Cumbria stories you might have missed this week

Sophie Airey, Beth Palmer and Emily Owen all took their own lives

Three campaigning dads who lost their daughters to suicide were given welcome news this week, while an announcement for hospital patients in Barrow was less well received - here are some of the stories from Cumbria you might have missed this week.

Dads win battle for suicide prevention lessons

Mike Palmer, Andy Airey and Tim Owen each lost their daughters to suicide

Three fathers who each lost a daughter to suicide say "lives will be saved" now the government has agreed to their call for suicide prevention to be taught in schools.

For the past four years, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen called for awareness of the subject to be added the national curriculum, following the deaths of their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily.

Known as the 3 Dads Walking, they said their "voices have finally been heard" after the Department for Education (DfE) announced on Tuesday that lessons discussing suicide prevention would be compulsory in secondary schools from September 2026.

Mr Airey, from Morland in Cumbria, said: "I'm absolutely gobsmacked, it doesn't feel real."

• Read the full story here.

Hospital could stop treating sickest patients

Furness General Hospital's sickest patients may have to travel to Lancaster on a permanent basis

Sick and injured people requiring the highest level of intensive care may have to be transported more than an hour's drive away to a neighbouring county under a plan to permanently reduce a hospital service.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to make permanent the temporary suspension of the level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital (FGH), in Barrow-in-Furness, due to a lack of staff.

Those who require lower levels of critical care will continue to be treated at FGH, but the sickest patients would have to attend Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Medical director Prof Andy Knox said the ICB would engage with the community and staff before confirming the cuts.

• More information on this story is here.

Council scraps discounts for first-time buyers

New housing estates will no longer have to have cheaper homes for first-time buyers in the Westmorland and Furness Council area

A council has scrapped the need for housebuilders to provide discounted homes to first-time buyers on new housing estates.

Westmorland and Furness Council has dropped the First Home Statement which gave buyers a 30% discount on their first home.

A report by the council said the scheme did not fulfil its housing objectives, in part due to the area's ageing population.

Liberal Democrat councillor Judith Derbyshire said the scheme "undermines our goal for local housing needs" and was "narrowly targeted".

• And you can read more about this story here.

First mayoral election deferred to May 2027

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils are already holding elections in 2027

A proposed mayoral election has been delayed to 2027 in a bid to save money.

Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness councils wrote to the government earlier this month to request deferring the proposed 2026 mayoral election in Cumbria to the following year.

The authorities said at the time holding the election would cost about £1m, but holding it in conjunction with the already planned local elections in 2027 would "save significant resources".

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed the request had been granted.

• Read all about it here.

Troubled jail now one of most 'impressive'

HMP Haverigg finds jobs on farms and in gardens for inmates as part of their rehabilitation

A prison with a troubled history has become one of the country's most "impressive jails," inspectors have said.

HMP Haverigg, near Barrow, houses about 490 convicted sex offenders and had previously been forced to close for several weeks after a riot.

However, in recent years the prison has increased efforts to rehabilitate prisoners by finding them jobs on farms and in coffee shops.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, said the jail had become "safe, decent and effective".

• For all the details on this story click here.