News and publications

A village hall for the modern world: visiting Northstowe’s new Unity Centre

During Village Halls Week 2026, Cambridgeshire ACRE visited the new Unity Centre in Northstowe – a modern, multi‑use community building designed to be inclusive, sustainable and at the heart of a growing town.
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Living Sport brings inclusive activity – and a little friendly competition – to Community Hubs

A partnership with Living Sport has brought fun, inclusive physical activity to Community Hubs across Cambridgeshire, helping people of all ages and abilities build confidence, skills and stronger social connections.
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Be active: how movement supports health & wellbeing – and the role our village hall plays

In our second guest blog for Village Halls Week, Julie Bampton explains how Ellesmere Centre supports health and wellbeing in a rural community - helping people of all ages stay active, connected and confident through friendly, local activities.
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Community Buildings Conference highlights vital role of village halls in health and wellbeing

Trustees, volunteers and partners from across Cambridgeshire gathered in St Ives for Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Annual Community Buildings Conference, held during Village Halls Week. The event highlighted the vital role village halls play in supporting health, wellbeing and social connection in rural communities.
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Village Halls Week 2026: Community hubs in village halls – the Little Thetford story, told by Graham

In our first guest blog, trustee Graham James shares how Little Thetford Village Hall’s Community Hub has grown into a welcoming weekly programme. Run by dedicated volunteers, it brings people together for a cuppa, affordable activities and practical support - from Village Agent visits to advice drop‑ins - helping residents feel they belong and inspiring other halls to start small and build.
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Staff blog: Building skills, confidence and stronger village halls

Learning plays a vital role in supporting village hall trustees, boosting their confidence and wellbeing while strengthening the halls they run. Cambridgeshire ACRE’s 2026–27 programme offers practical training, mentoring, networking and the Annual Community Buildings Conference to help volunteers feel equipped, connected and supported in their roles.
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Rethinking rural proofing: the value rural communities bring to policy

Rural proofing isn’t just about avoiding unintended impacts - it can actively strengthen policy design. By involving rural communities early, policy makers gain practical insight, lived experience and innovative approaches that lead to better, fairer outcomes for everyone.
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The women holding rural communities together

For International Women’s Day, we honour the women whose quiet leadership and volunteering strengthen rural Cambridgeshire and help communities stay connected and resilient.
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Macmillan Cancer Support session

Staff blog: Preparing for a future where no one faces cancer alone: reflections from Fenland

Cancer support in Fenland is becoming more vital as the number of people living with and beyond cancer continues to rise. This article explores how our Macmillan Village Agents and Talk, Care & Share groups are providing personalised, local help so no one faces cancer alone.
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Guest blog: A day in the life of a village hall trustee

We invited trustee, Steve Scott, from Abbotsley Village Hall, who’s also one of our brilliant Peer Mentors for other village halls, to tell us what an average day looks like for him. Here’s his story.
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Rural proofing: What’s working, what isn’t and why it matters

In this essay, Chief Executive, Hayley Neal, explores rural proofing in more detail, asking why it matters and provides examples of where it's working, where it isn't and what might be done to correct this.
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Village Halls Week 2026: Celebrating Cambridgeshire’s Community Buildings

Village Halls Week 2026 is nearly here, and it’s the perfect moment to celebrate the vital role Cambridgeshire’s community buildings play in local health and wellbeing. From coffee mornings to community hubs, our halls strengthen connection and support people in countless meaningful ways. This year’s national theme highlights why these treasured spaces deserve continued investment - and why we’re proud to champion the volunteers who keep them thriving.
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