Cambridge Matters newsletter

Are you worried about the rising cost of energy bills, food and transport? You are not alone; the cost of living crisis is affecting many of us.

You may want help accessing grants and debt advice, support getting all the money you’re entitled to, or simply want to know more about the government’s recent support measures. Whatever your money worries may be, Cambridgeshire County Council has put together some helpful information to help you.

You’ll find information about the Household Support Fund which has been created to help people experiencing immediate financial hardship to pay for food and household energy bills; the Warm Home Discount and energy bill rebate; and other local and national resources.

Please feel free to spread this information to anyone who may benefit.

Families struggling to buy school uniform and shoes for children are being made aware of a special scheme which is providing vital help.

The School Uniform Wardrobe project, run by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Think Communities team, is holding a series of uniform donation events over the coming weeks in Whittlesey and Wisbech.

People can donate school uniform and shoes that they no longer need which will be used by families struggling financially due to the cost of living crisis. Anyone in need of school uniform can attend the events or contact the team and they will aim to find suitable attire for you.

The scheme has already received backing from Tesco Extra, with the supermarket giants donating new items of uniform. At a recent donation event, shoppers were encouraged to buy an item of clothing to donate while doing their regular shopping.

The next donation bank events will be at Tesco Extra in Wisbech tomorrow (Friday 26 August) from 10am – 3pm and at Whittlesey Library on Tuesday 30 August from 10am – 1pm.

Councillor Tom Sanderson, Chair of the council’s Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion, said: “We know that many people are struggling with the cost of living crisis and this time of year is also very expensive for families with new school uniform and other items needed as their children go back to school. We’re hoping that communities will get behind this truly worthwhile scheme to ease the pressure on those who are struggling.

“Although the scheme is primarily aimed at those struggling financially, it will also help reduce the amount of clothing going to landfill waste. If people can help either by donating good quality second hand uniform they no longer need, or by buying items while shopping, then that will really help.”

The scheme’s current round of support is focused in both Wisbech and Whittlesey, with similar support offered in March and Chatteris during October half-term.

Click here for more information about the scheme, how to make donations or if you are need of school uniform.

Bids are being encouraged for the former Mill Road Library in Cambridge – a building with huge character dating back to the 19th century recently renovated by Cambridgeshire County Council.

The bidding process is open to both community and commercial bidders and the county council wants to encourage as much interest as possible, to secure the best future for what is an historic building at an important location in Cambridge.

The council will also consider offers which deliver environmental and social outcomes. Community groups have a six-week period to advise of their intention to bid and to start preparing their applications.

The council recently spent nearly £500,000 revamping the Grade II listed building which included works to replace gutters, stop damp penetration and repairs to stonework, brickwork and windows.

The quality of the redesign resulted in architects Donald Insall Associates on behalf of the county council receiving a commendation at the first Greater Cambridge Design and Construction awards event.

The Hill Group, which is building properties at the nearby former city council depot, currently lease the building until October. The former library, which is registered as an Asset of Community Value and has three public car parking spaces directly outside the entrance, was built in 1892 and opened to residents five years later.

It transferred to the county council in 1974 but closed in 1996.

For two years it was used as a shelter for people experiencing homelessness before a lease was agreed with the Indian Community and Cultural Association, which ended in 2019.

The county council then obtained listed building consent in order to repair the property. It also handed over ornate stonework relating to the Hindu shrine which was installed by the previous tenants to the Mill Road Trader’s Association.

Anyone interested in finding out more information should contact agents Myles at Gerald Eve either by calling 07385 933 680 or emailing MChamberlain@geraldeve.com.

Assistance can be provided in preparing community bids and making the necessary notification by emailing julie.cornwell@cambridge.gov.uk.

More information on the premises can be found here.

Nearly 40 people had an unforgettable glamping and outdoor learning experience at Grafham Water Centre.

Volunteers from Huntingdon Town Council, Huntingdon Community Action Project (HCAP), Oxmoor Christian Fellowship and Diamond Hampers spent three days at the centre with their children.

The youngsters and their parents enjoyed everything from raft building and paddle boarding to cooking and sports during the experience, which was enabled through the Tempo Time Credits scheme.

These volunteers cook lunch and support activities for elderly people every week; provide a drop-in to support people with mental health issues; help run youth groups; provide hampers to local people in need; and run the community libraries.

Collectively they have given more than a thousand hours to their community, and they are truly incredible.

They earn Tempo Time Credits as a thank you for their time through the Cambridgeshire Time Credits programme run by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Grafham Water Centre was able to offer access for the group to use their fantastic Bell Tent village for three days in exchange of over 500 Time Credits, with support from a large number of groups.

Support was provided by Shilpa Desai-Sakaldip, Centre Manager at Coneygear Centre at Huntingdon Town Council, Tracey Holliday and Clare Payne from the Huntingdon Community Action Project (HCAP), Maria George from the Oxmoor Christian Fellowship, Jane and Tim Brook from Huntingdon Parish, and Steph Webb, Youth and Community Coordinator at Cambridgeshire County Council.

Funding was secured for the group to pay for the extras. Godmanchester Food Bank provided food for the families, Huntingdon Rotary and Cromwell Rotary Clubs and a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner Fund paid for outdoor learning activities such as raft building, paddle boarding and kayaking. Boxing Futures provided their own minibus to transport the families to the centre.

A very generous act of support from various organisations to volunteers who do so much for their community and who truly deserve a family holiday.

Anyone planting a tree for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee must let organisers know before the Queen’s Green Canopy Map closes at the end of November.

The ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’ initiative was launched as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations to create a legacy for the future.

Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and businesses were encouraged to play their part to enhance the environment by planting trees during the planting season from October to March.

Although the map closes at the end of November, people are encouraged to let organisers know of any trees which are due to be planted between December and March so they can be added retrospectively to the map.

Over 1 million trees have already been planted nationwide including a large number in Cambridgeshire.

As well as leaving a lasting legacy for the Queen, the tree planting will support the environmental ambitions of Cambridgeshire County Council – including the target to achieve zero carbon emissions. Planting will also help remedy the fact that the county is among the least wooded areas of the UK.

The Woodland Trust is once again offering free trees to schools and community groups. To request a pack for delivery in November, please visit The Woodland Trust website. Once you have planted your tree, do not forget to log it on the Queen’s Green Canopy Map. This can be done retrospectively if a tree was planted last year.

Notification of any planting due to take place later in the year should be sent to Edward Groome at Edward.groome@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by 31 October.

A new conference will aim to bring Cambridgeshire’s community flood groups together to share knowledge in combatting flooding.

‘Cambridgeshire Flood Groups Conference Day: How we can work together to combat flooding’ will take place on Thursday, September 22 and is aimed at the county’s community flood groups.

The conference, organised by Cambridgeshire County Council, will take place at The Club in Alconbury Enterprise Campus.

This will be a day to bring groups together, promote networking between groups and local authorities/organisations, and provide help and advice on the challenges we face with regard to flood risk across Cambridgeshire.

It will also aim to launch the council’s mentoring scheme where more established groups will offer knowledge sharing and mentorship to the newer-established groups in the county.

The day will include presentations in the morning and early afternoon from the Flood Risk team and the Environment Agency, and a workshop/practical exercise later in the afternoon. Additional speakers are still to be announced.

Tickets for the event, which will run from 10am – 5pm, are available here.

The full address of the venue is The Club in Alconbury Enterprise Campus, Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon PE28 4XA.

Limited parking will be available behind the club although delegates are urged to car share or use public transport.

Lunch and refreshments will be available.

For any additional information email the Community Flood Action Programme team at CFAP@cambridgeshire.gov.uk