Category: Cambridgeshire County Council
Easter Holiday Scheme Places – For Free
Cambridgeshire Care Together

Care Together is a programme led by Cambridgeshire County Council in collaboration with our partners and local communities. The aim is to help more older people to remain living independently and happily in their own home for longer. It will change the way care and support for older people in the community is commissioned and delivered.
To ensure that it is helpful for you, we would like your participation in answering an online questionnaire.
If you would prefer to collect a hard copy of the questionnaire, please contact the Parish Council office who will be more than happy to give you a copy. You can return it to the office once completed.
Highway Improvement Works – Station Road, Willingham
Highway improvement works are due to take place on Station Road, Willingham from the 6-10/2/23, with works taking place between 08:00 – 17:00. These works include sign and lining works.
During this time the road will be closed as a through route so work can take place safely, however access for all residents within the worksite will be maintained. Depending on where we are working at the time, we may ask you to access the area via the opposite end of the closure.
Whilst we will try to minimise disruption caused by the works, please understand there may be some delays caused by this approach. We have programmed the work, so it is delivered in the most efficient way possible, causing the least amount of disruption to the surrounding road network.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience whilst delivering this highway improvement work.
Please rest assured that the work being undertaken has been properly planned and will proceed in line with current Public Health England, and Government guidelines regarding Covid-19.
Cultivate Cambs Grant
Cambridgeshire County Council is pleased to announce that the next deadline for Cultivate Cambs grant applications is 16 December 2022. Pre-application advice appointments will be offered in November.
Cultivate Cambs awards grants of £2,000 to £15,000 for new initiatives that support adults & older people with care and support needs and children, young people & families, to live independently, safe and well in thriving and inclusive communities.
Pre-application advice
We encourage you to seek pre-application advice on your project ideas before submitting your application. Appointments are available on 8 & 9 November for projects supporting adults with care and support needs, 9 & 23 November for projects supporting children, young people and families, and 7 & 10 November for anti-poverty projects (e.g. enhanced community food projects). Please pre-book your 15-minute telephone or virtual advice appointment here.
Cultivate Ideas
Do you want to do something for your community but need inspiration to start a project? Cultivate Ideas offer guidance and support for setting up the following community-led initiatives – Enhanced Community Food Projects, Care Micro-enterprises, Community Warden Schemes, Community Youth Worker, Timebanks, Good Neighbour Schemes, Dementia Friendly Communities and Men’s Sheds.
Cultivate Cambs grant applications and information may be found on the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation website.
Scam Phone Call – Council Tax Arrears
This was shared by a Peterborough resident in order to protect others – It’s the transcript of a phone call that her Mother received last week:
“You are in debt £1,998 on your Council Tax bill. This issue will be taken to court and you will get house arrested. If you don’t want to resolve this debt in court, you must pay for a solicitor. I can help taking you to the solicitor to solve this Council Tax case. If you don’t get the solicitor or pay the £1,998 debt now, you can get house arrested.”
Luckily, the lady’s daughter was there at the time and when she noticed that her Mother was feeling panicked and confused by the phone call, she took the call and ended it.
They then did exactly the right thing: they contacted the City Council directly where the team confirmed that the lady was fully up-to-date with her Council Tax, that it would NEVER threaten someone with “house arrest” and that it would send out reminder letters if the account was in arrears.
Remember:
Never be Rushed – Take the time to talk to friends and family if you are worried about a cold call approach, whether that has come by phone, mail, online or on the doorstep.
Stay in Control – Make your own enquiries as the lady and her daughter did here.
If you need to phone to check the veracity of a call:
Use a phone number you know and trust, not one the caller gives you.
Make sure the line you use is clear (by leaving 10 mins before phoning, or phoning a friend first), or maybe use a different device. This is to prevent what is known as “no hang up” fraud where the scammer stays on the line.
County Council Highways events diary – October 2022
Please find attached the Highway Events diary for October. The diary shows all known events and their highway restrictions. The diary includes links to one.network where further details can be viewed, including the specific road closure timings of each traffic management plan.
October’s Highlights
Duxford Flying Finale – 8th October 2022
Cambridge Town & Gown 10K – 16th October 2022
Please remember details of all highway events can be found on https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/highway-events/
Future key event dates
Numerous Remembrance events are planned county wide throughout November.
Cambridge Bonfire Night, Midsummer Common – 5th November 2022
Mill Road, Cambridge Winter Fair – 3rd December 2022
School uniform help available for families
![]() |
Resources available to help with cost of living
![]() |
Cambridgeshire County Council need Volunteer School Appeals Panel Members
Volunteer School Appeals Panel Member
- Are you interested in Primary and Secondary School Education and want to be involved?
- Do you have excellent listening skills?
- Are you able to put people at ease?
- Are you able to make balanced decisions?
- Would you be interested in being part of an important, impartial service provided to parents and schools?
If you have answered yes to any of the above, please consider applying to be become a Volunteer School Appeals Panel Member
Why be a panel member?
For some people the work is helpful for their career, providing them with relevant work experience.
For others, it is rewarding in itself to give people the chance to state their case.
