Cambridge Community Arts received over £18,000 to expand the Creative Fenland project, which engages socially isolated people through arts and crafts activities designed for mental wellbeing. The project has involved initial outreach, development of a volunteer network and the delivery of three creative courses and a workshop. To date, the project has recruited 11 new volunteers and course participants have reported feeling less isolated and with an improved sense of wellbeing.
Rosmini Centre Wisbech also received over £18,000 to provide a Lunch Club, Friendship Group and Conversational English Language Group to address food poverty, reduce social isolation and engage volunteers, particularly those from migrant communities. The project has been a success, with 27 new volunteers recruited in just 3 months and 207 members of the local community directly benefiting from the project.
Michael O’Toole, CEO at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, commented,
“I am delighted that Cambridgeshire Community Foundation is delivering the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund for Fenland. Fenland is an incredible part of our county with a strong community spirit and pride in its heritage. However, we also know that the region faces some challenges, including health inequalities, when compared to the rest of Cambridgeshire. The Know Your Neighbourhood Fund will support local community projects that build skills, wellbeing and community networks.”
