Cambridgeshire ACRE has published its 2025/26 Impact Report, highlighting a year of support for people, places and communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The report showcases the difference that communities, volunteers, funders, partners, members, trustees and staff have made together over the past year.

Throughout 2025/26, rural communities continued to face a range of challenges, including the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, pressure on volunteers, affordable housing shortages, digital exclusion, health inequalities and uncertainty arising from changes in local government and the NHS. In response, Cambridgeshire ACRE worked alongside communities to help people remain connected, supported and able to shape their own future.

The report highlights several significant achievements from across the organisation’s work:

• 161 community buildings supported to run safely and sustainably.
• 53 affordable homes delivered for local people and families.
• 40,803 visits made to Community Hubs across Cambridgeshire.
• More than 21,000 volunteer hours contributed in support of communities.
• 81 community and public sector partners working alongside Cambridgeshire ACRE.
• 36 waterways volunteers contributing over 1,200 hours of environmental action.

The report also demonstrates how community-led action is improving lives across the region. Local people have been able to remain in the villages they call home through the delivery of affordable housing, residents experiencing isolation have received trusted support through Community Hubs and Village Agents, volunteers have taken action to improve local environments and community organisations have received practical support to strengthen their long-term sustainability.

Alongside delivering support within communities, Cambridgeshire ACRE has continued to strengthen its own organisation. During the year the charity adopted a new organisational strategy, launched a marketing strategy, strengthened its approach to impact measurement and formally adopted the Charity Governance Code. These developments are helping to ensure the charity remains effective, accountable and resilient for the future.

The report estimates that projects measured during the year generated £988,080 of social value, demonstrating the wider benefits created through investment in communities and community-led solutions.

Looking ahead, the charity plans to expand its support for community buildings, progress affordable housing projects, strengthen Community Hubs, develop new health and wellbeing initiatives, grow its environmental work and continue championing rural communities as local public services and governance arrangements evolve.

The full Impact Report provides a detailed overview of the difference made across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough during 2025/26 and the priorities that will shape the year ahead.

Read the full Impact Report here.