As Christmas draws closer, generous Fenland residents are being encouraged, once again, to donate gifts to older people across the district.

After two highly successful campaigns and nearly 500 presents gifted to date, Fenland District Council’s Golden Age Christmas Appeal is back again to help make sure no one in the community is forgotten this Christmas.

The Council is teaming up with ‘How are You Fenland?’ (HAY) again to deliver the appeal. ‘How Are You Fenland?’ is a community engagement project hosted by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. The HAY team works with partners to promote wellbeing, lifestyle, and support services across the area.

The appeal has also received support from Wisbech Rotary Club, which has donated £1,000, and REMO Charitable Trust, which is donating Christmas gift bags to support the campaign. Their generosity will help bring even more gifts to local people over the festive season.

Donations to the Christmas appeal will be gifted to attendees of the upcoming Golden Age Fair, on Friday 11 December.

Golden Age fairs are free events, open to anyone looking for services, support and opportunities for over 60s.

Any leftover gifts following the event will be distributed to Fenland healthcare professionals to be given to vulnerable older people.

Cllr Sam Clark, Golden Age team leader, said: “We are delighted to be launching the Golden Age Christmas Appeal for a third year and giving the Fenland community another opportunity to make Christmas that little bit brighter for our older residents.

“The appeal has become a valued part of our December Golden Age Fair, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who donates and helps make it possible.”

Gifts must be new and unwrapped.

Suggested donations are books, chocolates / sweets / biscuits, gloves / hats / scarves, socks, toiletries and small gifts such as diaries and mugs. Perishable goods and alcohol cannot be accepted.

Donations can be made from Tuesday 3 November, and will be accepted until Friday 4 December.

Donations can be made at:

• Wisbech Library, Ely Place; March Library, City Road, and Chatteris Library, Furrowfields Road.
• Tesco Extra, Cromwell Road, Wisbech
• Tesco Superstore, Hostmoor Avenue, March.

The December Golden Age Fair will be held Friday, 11 December, 10am to 1pm, at Hudson Leisure Centre, Harecroft Road, Wisbech, PE13 1RL

Find out more about Golden Age Fairs at: www.fenland.gov.uk/goldenage

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk – https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

March will host another spectacular free-to-attend town centre Christmas market packed with festive cheer on Sunday, December 6, 10am to 3pm.

The event fills the town with stalls featuring festive food, local produce, gifts and handmade crafts. There’s a host of live entertainment, music and choir singing, free children’s rides, Santa’s grotto and an indoor craft market.

March Christmas Market is primarily a March Events Committee event, with Fenland District Council and March Town Council providing support.

Cllr Jan French, chair of March Events Committee, said: “From artisan cheeses and handcrafted gins to speciality breads and pastries, there’s always something to tempt every taste. Finding the perfect gift will be easy, with a wide range of quality crafts, toys, jewellery and much more.

“And the event is full of magic and festive feeling with loads of free entertainment, and Santa visiting too!”

Stalls and attractions will spread across Broad Street, High Street and March Market Place.  March Library, in City Road, will host an indoor craft fair and children’s activities, with 20Twenty Productions. March Museum, in High Street, is also set to be open. There will be free children’s rides, thanks to sponsorship from local businesses, and a Santa’s grotto in the marketplace. Plus, stalls in St Peter’s Church, High Street.

Walking, cycling or use of public transport to get to the event is encouraged for those who can. March train station is only a mile from the town centre.

Town centre road closures and parking restrictions will be in place on the day.

Free town centre parking is available at Fenland District Council’s City Road and Darthill Road car parks and at Fenland Hall, in County Road. March Market Place will not be available for parking during the event.

Catering stalls are already booked and other pitches are selling fast. To secure one, visit: www.fenland.gov.uk/events 

Over 40 and living in Fenland?

Join the free, friendly Travel Buddies trips to build confidence using public or community transport, discover new places, and enjoy a day out with others.

Upcoming trips

Upcoming trips are as follows:

• Train trip to Peterborough: 23 October 2026

Destinations are decided nearer to the date of each trip to ensure it is suitable for everyone who is signed up to take part.

Please contact transportandaccess@fenland.gov.uk or 01354 622318 for details.

How to take part

Booking is simple. Email: transportandaccess@fenland.gov.uk or call: 01354 622318 (answerphone available – leave a message for a callback).

Places on each trip are booked on a first come, first served basis. If a trip is full, you’ll be offered a place on the next available one.

