Cambridgeshire ACRE

12/06/2026

Moments like this matter.

We asked our staff team to share a moment from their work that stayed with them. Each one points to a turning point – when confidence grew, when someone stepped forward or when a community began to take charge of its own future.

This is the core of our work at Cambridgeshire ACRE: creating the conditions for people to come together, build confidence and sustain the spaces and services they value.

Today it's Linda's turn. Linda is our Finance Officer and also plays a crucial role in our Cambridgeshire Home Energy Support Service, distributing crisis payments to households in need. This is what she said.

12/06/2026

Gorefield Community Hall celebrates Hallmark success

A big well done to the volunteers at Gorefield Community Hall, who have successfully retained their Hallmark 1 Quality Standard – and achieved 100% of the requirements in their latest review.

This reflects the care and commitment of the trustees, who continue to strengthen how the hall is run, from governance and finances to maintaining a welcoming space for the community.

Hallmark is delivered locally by Cambridgeshire ACRE and supports village halls with practical guidance, advice and reassurance. It helps committees build confidence and make steady improvements over time.

11/06/2026

Volunteers are at the heart of strong rural communities.

During Volunteers' Week 2026, we took the opportunity to celebrate and thank the hundreds of volunteers who support Cambridgeshire ACRE's work across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. From running community hubs and supporting village halls to offering digital support and helping people stay connected, their contribution makes a real difference every day.

Our Community Wellbeing Manager, Rachel Mason, has shared her reflections on the week, including highlights from our volunteer thank you event in Ely and the incredible impact volunteers have across our communities.

Thank you to every volunteer who gives their time, skills and compassion to support others. We couldn't do it without you.

Read Rachel's reflections via the link in the comments.

11/06/2026

We had a wonderful art workshop and coffee morning on the 2nd of June in St Wendreda's Church Hall for those affected by Cancer. Thank you to all who attended and thank you to Andrew Dockerill for delivering a fantastic watercolour painting workshop.

10/06/2026

"The community hub has really made such a difference to me. It's actually been a lifeline."

Barbara cares for her brother, who has Parkinson's Disease and has experienced several strokes. Like many unpaid carers, she was struggling to cope on her own.

This Carers Week, Village Agent Kari Payne shares Barbara's story and highlights the support available to unpaid carers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Read more: https://cambsacre.org.uk/carers-week-2026-support-for-unpaid-carers/

During Carers Week 2026, Village Agent Kari Payne shares Barbara's story and highlights the support available for unpaid carers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

10/06/2026

Fordham Victoria Hall celebrates Hallmark success

Great news from Fordham Victoria Hall, where trustees have achieved Hallmark 1, the ACRE quality standard for village halls.

This marks an important step for the committee, who have taken practical action over the past year to strengthen how the hall is run. From improving governance to investing in the building, their work is helping secure the hall’s future for the community.

Hallmark is delivered locally by Cambridgeshire ACRE and supports village halls to build confidence, improve day to day management and plan ahead.

This achievement reflects the commitment of volunteers who give their time to keep the village hall open, welcoming and well managed.

09/06/2026

Girton’s Crafty Folk community hub volunteers got involved in the annual parish meeting recently.

To help promote the Tuesday hub at St Vincent's Close, they ran a refreshments stall with our Village Agent Kari, serving up teas and coffees as well as cakes made by Phoenix Trust in Milton.

Here’s Michael and Marie pictured with visitor Sarah Freeman, centre, Community Connector for South Cambs at the county council’s Communities Service.

09/06/2026

🌿 We're recruiting: Senior Community Environment Officer 🌿

Do you enjoy working with communities and helping people take action for nature, water and the environment?

We're looking for a Senior Community Environment Officer to join our team and support environmental projects across Cambridgeshire.

This is a varied role working with volunteers, parish councils, community groups and partner organisations to deliver practical environmental improvements, support community-led action and create lasting benefits for both people and nature.

📍 Home based with travel across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
🕒 31.5 hours per week
📅 Fixed term until 31 March 2027
💷 SCP 23 (£30,990 pro rata)

If you're passionate about community engagement, volunteering and environmental action, we'd love to hear from you.

Find out more and apply here:
https://cambsacre.org.uk/senior-community-environment-officer/

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post.

Join Cambridgeshire ACRE as our new Senior Community Environment Officer (31.5 hrs/week).

08/06/2026

Sentimental items and cherished memories were in the spotlight at our Caldecote hub recently.

Regulars bought items from home and shared their special meaning, including some 70s platform shoes, wedding and baby photos and a wooden trinket box given by a childhood pen pal in France.

One person also shared their experience and pictures of living in South America and working on a ranch during the ITAIPU dam construction project – a massive hydroelectric power plant on the border of Brazil and Paraguay.

Others talked-about items included a much-loved blue cardigan, a hand-written recipe, an address book and a finisher’s plaque for completing a half marathon.

Here some photos of one of the regulars wearing her mum’s much loved cardigan, another with her pen pal's trinket box and a third with those wonderful vintage platform shoes!

08/06/2026

Colne Village Hall celebrates Hallmark success

Well done to the volunteers at Colne Village Hall, who have achieved Hallmark 1, recognising strong leadership and a well run community building.

This is the result of steady work over time. The trustees have continued to invest in the hall, with improvements such as new heating, upgraded lighting, a refurbished car park and a new main hall floor that is already making a difference for users.

The hall remains a welcoming space at the heart of village life, shaped by the people who use it and care for it.

Through their Cambridgeshire ACRE membership, the committee has access to advice, guidance and schemes like Hallmark, supporting them to build confidence and keep improving how the hall is run.