Community News

Listed below are news and information items from our member organisations.  FCVS cannot take responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information.  Please refer to the named contact for further details.  This page is constantly being updated, so please check back frequently. 

Golden Age Website
www.goldenage.org.uk

The above website has recently been launched and includes details of the type of information and services that partner organisations can provide to the over 60s. You will also find a news section, details of Golden Age Fairs and how to contact members of the Golden Age Team.  If you would like to add information on the services your organisation/group can offer, please email goldenage@fenland.gov.uk.

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B.I.G - Fenland Breastfeeding Information Group

B.I.G are a group of experienced mums and professionals that offer help, support and advice to all new mums.

They meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 11.00am–12.30pm, at the Kingsfield Community Room next to the Acorn Nursery, Larnham Way, Chatteris.

They run a helpline number 07787 970108 which is open 9.00am to 8.00pm.  You can also access information and advice on their website at www.fenland-big.org.uk or email them at help@fenland-big.org.uk 

 Whether you are a first time mum or already have other children they are there to help, support, or just for a chat.

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March & District Handicapped Swimmers Club

The March & District Handicapped Swimmers Club meets every Tuesday (2.30pm – 4.00pm) at the George Campbell Leisure Centre, March.  Members can swim or walk in the pool and membership costs £12 a year, followed by £1 each week.

(Members on the day trip to Bure Valley & Broads Tour)

The club benefits a variety of people eg - people who have been in accidents, limb replacements, MS, heart trouble, blood pressure, arthritis or blind. Swimming or walking in water is relaxing and the body becomes weightless and therefore this enables people to feel so much better.  Some people may need to bring carers to look after them in the water.

The group was recently successful in securing funding from the Community Champions Fund.  With this funding members enjoyed a lovely day on the Bure Valley Railway and a tour of the Broads.  Members enjoy the social events and they are currently looking forward to going to a pantomime (also funded by the Community Champions Fund) and having their Harvest Supper.  On the last swim of the year they also have a get-together followed by Christmas lunch.

For further information contact:  Mr & Mrs Osgathorpe. Tel: 01354 656160

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Sugar Tub Community Centre

The United Reformed Church in Castle Square is undertaking an exciting new venture in the centre of Wisbech, by planning to restore and develop the church undercroft.  Records show that in the 19th century the undercroft was used as a school, a canteen, a bathhouse and laundry for the underprivileged children of the town. The plan is to restore and develop, to the highest modern standards, a community centre to be known as the Sugar Tub Community Centre. The name is taken from one of the streets bordering the premises i.e. Castle Mews, also known as Sugar Tub Lane. The origin of this second name is shrouded in obscurity.

Once suitable funding is available work will be commence to provide the following facilities:

·     A function room measuring approx 30x15 feet.

·     Two smaller meeting rooms.

·     A fully equipped kitchen with a small delivery hoist

·     Ample storage space, offices, including accessible toilets and wheelchair lift.

·     Access will be available from Castle Square, Union Place and Castle Mews.

All the major rooms will have at least one external window giving natural light and providing ventilation. An under-floor heating system will provide a constant background heat to all areas and the system could be reversed to provide cooling if weather conditions so require. It is hoped also to provide internet access.  The rooms could be used for a wide range of activities including: public meetings and lectures, dancing and/or fitness classes, carpet bowls and luncheon clubs.

It is not envisaged that the church will organise any of these activities itself, but will manage and maintain the premises for hiring, for regular or occasional use, on a non-profit basis.

For further information contact: Mr P Hinks, Interim Moderator, Tel: 01780 763910.

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Wisbech & District Talking Newspaper

Wisbech & District Talking Newspaper started in 1976 when two local men were inspired by a talk given by representatives of the Cambridge Talking Newspaper.  Thirty years later, tapes go out to nearly 100 blind and partially sighted listeners around Wisbech, stretching from Long Sutton down to the March Talking Newspaper at Friday Bridge, and from Parson Drove to Lakesend. 

Anyone with a visual impairment which makes reading the printed word difficult can receive the tapes.  It is a completely free service – everyone working for the Talking Newspaper is a volunteer, and the Post Office sends Articles for the Blind free of charge (usually first class)

There are three tapes each month, two of which consist of news taken from local newspapers.     The third tape, which is known as Contact, comprises interesting items from just about any source.  The three tapes go out at about ten-day intervals. 

