£120,000 investment to strengthen communities and support residents in north Cambridge

17 February 2026

Representative from the council and various voluntary organisations in north Cambridge

Cambridge City Council has allocated £120,000 to support the voluntary and community sector organisations in north Cambridge so that they can continue to deliver much-needed support to residents.

This funding will help deliver improved community facilities, a wider range of activities for local residents and make it easier for people to access support.

Projects receiving funding are as follows:

  • Arbury Community Centre and Chesterton Working Men’s Club – assessment and viability work for upgrading and future-proofing these community facilities
  • Romsey Mill – mentoring, bike mechanic skills development, and youth engagement
  • Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination – creative arts Saturday Club for teenagers focusing on identity and citizenship
  • North Cambridge Children and Family Collective – strengthening partnerships and future work in the family support sector
  • Cambridge Sustainable Food – youth-led food justice projects
  • Cambridge City Foodbank – targeted food access support and co-located support services for families and children
  • Water Sensitive Cambridge – sustainable drainage solutions and rain gardens in schools and housing estates

Grassroots voluntary and community sector organisations play an important role in supporting our local communities. Much of this support benefits some of the most vulnerable residents and often helps bridge gaps between other services, preventing people from falling through the cracks.

With voluntary and community sector organisations stretched thin due to rising demand, it can be difficult for them to focus time and resources on long-term goals and collaboration. This initiative aims to address that.

The programme was developed in collaboration with local organisations whose local knowledge and insight were essential in setting priorities. These priorities include youth provision, food security, inclusive spaces, and nature-based solutions for flood prevention.

Cllr Anna Smith, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We are really proud to have secured this funding, and we’ve worked with local community groups to identify how to best allocate it.

“This investment is about supporting the people and organisations who make north Cambridge such a strong and resilient community. By working closely with local partners, we’ve been able to target funding where it will have the greatest long-term impact. I’d like to thank the Government for putting this funding in place, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for awarding it to us.  But most of all I’d like to thank the people of north Cambridge and our fantastic community partners there. This is a great example of what can be achieved by working together.

“This is just one of many Cambridge City Council initiatives to tackle poverty and support our communities. I look forward to seeing how this investment contributes to creating a fairer city for everyone.”

Hayley Norfolk from Homestart (part of the Child and Family Collective), said: “The council’s approach to this project has been refreshing. Bringing organisations together to think collaboratively about how to best serve their communities is powerful. The funding has fuelled the creation of the North Cambridge Family Collective, which wouldn’t otherwise have been possible at this time. The collective is committed to ensuring we make family support services in north Cambridge as accessible and impactful as possible, removing barriers and working together to do the best for children and families.

Steve Clay, CEO at Cambridge City Foodbank, said: “At Cambridge City Foodbank, we’re delighted to receive funding that will not only enable more children, young people and their families to access support through our Fairbite Food Clubs, but will also strengthen our relationships with other organisations supporting this group across north Cambridge. This funding will help us build the collective capacity needed to better support families facing financial insecurity, and we hope it will make a real difference to the lives of local families at a time of need.”

This programme is funded by the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, which is administered by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA). The funding was secured following a successful bid by Cambridge City Council to develop a programme to support local grassroots organisations in north Cambridge.

Shaping north Cambridge

During 2025 the council announced plans for an £80 million investment in north Cambridge, which will see 200+ new council homes built and improvements made to local shopping and community facilities and to public spaces and parks. As part of this work, the council invited local people to help develop a long-term plan for investment in north Cambridge.

Some of the insights from this engagement work have helped to inform the awarding of this funding, as the council works to bring local partners together strategically, to support the community’s priorities.