Appellants often become clearer about the options open to them during a hearing and the reasons why a place was not offered at a preferred school.
What is the role?
All parents or carers have the right to make an appeal to an independent appeal panel if their child is not offered a place at their preferred school.
The role of the panel is to decide whether a child who has been refused a place by an admission authority, should be given a place. All parties involved must be afforded an appeal hearing that is transparent, accessible, independent and impartial.
The appeal panel is independent of the local authority and their decisions are binding on all parties, unless overturned by the courts.
An Appeals Panel is made up of 3 trained panel members:
- Lay members – those without personal experience in the management of a school or provision of education in any school (except as a school governor);
- Education experienced members – those who have experience in education, are acquainted with educational conditions or who are parents of registered pupils at school.
The Panel is supported by an independent Legal Clerk who advises the Panel on points of law and procedure and takes notes during the Hearing.
What will I be doing?
- You will be sitting on independent admission appeal panels
- Ensuring that parents feel they have had a fair and independent hearing, have been given every opportunity to put their case and have been taken seriously
- Volunteers must be able to listen to two sides of a case and weigh up evidence objectively and impartially.
To ensure impartiality, panel members must not be elected Members or employees of the County Council who work in education, or on the governing body of the school concerned with the appeal. However, they can be on the governing body of an unconnected school. They must also not be involved in the management or provision of education in any school.
What skills or experience do I need?
The following qualities will help you to undertake the work of the Panel:
- Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people
- Ability to read and assess information and identify key points
- Ability to listen to key information
- Ability to ask questions to obtain information and clarify points being made
- Ability to analyse information and use it to form opinions and conclusions
- Ability to obtain and weigh up evidence to reach a reasoned and evidence based decision
- Willingness to work as part of a team
- Willingness to take advice
- Willingness to develop your own skills
Equal Opportunities
- Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities
- Ability to consider people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs
Panel members will be expected to develop an understanding of:
- The admissions process and the guidance /legislation
- The role of the Legal Clerk
Will I receive training?
All volunteer Panel Members receive initial and annual refresher training. You will also be fully supported by the Appeals Service.
How much time do I need to give?
This can vary depending on the level of commitment you wish to give. While appeals are held throughout the year, the peak months are between April and July. The appeals are arranged for half a day or a full day.
Location of Hearings
Hearings are currently virtual using Microsoft TEAMS but this will be reviewed in September 2022.
More information
If you require further information or would like an informal to chat to discuss the above, please contact zoe.shanahan@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
CCC – Summer Holiday Activities
The Library Presents Spring 2022 season
Easter Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme
Warning of loan shark dangers in Cambridgeshire
![]() |
Cambridgeshire County Council is lending its support to a national campaign aimed at tackling loan sharks and raising awareness of where people can seek help. The campaign is being led by the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) – a national team that investigates and prosecutes loan sharks. They also provide specialist support for people affected by this crime. A loan shark is someone who lends money without authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They often tend to initially appear friendly and helpful but can then turn to violent and aggressive behaviour to force victims to repay the loans with huge interest and extortionate penalties. It’s not always easy to spot a loan shark as they come in many different guises and will at first appear friendly, just part of the community. It’s when you can’t pay that they will turn on you. They could be a regular from the local pub, a parent in the school playground or a friend of a friend. Loan sharks prey on people at their most vulnerable. Borrowing from a loan shark can seem like an easy option but often it will lead to a vicious cycle of threats, intimidation and spiralling debts. You will usually find these predators lurking in communities, but they also operate on social media, using dating sites and online groups to find, threaten and control people in debt. Here are some of the warning signs to watch out for that a lender is acting illegally: Giving you no paperwork or agreement on a loan Refusing to give you information about the loan Keeping items such as your passport and bank card until the debt is paid Taking things from you if you don’t pay on time Adding more interest or charges so the debt never goes down Using intimidation or violence if you don’t pay Starting off by being your friend but quickly turning nasty If you have borrowed money from a loan shark, it is important to remember that you have done nothing wrong and there is no shame in seeking help. It may seem like a difficult step to take, but there is support available from the England Illegal Money Lending Team. Credit unions are a safe and legal alternative than borrowing from a loan shark, find out more about the services on offer locally by going to www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk. Why join a credit union? ✔️ Credit unions are not-for-profit organisations, existing primarily to serve the needs of their members and the communities in which they operate. ✔️ It’s easy to find a credit union that you’re eligible to join. To become a member of the Eastern Savings and Loans Credit Union, you need to live or work in Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire. ✔️ Credit unions help members save and manage their money ethically and responsibly. They offer savings and loans at affordable rates, and just like with banks and building societies, your savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). ✔️ Credit unions may be more willing to offer you a small loan if you have poor or no credit rating. Banks, along with other loan providers, may be reluctant to lend you money for this reason. It’s easy to check that a lender is authorised before considering a loan by visiting the Financial Services Register online at https://register.fca.org.uk/s/ Residents who believe they may be involved with a loan shark or suspect that one is operating in their area can report it to the Illegal Money Lending Team by calling 0300 555 2222, emailing reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or filling out an online form at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Follow us on Twitter| Facebook|Cambridgeshire.gov.uk/against-scams ![]() |