements they deserve.”

Dr Adrian Clements, Medical Director for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:

““We welcomed the opportunity to thank Josh for his ongoing support and to introduce him to some of our teams working in urgent and emergency care to talk about our £4m investment.

“We are putting the resources in place to improve access to urgent and emergency care so that we can see more patients in a timely way, in the right clinical setting. Our staff at West Cumberland Hospital always show great passion and pride in their hospital and it is clear what the investment will mean to them as they work to expand and grow their services.

“We want our staff to feel supported to deliver the very best care to our patients and we welcome any opportunity to work together to make the improvements we all want for north Cumbria.”

The visit followed news that the Trust will receive expert help from NHS England to improve further and faster to ensure patients are receiving timely and effective care. During the visit, Josh met with Trust leaders to discuss their improvement plans and further investment proposals. Josh committed to working with the trust’s leadership to support the improvement journey and secure the funding needed for the hospital.