An excellent example of the way we drive economic growth and social impact is our involvement in The Vision Programme.

The Vision Programme is managed by Social Enterprise East of England (SEEE) and aims to support the growth of the social economy in Cambridgeshire, shaping a future where businesses serve everyone, in a way that protects natural resources for future generations and shapes resilient, inclusive and vibrant communities.

SEEE is working with local delivery partners to stimulate business growth and social impact in social enterprises and charities who are looking to trade. This local business support and engagement will include local organisations Allia, Cambridgeshire ACRE, Cambridge CVS, Peterborough CVS and Support Cambridgeshire – all working together to signpost to key information helping people start or grow their organisation or business.

Through The Vision Programme, Cambridgeshire ACRE’s particular focus is on rural community buildings. These halls, centres and pavilions are the heart of rural life, often the only spaces where people come together for social events, essential services and community support.

However, many of these buildings face significant challenges. Volunteer committees are often stretched thin, dealing with rising costs, maintenance issues and a shortage of volunteers. Without proper planning, these vital community hubs risk closure, leaving rural communities isolated.

To address this, Cambridgeshire ACRE is developing a practical business plan template tailored for community buildings. Designed for busy volunteers, this step-by-step guide helps trustees think commercially, strategically and confidently about their building’s future. The template will be piloted with a hall in Whittlesey, refined and then shared widely to benefit other communities.

When community buildings plan effectively, they remain financially sustainable, attract vital services, provide affordable spaces and anchor wealth locally. Our ambition is for every community building in Cambridgeshire to have the tools to plan, thrive and adapt – creating a lasting legacy of sustainable, enterprising community assets.

We thank the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Social Enterprise East of England, and all Vision partners for their support.

If you’d like to pre-register for a copy of our “Guide to preparing a business plan for your community building”, email us to go on the waiting list to be notified first when it goes live. Or if you are responsible for a community building in Whittlesey and would like to volunteer to help us “road test” the guide, with our support, then we’d love to hear from you.