Local sports clubs, a community centre and village events are set to benefit from more than £7,000 in the latest round of South Cambridgeshire District Council Community Chest grants.
The funding backs grassroots initiatives which improve facilities, bring people together, promote wellbeing and deliver long-term benefits for towns and villages across the district.
Almost £80,000 has been set aside for Community Chest grants in 2025-2026 and in this latest round, £7,160 is being distributed to five local organisations. They are:
- The Over Day Centre Association – £1,708 to install four electric garden awnings. These will provide shade in hot weather and shelter when it rains, enabling the centre’s 48 clients, who attend from 17 surrounding villages, to use the newly refurbished accessible garden all year round. The Day Centre is a lifeline for older residents, offering activities, outings, care facilities, and a warm, sociable environment.
- Gamlingay Leisure (Community Gym and MUGA) – £1,333 for new gym equipment, including smaller-increment dumbbells, yoga mats, a replacement fitness bench, and specialist bars. These additions will help the charity to host women-only sessions and maintain a safe, modern facility for its 155 members. The community gym plays a vital role in supporting fitness, health referrals, and grassroots sport across Gamlingay and nearby villages.
- Fen Drayton Bowls Club – £1,920 to cut back overgrown hedging and install rabbit-proof fencing around the bowls green. Damage from rabbits forces members to patch holes before matches, disrupting play and creating a poor impression for visiting teams. The project will improve playing conditions, protect biodiversity with a regenerating hedge, and ensure longevity of a sports facility that supports league competition and social bowls for all ages.
- Hardwick Climate Action Group (HCAG) – £199 to purchase all-weather speakers for local community events including the 2025 Hardwick and Dry Drayton Eco Event - a sustainability fair held in partnership with local churches.
- Ickleton Cricket Club – £2,000 towards the cost of a new two-lane, all-weather cricket training net on the recreation ground, which will be free for all residents to use regardless of membership. The club has grown rapidly, introducing competitive youth and women’s cricket, with plans to launch a dedicated girls’ team in 2026. The nets will provide training space and benefit the wider community, supporting social cohesion, local fundraising, and facilities like the village hall and community pub.
Cllr John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Resources at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “It’s amazing to see such a wide range of local initiatives being supported through the Community Chest fund. From caring for older residents and encouraging grassroots sport to promoting sustainability and tackling climate change, these projects show the incredible dedication of local volunteers and groups. We are proud to invest in them and see the lasting difference they will make to our villages and communities.”
Community Chest grant funding is available to voluntary and community sector groups, charities and public sector bodies wishing to further improve quality of life in South Cambridgeshire
- · The latest round of funding was agreed in a meeting of the district’s Grants Advisory Committee.
- · Find out how to apply for Community Chest Grants on the Council’s webpage.
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