The network of community hubs across South Cambridgeshire

/in /by

Community Hubs Network

Safe, warm spaces that are here to help you.

With free refrshments and good company, Cambridgeshire ACRE’s safe and warm community hubs welcome hundreds of residents from across the district every week.

Cambridgeshire ACRE is a rural development charity that is proud to deliver the Community Hubs Network.

Hubs are truly community-led; coordinated and hosted by trained volunteers within the local communities.

The Community Hubs are a lifeline for many. They help to combat social isolation as well as supporting residents with checking their eligibility for benefits or completing forms.

You can also get free, independant and confidential information and advice from a team of trusted Village Agents on things like:

Cost of living, Household bills and saving money, Community transport, Local social groups, Health and care services and support, Help applying for benefits, food vouchers, Blue Badges or bus passes.

The hubs across South Cambridgeshire are funded by us, using money provided by the Cambridgeshire and peterborough Intergrated Care System’s South Place Partnership.

Find your local hub

There are hubs in Bassingbourn, Caldecote, Cambourne, Duxford, Girton, Grantchester, Hardwick, Horningsea, Landbeach, Linton, Melbourn, Meldreth, Northstowe, Teversham, Toft, West Wickham, Western Colville, The Wilbrahams and Willingham.

For full details of venues, opening days and times – check online at: http://cambsacre.org.uk/cambridgeshire-community-hubs-network

You can call: 01353 860 850 or via email at:">

Your nearest Community hub can be found at: Duxford

  • Duxford Community Hub – Duxford Community Centre, Hunts Road, Duxford, Cambridge, CB22 4RE.
  • Opens: Wednesday’s from 10am – 12pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Councils work towards local government reorganisation

/in /by

Last year, national Government said it wanted to implement a new system of local government, removing the current two-tier structure of district / city councils and county councils.

This means from April 2028 you’ll access all services, including benefits, bin collections, Council housing, education, planning, road maintenance and social care through one unitary authority.

Parish and town councils will not be affected and will keep working as they do now.

All councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been working together on potential new arrangements. From June into July, thousands of people responded to a joint survey that asked for views on the future of local government.

Data from that survey is informing proposals being developed for three potential options that are being considered.

1. South-East option:

Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgesghire and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

2. South option: 

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council

3. West option:

Cambridge City Council, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

All options include County Council functions.

We, along with Cambridgeshire’s other councils, will submit proposals to the Government in November.

There will then be a consultation before Government ultimatley makes a final decision.

Keep up to date with local government reorganisation at: http://www.scambs.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation

Do you need to reapply for your postal vote?

/in /by

The UK local elections will take place on Thursday 7th May 2026.

The law has changed – postal votes applications no longer last ‘until further notice’. They now expire after three years.

We have recently contacted over 15,000 affected postal voters in South Cambridgeshire to inform them of this change and encourage them to make a fresh application.

If you currently vote by post and have held your postal vote for more than two years, you should make a new application now.

You can apply online at: http://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

If you are an affected postal voter abd do not make a new application your postal vote will be cancelled on 31st January 2026.

If you have any questions about changes to postal votes, or if you want to cancel your postal vote because you no longer need it,

please email our Elections Team at: ">

Act now to make sure you stay registered to vote

/in /by

Are you registered to vote?

Every year, our Elections team writes to all households in the district to ensure that the names of voters registered at each address are correct. It’s really important that the information we hold is up to date and accurate.

If you haven’t already done so, please check that the names on your form are correct and update us with any changes if necessary.

Remember, if you add the names of any new people, they will also need to make a seperate application to register at: http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Why it matters: Being registered to vote ensures you are able to vote in elections.

The next elections in our area are for our District Councillors scheduled to take place in May 2026. These will also coincide with elections for all parish and town councils across South Cambridgeshire. You also need to be registered to vote in order to take part in any by-elections, which can happen at any time.

Did you know?

You can only vote after you turn 18, but you can register to vote from the age of 16!

Being on the register can help you get approved for credit applications.

The Jury Service uses the register to select people to sit on juries.

Have your say using our community engagement platform

/in /by

Our online engagement platform at: http://www.scambs.gov.uk/consultations  is a space for people who live in, work in, or visit South Cambridgeshire to be actively involved in local decision-making.

Our new platform offers a range of participation and engagement opportunities – enabling you to contribute to your community and the decisions that affect it.

We currently have two active surveys where you can share your thoughts on how we’re doing – one focused on our services and another on our online and digital offerings.The surveys only takes a few minutes to complete, and we greatly appreciate all feedback.

You can fill this out at: http://www.scambs.gov.uk/consultations

You can also get involved through our Community Forums, held quarterly at our growth sites. These forums keep residents up to date on the latest development and give the opportunity to help shape your community.

We want our residents, businesses and community groups to be involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.

This new engagement platform is a vital step in making local government more open, accessible and responsive.

Landlines are changing – Are you ready?

/in /by

Is your landline ready for the digital switchover?

By January 2027, traditional landlines will be upgraded to digital technology, meaning calls will be made over the internet rather than the old copper network. For most people, it will be a simple change – you’ll just need to plug your phone into your broadband router instead of the usual socket.

However, if you rely on your landline for telecare, a personal alarm, or dont have broadband at home, it’s important to check what this means for you.

Connecting Cambridgeshire’s Get Ready, Go Digital, Stay Connected Campaign is here to help.

Find out more by visiting: http://www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk/digitalswitchover