We can also provide you with transport information and signpost you to other local transport providers and support services.

https://www.fenland.gov.uk/article/18488/Travel-Buddies

Cambridgeshire County Council Public Rights of Way Stakeholder Engagement Survey

Deadline extended to Sunday 18^th October. Please respond to the survey Cambridgeshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) Stakeholder Engagement Survey – Your Voice – Cambridgeshire County Council – Citizen Space

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) is a statutory document that every local highway authority has to produce.  It sets out how the authority will manage and enhance its public rights of way and countryside access.  The ROWIP must also consider cycle tracks in accordance with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Fenland District Council is launching a new Fenland Culture Fund this November, providing fresh opportunities for creative projects across the district.

The Council has committed £40,000 to the new fund, following a recommendation from the Council’s Culture Committee.

Previous Fenland Culture Fund programmes in the district were funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, via the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, and Arts Council England. However, the new fund is being directly funded by Fenland District Council.

The investment follows the success of the earlier programmes, which awarded a combined £90,000 to support a wide range of arts, culture and heritage projects and activities.

Of the £40,000 available, £16,000 will be allocated to deliver additional arts and cultural activities at Fenland’s popular Four Seasons events: March St George’s Fayre, Chatteris Midsummer Festival, Whittlesey Festival and Wisbech Christmas Fayre.

The remaining £24,000 will be available through a grant programme, with grants of up to £2,000 available to eligible individuals, groups and organisations.

Applications for the new fund will be open from Monday 2 November 2026 to Friday 15 January 2027. Full details, eligibility criteria and an online application form will be published on the Council’s website at: www.fenland.gov.uk/fenlandculturefund

Cllr Samantha Hoy, Fenland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Housing and Licensing, said: “The previous Fenland Culture Fund programmes showed the huge value that arts, culture and heritage projects bring to our communities, supporting a diverse range of activities across Fenland.

“We’re therefore delighted to be launching a new Fenland Culture Fund, funded directly by Fenland District Council, to help individuals and organisations continue developing creative opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

“Whether you’re a local artist, or community group, town council or cultural organisation delivering arts, culture and heritage activities, I’d encourage you to consider applying.”

The new Fenland Culture Fund is open to individuals aged 16 and over who live or work in Fenland, as well as arts, culture and heritage organisations, community and voluntary groups, and town and parish councils delivering cultural activity within the district.

Funding can support a wide variety of activities such as performances, exhibitions, workshops, festivals, craft projects, heritage initiatives, and much more.

The Council welcomes applications from both first-time applicants and those who were unsuccessful in securing support through previous cultural funding programmes.

For more information, visit: www.fenland.gov.uk/fenlandculturefund

Cambridgeshire County Council has launched a public engagement survey to ask for residents’ opinions on where it should prioritise spending and savings in the years ahead.

More information can be found here: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/budget-planning-begins-residents-invited-to-share-their-views-on-where-to-spend

The Engagement Survey will be in two phases. Phase 1 closes on 15 November 2026.

Fenland District Council has endorsed a motion highlighting the importance of securing land for sports pitches and outdoor recreational facilities in March.

Read more https://www.fenland.gov.uk/article/18971/Council-backs-motion-supporting-sports-pitch-provision-in-March

Please see statement released regarding Clinical Strategy work underway across the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospital Group (NWUHG): Statement regarding services at The QEH – QEH Media Hub .

The NWUHG has commissioned Healthwatch Norfolk to undertake a survey to gather views on how healthcare services should develop over the next 10 to 20 years.

The feedback received will help inform the Clinical Strategy, which will consider how services can be delivered across the Group’s three hospitals in the future.

The feedback gathered through this survey will help inform decisions about the future development and delivery of hospital services across Norfolk and Waveney over the next 10 to 20 years.

We would therefore appreciate your support in sharing the survey as widely as possible through your, networks and communities, so that the views and priorities of Fenland and North Cambridgeshire residents are fully reflected in the findings.

The survey asks a range of questions to help understand:

• What works well now

• What makes it difficult to access the care you need

• What matters most when using hospital services

• How people feel about receiving more care closer to home

• Views on travelling for specialist care

• What should be considered when planning healthcare services for the future

The survey can be accessed here:

Have your say on the future of healthcare in Norfolk and Waveney – Healthwatch Norfolk

Cambridgeshire County Council is working with district and city councils to contact families identified as eligible to receive currently unclaimed Pension Credit, aiming to put up to £2M per year back into residents’ pockets.

Starting this week, over 700 households across Cambridgeshire will be contacted by letter, email and phone call. Each household will be advised of their eligibility and provided with support to help them apply for their unclaimed benefit.

If March residents are in any doubt about the authenticity of a letter or a phone call – call Fenland District Council directly to ask. https://www.fenland.gov.uk/contactus

More details … https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/unclaimed-pension-credit-campaign-aims-to-put-millions-back-in-residents-pockets