This winter will be a tough time for many. Lots of organisations in Cambridge are planning events and activities to support local communities over the winter period.

Our meeting aims to bring people from different organisations working across a number of agendas together to develop a city wide winter programme. It is hoped that by mapping as much local activity as we can, we can reduce duplication, make sure of an even spread of support across the City, ensure best use of resources and increase opportunities for collaboration.

So if you are working on fuel poverty, food poverty, health and wellbeing, winter warmth, benefits advice, community food hubs, food banks, health care access, health equalities, affordable warmth, money saving, digital inclusion, offering cheap or free activities over the winter, are interested in supporting local communities, volunteering or related areas, then this meeting might be of interest to you.

We will:

1) Plot on a massive bit of paper the events that different organisations have planned/ are planning from October 2022 to February 2023 - listing where, when and who they will be run by. This list will form the basis of the winter programme which we can collate and jointly promote.

2) Identify any geographical gaps or communities with less provision/ more likely to need support and discuss who is best placed to meet that need.

3) Introductions and Networking - for example - bring together people who have buildings, with those who can provide activities and advice, with a pop up community café on a pay as you feel basis.

4) Create an offers and wanted board - what we can offer to others at the meeting and describe what we might need to get things going. Then people can look for potential partnerships and collaborative opportunities.

5) The City Council will share some information about the various actions/ activities that they are planning.

There are some organisations who have already started this planning and others who are at the beginning of that process so this meeting provides an opportunity for you to network and understand how different agendas might link/ what different organisations are doing including Cambridge City Council, Think Communities, colleagues from Health and the Voluntary and Community Sectors and a few other interested folk.

The meeting will be at Akeman Street Community Centre.

You will need to bring post it notes, felt pens, business cards and maybe biscuits.

Any questions?

Contact Suzanne Goff - suzanne@cambridgecvs.org.uk or text 07840 990306

Community Engagement Lead - Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service

Community Winter Planning and Networking Session