Cambridgeshire ACRE

14/10/2026

Did you spot Action with Communities in Rural England - ACRE's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Patrick Mahon, on BBC Look East last night?

The item focused on the impact of rising heating oil prices on rural households across the East of England. With many villages not connected to the gas grid, thousands of households rely on heating oil to keep warm, but unlike mains gas and electricity there is currently no price cap to help protect consumers from sharp price rises.

Patrick highlighted concerns that heating oil prices have risen significantly in recent months, making this winter increasingly difficult not just for the most vulnerable households, but also for many people on low and middle incomes.

Cambridgeshire ACRE and the other members of the ACRE Network are calling on the Government to consider further support for off-grid households, including removing VAT from heating oil.

You can watch the item on BBC iPlayer. It starts around 11 minutes 50 seconds into the programme.

📺 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0032xq8/look-east-evening-news-13102026

The latest news, sport and weather for the East of England.

13/10/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗯.

🫖Pam, Liz and Lin, pictured here, make and serve dozens of cups of tea and coffee every Tuesday – keeping all our regular hub visitors warm, refreshed and topped up through their visit.

🍪Grateful thanks too to Brenda and Helen who supply all the top-notch goodies to accompany those essential cuppas.

😇And to Michael who helps with the tables every week.

🤎Our South Cambs Village Agent Kari put a Tunnock’s Tea Cake to the test this week on her Tuesday call-in and confirmed they really are irresistible.

13/10/2026

Living rurally can mean longer waits during outages. Check if you qualify for extra support today.

If you’re eligible for extra energy support, register before winter.

Speak to a Village Agent today.

13/10/2026

Flooding can happen even if you don’t live near a river.
Heavy rainfall can overwhelm local drainage and cause surface water flooding, sometimes very quickly.
This , take a few minutes to check your flood risk and find out how to prepare:
https://floodaction.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=faw26&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=link&utm_content=toolkit

12/10/2026

It’s .
Around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding. Do you know your flood risk?
Find out what you can do now to prepare and protect yourself, your family and your home:
https://floodaction.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=faw26&utm_medium=partner&utm_source=link&utm_content=toolkit

07/10/2026

Thinking about energy-saving improvements for your village hall?

Many energy-saving measures, including insulation, solar panels and heat pumps, currently qualify for 0% VAT. However, this temporary relief is due to end in March 2027, making now a good time to start planning projects.

Our latest article explains what's covered, what the changes could mean for community buildings, and why getting started sooner could help maximise savings.

👉 Read more: https://cambsacre.org.uk/0-vat-energy-saving-improvements-village-halls/

Discover how village halls can benefit from 0% VAT on energy-saving improvements before March 2027. Learn why planning now could save money.

05/10/2026

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻?

Make sure appliances are safe and checked. Annual boiler servicing helps prevent carbon monoxide risks. Book yours now.

05/10/2026

🔥 Last Chance to Book: Fire Safety Compliance Training

Are you confident your community building is meeting its fire safety responsibilities?

Join Cambridgeshire ACRE and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service for this free, practical session designed to help trustees, staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities and keep their buildings safe for public use. The event covers key legislation and regulations, practical steps you can take in your own building and the chance to learn from others managing community facilities.

📅 7 October 2026
📍 Rampton Village Hall
💷 Free to attend

Whether you're a new trustee or have years of experience, this is an excellent opportunity to refresh your knowledge, ask questions and make sure your building remains safe, compliant and welcoming for everyone who uses it.

⏰ Places are limited, so book now to avoid missing out.

👉 Book your place - https://cambsacre.org.uk/fire-safety-compliance/

This event, being delivered in partnership with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, will provide information and support to community buildings on the subject of fire prevention in public buildings.

02/10/2026

For many rural households, preparing for winter means finding a large sum upfront to fill the heating oil tank.

By 30 September, heating oil had risen to around £1.07 per litre. That makes a typical 1,000-litre delivery approximately £1,070, over £400 more than in February. Community buildings are feeling the pressure too, alongside the rising cost of essential rural journeys.

Cambridgeshire ACRE has shared these concerns with local MPs ahead of the 28 October Budget. We want rural households and the community spaces that support them to be properly considered when decisions are made about energy costs.

Are rising heating oil, LPG or travel costs affecting your household or a community building you help run? Please tell us what you’re seeing locally. Your experience can help us make the case for rural communities.

📖 Read the full article: https://cambsacre.org.uk/rising-rural-heating-costs-off-grid-homes/

Heating oil prices have risen sharply, putting pressure on off-grid households and community buildings. Learn how rising rural heating costs are affecting Cambridgeshire.

02/10/2026

📢 We’re recruiting two Village Agents

Could you help people living in rural Cambridgeshire stay connected, independent and supported?

We are looking for two compassionate, practical and community-minded people to join our team:

📍 Village Agent (Village Agent Plus) - 28 to 35 hours per week, working across Fenland and South Cambridgeshire. You will provide one-to-one support, wellbeing check-ins and home visits, helping residents find the services and opportunities they need. The contract is fixed term until 31 March 2027 with potential for an extension.

📍 Village Agent (Rural Life Navigators) - 21 hours per week, working across rural East Cambridgeshire. This varied role combines one-to-one support with community outreach, digital inclusion, volunteer co-ordination and partnership working. The contract is fixed term until 30 September 2027.

Both roles are home-based, with regular travel across their respective areas.

✔ Full-time salary of £27,274 per annum, pro rata where applicable
✔ Flexible working
✔ A chance to make a real difference in rural communities
✔ Closing date: 8am on Monday 26 October 2026

If you are good at building trusted relationships and enjoy helping people find practical ways forward, we would love to hear from you.

🔗 Find out more and apply: https://cambsacre.org.uk/about/working-for-us/