We developed our Community Wealth Building Strategy to tackle local poverty and inequality.
The strategy will influence the services we deliver and how we work with our partners and residents.
It looks at the barriers that cause poverty in Cambridge. We will use our position and influence to challenge them, helping all residents to thrive. We will do this by:
- investigating how communities, start-up companies and social enterprises can use our buildings and assets differently
- creating opportunities for communities to develop their own solutions to the issues they face
- looking at how our money, staff and connections can strengthen the city’s local communities
- working to bring money into the local economy
We are already working towards these goals in a variety of ways. For example:
- our Shaping Abbey project proposes to invest more than £100 million to redevelop parts of Abbey ward. We want the residents to feel they are an integral part of shaping the future of their community.
- we have commissioned research into the barriers to leasing vacant business property on a short-term basis. A simpler process would mean fewer empty shops and more variety on the high street.
- we are reviewing our community grants in response to requests for longer-term grants and simpler application processes. Reviewing the priorities will help to ensure we award funding where there is the greatest need.
- we ask contractors to make additional social-value commitments. These include contributing to community initiatives and using electric vehicles when delivering their services.
- we have supported the establishment of the Greater Cambridge Impact fund, a £10 million investment fund that will support projects to tackle inequality.
Community power news stories
‘Community power’ is the idea that communities (of place, experience, and interest) should have greater say and control over the decisions, services, amenities, and places that shape their lives.
Communities have a wealth of knowledge, skills and assets, which mean they are well placed to identify and respond to any challenges that they face. It is important that we help to empower them to use these skills to find solutions to issues they face.
- Discover how veterans in Barnwell revitalised a struggling ex-services club, turning it into a thriving welfare and community hub.
Anti-Poverty Strategy
We introduced the Community Wealth Building Strategy in 2024. We previously worked to an Anti-Poverty Strategy.
