6th January 2026
iCan is a health, wellbeing and social support charity with a clear mission: helping people in Cumbria overcome barriers to fitness and wellbeing – turning ‘I can’t’ into ‘iCan’.
They operate a dedicated fitness and wellness centre in Carlisle, and also offer outreach activities across the county.
Last year, iCan worked with more than 5,500 people. Services are open to all ages, genders and backgrounds and sessions are accessible and affordable, if not free.
There’s a community gym and wellness centre offering programmes tailored to older adults, people with disabilities, and those managing long term health conditions. The centre offers specialised fitness classes, rehabilitation support, and mental wellness workshops, all designed to promote overall wellbeing, led by mentors with lived experience.
Participants often report increased mobility, enhanced strength and a greater sense of community belonging. One participant shared that “joining iCan has been life changing; I have regained my confidence and feel healthier both physically and mentally.” Another said: “iCan is my happy place, it helps me daily feel better and I can now walk without an aid which is life changing.”
In 2024-25, iCan received two grants from the Community Foundation. They received £30,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the WeCan Live Well and Work programme to support 20 unemployed people with long-term health conditions to increase their wellbeing and employability; and £500 from the NHS NENC Northern Cancer Alliance Community Connectors
Fund towards the cost of a venue for the Living With and Beyond Cancer Group in Carlisle.