Across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, communities continue to navigate rising costs, increasing pressure on volunteers and growing expectations on local facilities and services. Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Staying Connected events are designed to provide practical, accessible support by bringing people together to learn, share experience and strengthen local capacity.

This summer, we are continuing our series of free, online Staying Connected sessions throughout May, June and July 2026, covering topics that matter to parish councils, community buildings and local organisations. Each session focuses on real‑world challenges, drawing on expert input and examples from practice, while leaving space for discussion and questions.

What are Staying Connected events?

Staying Connected events are short, focused online sessions that explore issues affecting rural communities and offer practical insights that people can apply locally. They are designed to be:

• Accessible – free to attend and delivered online
• Relevant – focused on current challenges facing rural places
• Practical – grounded in real experience rather than theory
• Connected – bringing together individuals, councils and organisations with shared concerns

Whether you are a parish councillor, a village hall trustee, a volunteer or part of a local organisation, these sessions are an opportunity to step back from day‑to‑day pressures and gain fresh perspective.

What’s coming up: May, June and July 2026

This summer’s Staying Connected programme includes sessions that explore wellbeing, resilience and how communities can respond collectively to change.

Topics include:

• Cancer awareness and early diagnosis in Cambridgeshire – focusing on early signs and symptoms, why early diagnosis matters and the specific challenges faced by rural communities.
• Community resilience and emergency preparedness – looking at how communities can prepare for and respond to events such as power cuts, flooding and extreme weather, with guidance from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Resilience Forum.
• Rural affordable housing in your parish – highlighting the role of local councils in bringing forward rural affordable housing on rural exception sites.

Sessions are delivered by experienced practitioners and partners, with time built in for questions and reflection. Full details, including dates and booking links, are available on our events page.

Why attend?

People tell us that Staying Connected events are valuable because they:

• Provide clear, trusted information in a changing policy and funding environment
• Help volunteers and councils feel more confident in their roles
• Offer reassurance that challenges are shared across communities, not faced alone
• Create space to learn without the commitment of longer courses or training

Importantly, these sessions are not about providing one‑size‑fits‑all answers. Instead, they aim to support communities to make informed, proportionate decisions that reflect local circumstances.

Who are the events for?

Staying Connected events are particularly relevant if you are:

• A parish councillor or clerk
• A village hall or community building trustee
• A volunteer or coordinator working with local residents
• Part of a community or voluntary organisation operating in a rural area

You do not need specialist knowledge to attend – just an interest in supporting your community more effectively.

How to take part

All Staying Connected events are free to attend, but booking is required. To view the full programme and register:

• Visit our events page
• Select the Staying Connected session you are interested in
• Follow the booking link for full joining instructions

We encourage people to book early and to share details with others in their network who may benefit.

By staying connected, communities are better placed to respond to challenges, support one another and plan for the future. We hope you can join us this summer.