As Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Community Wellbeing Manager, I help rural communities feel connected, supported and better off

 

Rural residents are more confident, less isolated and better able to access support close to home because of the work I do. When communities are connected to the right help, people discover options they did not know existed and are often financially and practically better off as a result.

I work alongside local communities as a facilitator and advocate, supporting Village Agents and volunteers who are at the heart of community hubs. By building trusted relationships, I help bring different types of support together in familiar, welcoming local spaces, making it easier for people to seek advice, meet others and feel part of something.

This work matters because rural areas face persistent challenges around isolation, limited transport and access to health and social care. By strengthening community hubs and representing local voices to decision‑makers, Cambridgeshire ACRE helps shape place‑based services that respond to real needs. This approach supports volunteer sustainability and ensures rural communities are more resilient in the face of funding pressures and changing services.

A moment that mattered to me

“At a local community event, people accessed multiple types of support in one place, alongside tea, cake and conversation. Several told me they had found help they did not know existed and some left financially better off, feeling more confident and connected.”