The two news tapes each have their own team of about 8 or 9 readers plus a recording technician, who meet at Peckover House one evening a month.  The master tapes are then handed on to the ‘spinning’ teams who use the high-speed copying equipment , put the tapes in their pouches and take them to the sorting office.   

The Talking Newspaper relies entirely upon donations for its existence so funding varies considerably from year to year, but needs to cover the rent and the cost of new tapes and pouches.  Just recently there has been a major investment in new equipment which will enable the Talking Newspaper to go out on CD to any listeners who want them in that format.    

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CCORRN

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Reuse and Recycling Network (CCORRN) is an umbrella membership organisation; and was established in 2001.  We provide representation, advice and services, help raise funds and provide an interface with local authorities for a wide range of third sector organisations involved in waste reduction.  To fulfil this vision our aims are to:

·   Share knowledge and skills and disseminate best practice

·   Assist projects in accessing funding to secure long-term viability

·   Build and strengthen partnerships between all those interested

·   Provide regular easy access to information

·   Work with other parties on wider joint projects

·   Raise awareness and profile of the local third sector and the Network

 For more information go to www.ccorrn.org.uk

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Young People Speaking Up Advocacy Service in Cambridgeshire

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Trinity Church, March

Thanks to a tip off from FCVS via an insert in the Newsletter, Trinity Church

March was able to obtain funding of £480 from The Community Champions 'Fast Track' Fund.  The money was used to create a restful and attractive patio garden on a previously disused and neglected paved area at the back of their main hall.

Reg Kemp (Property Steward), took on the role of co-ordinator and facilitator which involved recruiting volunteers from the church community to participate in the project.  This group then set about planning what would be needed to create the garden area, how and where equipment and stock would be obtained and what preparation was necessary.  The first phase consisted of clearing the existing disused area of weeds and power spraying the existing paving which had become stained and weather worn.

The second phase consisted of a visit to the local DIY store to choose benches, a patio table and chairs, trellis, a water butt for recycling and an attractive sun dial centre piece.

Next, the volunteers visited the FACET charity shop to choose a range of climbing and other plants.  Using their cumulative gardening knowledge, the volunteers concentrated on obtaining plants which essentially would need a minimum of maintenance, once planted with care and more importantly, would last and flourish for many years.

Total expenditure came to just over £500 and the remainder will be obtained by offering church members the opportunity to dedicate benches in memory of their nearest and dearest. The garden will provide a restful, relaxation area both for church and the many non-church organisations who use the facilities at Trinity.  A plaque will be erected to acknowledge the much appreciated funding and a dedication service will be conducted by Rev Manny Pillay, the Minister, at Trinity Church in the Spring.

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Dunhams Wood

It is now 22 years since the first trees were planted in Dunhams Wood, on the outskirts of March, and it started on its incredible and unexpected journey!  Originally planned as “just a field of trees,” once other people began to get interested in it – it grew like Topsy and continues to do so.

There are now about 120 species of trees in the Wood, both deciduous and evergreen, including a number of special and unusual ones.  There are paths and glades around the Wood, a Maze, a Wishing Well, several “Arthur Dunham” original sculptures as well as lots of different things of interest – something different around each corner.  There is a small tea room, toilets, plenty of car parking and competitions for the children on Open Days.

Five years into the venture, the miniature railway arrived and began to take shape and now the track runs for half a mile around the Wood on a circular journey.  There are a number of engines, occasionally powered by steam, and the carriages are “sit astride” – passengers have been carried from 6 weeks of age up to their nineties, and most disabled visitors are able to get on the train.

A great deal of money is raised for charity and most charitable groups are welcome to have use of the Wood and its facilities.  The Wood is open to the general public, about 12 times a year – Bank Holiday Sundays and Mondays (except Christmas) and the Sundays in the summer school holidays.  Group visits can be arranged at other times.

To find the Wood take the B1099 out of March towards Downham Market, turn left into Binnimoor Road just after the level crossing, and the Wood is signposted from there.

For details of the Wood contact Margaret Dunham on 01354 652134, or for the railway, contact Michael Wing on 01760 338053.

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Chatterpillar

For details of Pre-School Activity Groups for Chatteris, Wimblington, Doddington, Benwick, Christchurch and Manea, please Click Here.  If you wish to change any details or add your group to the list, please contact Emma Davies:
Tel: 01354 680155 or Email: emmalonguk@yahoo.co.uk

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