Activities and inspiration for young people supported in South Cambridgeshire thanks to our charity of the year

A local grassroots youth organisation has been chosen as charity of the year for the District Council.

Cambourne Youth Partnership (CYP) was chosen by Cllr Peter Fane after he was elected as the new South Cambridgeshire District Council Chair.

CYP enables young people to participate in activities they help to develop, including sport, cookery, and community action projects. In addition, young people can access mental health and wellbeing support.

Cllr Fane takes over the Chair role from Cllr Anna Bradnam, who raised more than £1,000 for her chosen charity, Trussell Trust’s Cambridge Foodbank, during her time as Chair.

CYP runs open access and targeted youth clubs out of its base, called Cambourne Soul, including activities ranging from boxing and gaming to playing pool, pizza making to movie nights, litter picking and wellbeing support.

Its youth workers also engage young people in detached sessions in the community and deliver one-to-one sessions for those needing further support.

The charity’s key aims are to inspire and raise the aspirations of young people in the local community, particularly those who are experiencing disadvantage in various forms including social and economic isolation, and challenging life situations.

Cllr Peter Fane said: “Cambourne Youth Partnership is a wonderful charity carrying out amazing grass roots support with our local 11 to 18-year-olds. I am delighted to be able to help by choosing them as our charity of the year.

“We were pleased to hear representatives from the charity, including young people, address today’s Full Council meeting, to outline their inspirational work and what might be done to help them, including fundraising at any civic events to help deliver their objectives.”

Nigel Taylor, Chair of Trustees with CYP, said: “We are delighted to have been named as the Chair of the District Council’s charity of the year. We look forward to working with Cllr Fane and the rest of the Council in helping to give local young people a voice, and promoting their vital role in the community today and into the future.”

CYP works in partnership with Cambourne Town Council and Romsey Mill.

Cambourne Town Council provides a significant annual grant to CYP and also owns the Cambourne Soul youth centre, which is the base for many of CYP’s activities and open access youth clubs.

Romsey Mill has 40 years’ experience supporting young people, children and families in and around Cambridgeshire, to help transform lives. Romsey Mill makes a significant financial and practical contribution to the work of and CYP by providing youth workers that are based and work in Cambourne, as well as infrastructure support.

CYP is currently developing a new Cambourne Youth Partnership website, which is due to go live soon.

• Giving the presentation to Full Council were charity volunteers Bella Newbigging and Paige Barden, Youth Worker Emma Whitbread and Chair of the CYP Trustees Nigel Taylor.