Cambourne Town Council and many Cambourne organisations have a number of opportunities for those wishing to volunteer in the community. Please take the time to review the below opportunities and consider if you could offer your time to support. Contact details are included below.

CAMBOURNE TOWN COUNCIL

Litter picking

Advantages to becoming a volunteer litter picker:

  • It’s a great way to get outside and keep active, whilst benefitting the community too
  • Helps to keep Cambourne roads, open spaces, woodlands, and country park clean
  • All equipment is provided by the Council and you will be covered by insurance. You will be loaned a litter picker, bag hoop, gloves, high vis vest and bin bags
  • No commitment necessary, you can do as much or as little as you like
  • Rewarding – we can also support students working towards their Duke of Edinburgh award

Read the volunteer litter picking document and return sign-up sheet (last page) to community@cambourneparishcouncil.gov.uk

Graffiti cleaning

Occasionally we will experience a spate of vandalism as many towns do particularly in play areas, on bins and street furniture. The grounds team do their best to keep on top of removal of graffiti, but in busier periods or if graffiti is inoffensive it may not be prioritised. If you are keen to see graffiti removed quickly, why not consider volunteering to clear graffiti? We will provide you with all the supplies and PPE required to safely remove graffiti, and you will be covered by the Town Council’s insurance.

Read the volunteer graffiti cleaning document and return sign-up sheet (last page) to community@cambourneparishcouncil.gov.uk

Events

Cambourne Town Council organises and supports numerous events throughout the year. This includes: Cambourne 10K, Big Squiggle, Cambourne Fete, Fireworks Night and Switch On. This year (2023) we will also be organising a celebratory event for King Charles III Coronation, and a fun day opening ceremony at Cambourne Soul. We always need a few extra hands to assist with events so that they run smoothly.

Tasks volunteers may be required for are marshalling, working a stall, or helping with set up/clear up of an event.

If you can spare some time throughout the year, particularly on weekends, please add yourself to the events volunteer list. We will contact you to find out your availability for events in Cambourne.

Councillor

Cambourne Town Council is made up of 19 councillors – there are currently no vacancies but if you are interested in becoming a Councillor we can keep you informed when a vacancy arises.

The Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month, and then delegates it duties to three committees – Planning, Leisure & Amenities and Finance & Policy

Councillors are encouraged to join one of the committees.

If you are interested in volunteering your time to become a town councillor and represent the community, please read the job description to give you a better understanding of the role, and email clerk@cambourneparishcouncil.gov.uk for further information on how to stand.

REPAIR CAFE

Do you have a skill (or skills) in repairing items? For example, sewing, electrical, electronics, mechanical, sharpening, jewellery, woodwork, computers and gluing.

Repair Cafe’s match people who need something fixed with people who like fixing things. They are free events so there is no charge for repair.

If you would like to volunteer as a repairer at, or organiser of, Cambourne Repair Cafe then please contact cambournerepaircafe@gmail.com. See https://cambournetowncouncil.gov.uk/cambourne-repair-cafe/ for further details.

MEN’S SHED

Volunteers are in the process of establishing a Men’s Shed in Cambourne. If you would like to help organise the Shed or participate in meetings contact cambournemensshed@gmail.com.

See https://cambournetowncouncil.gov.uk/cambourne-mens-shed/ for further details.

LIGHT UP CAMBOURNE

Light Up Cambourne are a voluntary group of residents who work each year in partnership with the Town Council to light up Cambourne for Christmas. We are looking for volunteers to help at all our fundraising events – typically held at the Hub on Saturday evenings – we hold half a dozen a year and the role can include set up and clear away, serving food and drink, interacting with customers and taking money. Examples of the events we host are Bingo, Quiz Night and Murder Mystery. There is also the annual Switch On event where anyone volunteering must be happy to be outside for a period of time too. This will involve working a stall or marshalling.

Contact Light Up Cambourne for more information and discuss further: lightupcambourne@gmail.com / https://www.facebook.com/LightUpCambourne

WILDLIFE TRUST

Cambourne is home to the headquarters of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire. The nature reserve that surrounds the town is managed by the Trust.

Listed below are the main volunteer roles. Click the link to read the role descriptions:

Alongside these roles there are these additional roles:

Young People’s Forum member

https://www.wildlifebcn.org/take-action/young-peoples-forum

Work party volunteer (at various reserves in the area including Gamlingay, Hardwick, and Waresley and Gransden Woods)

https://www.wildlifebcn.org/volunteering-opportunities/conservation-work-parties-cambridgeshire

Research and monitoring opportunities at various locations across the county

https://www.wildlifebcn.org/volunteering-opportunities/research-and-monitoring-volunteer

General volunteering webpage is: https://www.wildlifebcn.org/get-involved/volunteer

Rebecca Neal, Communities & Wildlife Officer – also known as Becca Badger on Facebook. She is the main contact for volunteers in the area and can help direct people to a role that suits both sides. She can be contacted on Rebecca.Neal@wildlifebcn.org

You can also find the Wildlife Trust on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildlifebcn

TIMEBANK

Cambourne Timebank is a group for people to get together, make new friends and support one another within their community.

