Since its launch in April 2025, the Futureproofing Cambridgeshire’s Community Buildings project has made significant strides in supporting and strengthening community buildings across the county.

In just six months, the project has expanded its advice service to five days a week, handling an average of 17 cases per month and delivering one-to-one governance support to nine community buildings. Four energy audits have been completed, with action plans underway to help halls become more sustainable and energy efficient.

The project’s monthly training and networking sessions have proven popular, with six events held and an average attendance of 16 participants. The new online Members’ Network, Community Buildings Connect, now boasts 63 active monthly users, providing a space for trustees to share best practice and access resources. Peer mentors – eight recruited and trained so far – are beginning to support others, while online directories for policies and suppliers have been established to make it easier for committees to find the help they need.

Community involvement is at the heart of the project. Trustees from across Cambridgeshire sit on the project Steering Group, shaping delivery and training themes. Feedback from casework and training is actively used to improve services, and targeted outreach has helped re-engage buildings that hadn’t previously accessed support. The project’s communications have also ramped up, with regular features in newsletters and a growing social media presence, leading to increased engagement and awareness.

Early results are promising: trustees report greater confidence in managing their buildings, energy audits are identifying significant potential savings and informal collaborations are emerging through networking. While challenges remain – such as building a culture of online peer support and helping trustees turn audit findings into action – the project is already making a tangible difference. Looking ahead, the team will continue to refine training, promote energy audits, and prepare for the Annual Community Buildings Conference in March 2026.

If you’re involved in running your village’s community building and could do with some help from our expert team, then why not get in touch?

Visit the project’s dedicated page: https://cambsacre.org.uk/futureproofing-community-buildings/.