Helen Cook •
Announcing a new tag on the Cambridge Resilience Web: A Penny Saved. This is a collection of organizations who offer free services and opportunities such as skills training or drop-ins, and who can help you save money on the cost of living.
A resilient Cambridge is one that takes care of people and planet, that is, it enables all people to thrive within planetary boundaries. This means that everyone has enough food and secure housing, everyone has access to opportunities, and everyone feels that they live in a supportive community and in a clean environment — with a healthy river that gives us water, green farmland that provides our food, and clean air for all.
The realities of austerity mean that it’s hard to make ends meet, and sometimes it’s hard to feel that thriving is accessible or realistic. Our neoliberal, capitalist world is working its hardest to have you believe that struggling is your own fault. It will tell you that you alone are personally responsible for thriving, while putting structural barriers in place to hinder you. Going it alone is a lie that’s constructed to keep us separated and to diminish our collective power.
Together we can support each other. For Cambridge to truly thrive, this means everyone who lives, works and studies here is thriving.
This is a guide to the helpers in Cambridge. In addition to financial help from the Council, this guide contains mostly community groups and charities that provide services such as emergency meals or low cost goods. These groups are interested in creating community and in addition to material support, most are happy to have a chat as well as provide ways for you to become more engaged in your neighbourhood.
Cambridge Sustainable Food has a great list of emergency food options, most of which are meals that are provided for free to anyone. They are organised here by day of the week and time.
HAY Cambridge has a good list of food banks, food hubs, and fairbite shops, which are different models of making food available and affordable. Some you need to be referred to, but many are open to anyone. Some are completely free, and others charge a small fee. This is clearly explained here.
Olio and Too Good To Go are apps focused around preventing food waste, and are active in Cambridge. At the end of the day, grocery stores and restaurants will give away, or sell at very reduced prices, food that is still good to eat but about to expire.
Community orchards in Histon, Trumpington, and Midsummer Common provide options for one of your 5 a day. Orchards also provide space to picnic, and a community of volunteers who would be happy to share knowledge about how to plant and care for fruit trees.
Cam Share is a ride sharing scheme that is active throughout Cambridgeshire. Input your trip as a driver or passenger, and you will be matched with other people going the same way. A suggested cost for the trip is calculated and suggested to be shared between the people in the car, but this is up to the passengers and driver to decide. It is mostly geared around commuting, but also useful for longer one off trips.
OWL bicycles funded by the Papworth Trust provides low cost refurbished bikes, while also providing skills training for disabled people.
If you’re travelling by train, don’t forget that a Railcard will save you up to 1/3rd on journeys after 10am.
If you need to replace something, visiting a Repair Cafe may mean you don’t need to buy something new after all. Expert repairers can help fix your electronics, clothing and other items for free. Booking is usually required in advance.
Cambridge is flush with charity shops, with the main concentrations being along Burleigh Street and Mill Road. These are a great source of kid’s clothes, kitchen stuff, books, and movies. Items are very often in excellent condition, and available at low prices. There are too many shops to link to individually, but I will call out these in particular for furniture and electronics.
Additionally, the Olio app lets you request and sell or give away household items to people in your neighbourhood (in addition to food).
CamLETS is a marketplace for trading without using pounds sterling. Trading is done in a local exchange currency called Cams. You earn Cams by offering goods or skills such as proofreading or yard work, or replying to other’s requests which are listed on the website. There is a small annual fee to be a member of CamLETS.
If your housing is precarious, it can be hard to register with a GP. Cambridge Access Surgery is open to people without an address.
Cambridge Care Collective provides weekly online group mental health and disability support. A confidential space to share your experiences and to be heard.
Free yoga is offered at West Hub on Wednesday at 1:00. You will need to register with an app, but it is all free.
The running club Run For Your Life meets weekly around Cambridge, is friendly and open to beginners. You have to register and wear a light coloured top, but it is free to join.
Reducing mould in your house can prevent lung damage and asthma. The Transition Cambridge page on mould and damp has good tips for reducing condensation in the house which can lead to mould growth.
Transition Cambridge has a list of tips for saving money on electricity, gas, and water bills including low cost advice on how to reduce heat loss and how to increase your heating efficiency.
For financial help with your bills, Cambridge City Council has a collection of guides on Universal Credit and Housing support, energy vouchers, financial support, debt and money advice, household bill help, and more. Take a look to see if you are eligilble for any of this support.
The County Council also has a guide on cost of living help, with some different information and resources from the city guide, so this is also worth checking out.
Community centres and churches throughout Cambridge are open as Warm spaces in the winter. A list of these with opening times and locations are available from the council.
Action on Energy is a collaboration between city and county councils in Cambridgeshire to provide a starting point for homeowners who want to make energy improvements to their homes. Find information about various grants that are available to make this a bit more affordable.
Cambridge Online provides several ways for people without the technology or digital skills to access the internet — with drop in access to computers and individual accessibility assessments to help people better use their technology. They also run a Senior’s Computer Club at various locations around Cambridge.
CB Mentoring provides mentoring, a homework club, and other social and cultural activities for Black and Minority Ethnic youth in Cambridgeshire.
Cambridgeshire Skills provides adult learning opportunities on a wide range of topics including improving your CV, family budgeting, and skills training.
Cambridge Solidarity Fund gives grants of £40, to anyone over 16 with proof of an address in Cambridge. Applications are online, and as many grants as they have funding for are given out every month.
In the north of Cambridge, two projects supporting families and children are the Red Hen Project and the King’s Hedges Family Support Project who both run drop ins to promote confident parenting.
In Abbey, Abbey People is a community charity, providing a Food Hub, a full calendar of free events, and much more to improve the well being of the people in Abbey.
Cambridge Women’s Aid provides a safe refuge and one-to-one support for women living in Cambridge.
Lastly for any other issues you may be facing, the national charity Citizen’s Advice may be able to advise you for free.
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