Timebanking is a way of helping each other by exchanging ideas, knowledge or practical help with one another. The type of help on offer includes things like shopping, beauty treatments, decorating, help with IT skills or CV writing.

Some of the local organisations in Cambourne are members including Cambourne Crier, CamCareUK and 19 the Coffee House, so people who volunteer there can sign up to the Timebank to earn Time Credits for their volunteer hours. Time Credits can be spent at participating leisure facilities such as Cambridge Light Cinema and Clip n Climb.

19 – THE COFFEE HOUSE

A community cafe situated in Cambourne Church serving a range of refreshments and run by volunteers.

Visit: www.cambournechurch.org.uk/Groups/268299/19_The_Coffee.aspx Email: office@cambournechurch.org.uk for information on how you can volunteer for the community cafe.

CAMBOURNE FOODBANK

For more information about the foodbank email: info@ccfb.org.uk or julie.whitbread@cambournechurch.org.uk The Cambourne Distribution Centre of the Cambridge City Foodbank has sessions in the Blue Space (just behind the church building) every Thursday morning 10.00am-12.00pm.

HOPE AGAINST POVERTY CIC – COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECT

Community shop is open Wednesday 11am – 2pm at the Hub community centre and can be used by anyone.

The community food project also supports those in urgent need for food by supplying food parcels. The shop is supported by South Cambs District Council, Cambourne Town Council, and long lasting and fresh food donations are supplied by Morrisons.

The project is only it’s first few months but has been successful so far with demand increasing each week. The project is looking to expand to open more days throughout the week and with a permanent shop location, as well starting up support groups.

For more information visit: hopeagainst.org/community-projects

Email: hopecic.uk@gmail.com

CAMBOURNE CAR SCHEME

Volunteer drivers needed to join the community car scheme to help take people to medical or social appointments, or maybe to the shops if someone cannot use public transport.

Car scheme coordinator contact:

Tel: 07526 998 465 or Email: cambournecarscheme@gmail.com

Visit: www.cambourne.info/cambourne-community-car-scheme

CAMBOURNE CRIER

Cambourne Crier is a monthly magazine delivered free of charge to all residents of the South Cambridgeshire villages of Lower Cambourne, Great Cambourne and Upper Cambourne. It features community news, events and people. Any local group, club, organisation, school or non-profit is welcome to submit content.

Compiled by volunteers and funded solely by advertising, Cambourne Crier is completely independent and has been published since February 2000.

If you would like to join the editorial team, to help with writing, design and layout, our website, social media – or anything else you can bring to the team – please get in touch on editorial@cambournecrier.org

Visit: www.cambournecrier.org

CAMCARE UK

CamCare UK hosts a range of cultural community events throughout the year, as well as educational events. They also support Cambourne Electronics & Robotics Club which has been hugely successful with children’s engagement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and has resulted in the club winning at national competitions.

You can find out about all the events and projects at camcare.org.uk

BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION – CAMBOURNE

Whether you want to upskill, keep busy or meet new people, we have a role for you. We need your help British Heart Foundation Cambourne Store - Cambourne Informationmore than ever before, so please complete our simple application form today – we’d love for you to become part of our friendly team.

Visit: www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteer/volunteer-in-our-shops

CAMBOURNE SOUL – CAMBOURNE YOUTH PARTNERSHIP

Volunteers are needed to help run youth clubs and activities in the brand new Cambourne Soul youth building. If you can help out, speak to one of the youth workers for more information.

Visit: cambournesoul.co.uk/

CAMBOURNE TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

Visit: www.cambournetownfc.org.uk/

CAMBOURNE FIREWORKS DISPLAY

The fireworks team may need support with set up, marshalling, and clear up. The fireworks display will most likely take place on Saturday 4th November 2023.

Visit: www.cambournefireworks.co.uk

GIRLGUIDING (RAINBOWS, BROWNIES, GUIDES)

There are numerous Girlguiding groups in Cambourne that need volunteers to support running the sessions and activities.

Visit: girlguiding.org.uk/interested

If you are interested in volunteering and something is not listed here, please contact the Community Development Officer community@cambourneparishcouncil.gov.uk