Community space vows to tackle loneliness in Fenland village
It's part of a community hub expansion in the county
They've been giving people a lifeline, and now more community hubs across Cambridgeshire are being set up.
The Cambridgeshire ACRE charity has launched seven community living rooms in Fenland with the aim of opening more thanks to almost ÂŁ160,000 of government funding given out through the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.
It's through the 'Know Your Neighbourhood' fund, which aims to increase participation in volunteering and tackle loneliness in disadvantaged areas across England.
One of the community living rooms involved locally is the Christchurch Umbrella, which opens three times a week for villagers to get together and socialise.
Helen Chappell is the lead volunteer there:
"It's for people to come together, make friends, have conversation; it's about companionship, company and avoiding loneliness," she said.
"We are very isolated (in Christchurch); we don't have a bus service, no rail station, no shop, so there was a call for it (the Christchurch Umbrella).
"It's mainly older people that come here rather than young, but I think it depends on the make-up of the village."
The Christchurch Umbrella, renamed as the community living room network is rolled out, has been running for around five years and used to run at the parish church, but due to repair work moved to the village community centre.
"It's nice to come out and meet people"
The community living rooms builds on Cambridgeshire ACRE's network of [hubs in the east and south of the county](https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/cambridgeshire/news/haddenham-social-hub-face-winter-demand/){:target=_blank}, previously known as 'warm hubs'.
Wendy is one service user at the Christchurch Umbrella.
"It's companionship; I'm on my own so it's nice to come and meet people, and it's lovely and warm."
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