The Cinnamon Trust is the national charity whose wonderful volunteers help people over retirement age and those in the latter stages of a terminal illness by offering all kinds of free pet care.  We are looking for dog walking volunteers to help a resident of Benwick and their delightful dogs who would love to go for a good walk.

 Many elderly or ill pet owners worry about their ability to provide proper care for their animals and start looking to rehome what may be their only companion.  This is where our national network of dedicated volunteers step in to offer support enabling them to stay together.  We’ll walk the dog for a housebound owner, we’ll foster pets when owners need hospital or hospice care, and even clean out the bird cage or litter trays.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can download our volunteer registration form from our web site www.cinnamon.org.uk or email us at appeals@cinnamon.org.uk  If you would like to have a more in-depth chat about becoming a volunteer, please call us during office hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) on 01736 758 701, or you can check out our website www.cinnamon.org.uk  for more details.

March Amateur Theatre Group is starting Christmas singing sessions at St Wendreda’s Church Hall, from Thursday 23rd October from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

There will be a friendly and welcoming atmosphere to sing all those seasonal favourites. You do not need to be able to read music, there is no charge for the sessions, and refreshments are available – so why not go along for some festive fun?

For more information email: contactmarchatg@gmail.com

1,912 responses were received between 3 September and 3 October 2025, from across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Responses came from residents, town and parish councils, businesses, the community and voluntary sector, other public sector bodies, elected representatives and local authority staff. They shared their views via an engagement survey to help inform the development of Option A, which proposes the creation of two new unitary councils covering the ‘north and ‘south’ of the area between them, to replace the existing seven councils.

Read more HERE

Who are we?

We have five Partnership Boards:

• Carers
• Older People’s
• Physical Disability
• Sensory Impairment
• Learning Disability and/or Autism

The Partnership Boards are funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council so that people of lived experience can come together with professionals to discuss our local adult health and social care.  We also cover other issues such as travel, not being able to use an NHS app on your phone, and even how accessible it is to vote in elections.  If you think it’s important, we do too. 

What do we do?

We can’t improve health and social care without listening to the voices of people who use it.  This is why we have special meetings, usually four times a year, where people like yourselves get together in a room with the people who are in charge of running our health and care services.  We also invite relevant charities who can offer help and expertise, but we can even invite representations from organisations where people are having lots of issues. 

But the most important people in the room are people like yourselves – you are the experts, you have the lived experience, and you know what needs to change.

What do we provide to people who join the Partnership Boards?

• Training
• Reimbursement of expenses for mileage/train fare etc, a free drink and biscuits
• A recognition payment of up to £20 cash bank transfer or £20 voucher per meeting, capped at a maximum of six meetings per year (maximum £120 annually)
• Reasonable Adjustments so that people can attend and/or receive the information in an accessible format

If you are interested in joining one of our Partnership Boards, please get in touch.

Email lucy.kennedy@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk
Office: 0330 355 1285 (local call number)
Mob: 07584574610
Office text: 07520 635 176

Find out more about our work at www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk and www.healthwatchpeterborough.co.uk  

Please note there will be no access to the Market Place for parking on Wednesdays until 8pm whilst the youth project is relocated here.

The Junction Youth Project will be moving to the Market Place whilst demolition works take place at the old Barclays on Broad Street.

Steve Barclay MP is working with Rev Ruth Clay on a Heritage Lottery bid to fund the repairs needed to save the church spire and protect the world-famous angel roof. They will be meeting with Liz Bates, Director for England, Midlands & East at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to discuss the bid. A key factor in its success will be demonstrating strong community support.

https://www.stevebarclay.net/news/your-memories-or-stories-st-wendredas

Please share your memories or stories of St Wendreda’s — what makes it special to you, what role it has played in your life, and why it’s important to preserve it for future generations. Please write to: stevebarclay.net/contact

For more details see the Events Calendar

Information on the Postal Vote Reapplication process from FDC

Following changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, postal voters are now required to reapply for their postal vote every three years.

All postal voters who made their current application before 31 October 2023 are required to reapply for their postal vote by 31 January 2026.

If a new application is not received by this date the Electoral Registration Officer is required by law to cancel the postal vote and electors will have to vote in a polling station until a new postal vote application is received or if a proxy is appointed.

To vote in a polling station all electors are now required to bring in an accepted form of Voter ID on the day.

All those affected by this change will be contacted in the coming weeks explaining how to reapply. We will be sending an initial email to all electors we hold an email address for, which will be sent from elections@election.fenland.gov.uk

More information on the FDC website https://www.fenland.gov.uk/postalvotereapplication

Protect our waterways.

Floating pennywort, a highly invasive aquatic plant, has recently been spotted near the Middle Level system of waterways. The plant grows at a fast rate – forming dense mats that can:

• Clog water channels, disrupting navigation and water flow.
• Destroy habitats, outcompeting native species and reducing biodiversity.
• Threaten pumping stations, which could lead to costly damage and even increase the risk of flooding.

The potential impact on our waterways, local wildlife, and communities is severe if this plant is allowed to spread.

What you can do:

• Be vigilant when out on the water or walking near the waterways.
• Visit the Middle Level Commissioners’ Floating Pennywort page for resources on how to identify and report floating pennywort.
• Report any sightings of floating pennywort immediately to the Middle Level Commissioners enquiries@middlelevel.gov.uk  
• Avoid moving boats, equipment, or materials between infested and clean areas without thorough cleaning.
• Please also share this message with any local groups who use or enjoy the waterways, such as anglers, dog walkers, wildlife and conservation groups. The more people who know, the better chance we have of stopping this invasive plant.