Ribbon cutting marks milestone for Wisbech community farm with opening of hub
A new hub to make a community farm more accessible for all has been officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
On Wednesday, local people came together to celebrate the opening of a new building at Wisbech Community Farm which will help increase the reach of this invaluable resource.
Mayor of Wisbech, Cllr Sidney Imafidon, and Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Belinda Sutton, joined Katie Bristow, director of operations at People and Animals UK which runs the community farm off Lynn Road, to cut the ribbon to mark this milestone.
Open since 2018, Wisbech Community Farm helps local residents to gain confidence, develop skills and improve their wellbeing through animal assisted services, social therapeutic horticulture and other land-based opportunities. The farm has grown to support more than 600 children, families and adults each month, strengthening community cohesion and intergenerational connections.
Combining sustainable, carbon neutral energy solutions with accessible facilities, the new community hub will enable the farm to increase its offer for local people and reduce the waiting list for support, whilst developing opportunities to help social enterprises in the area to thrive.
The project has been funded by a number of organisations, including Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, which owns and manages more than 4,100 homes across Fenland. In addition to financial support provided since the farm was established in 2018, Clarion Futures leveraged relationships with builders’ merchants Travis Perkins and contractors Equans through its social value programme to provide funding alongside in-kind support including donating building materials and volunteering time.
The project has been funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s (CPCA) Market Towns programme partnering with Social Enterprise East of England, with match funding from Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and The National Lottery Community Fund, the farm has also received support from Anglian Water’s @one Alliance and Strategic Pipeline Alliance.
Katie Bristow, director of operations at People and Animals UK CIC, said: “The opening of this new community hub will make such a difference, future proofing our services for generations to come. We’ll be able to reach more local people and provide support to overcome isolation, create pathways into employment and empower residents to achieve independence, reducing pressures on statutory services.
“We couldn’t have done it without our fantastic network of partners, providing both funding and in-kind support to turn our dream into reality, and for that I am eternally grateful.”
Matt Parsonage, head of communities at Clarion Futures, said: “We’re proud to have supported the Wisbech Community Farm since its inception in 2018, providing both funding and access to additional resources and expertise through our social value programme. It’s great to see this new building officially open and I’m sure that the farm will continue to grow, helping to inspire a love of nature and changing lives for the better.”
Deb Lee, managing director of social enterprise East of England (SEEE), commented: “We are thrilled to see this fantastic building become a reality at Wisbech Community Farm. People and Animals’ new expanded offering demonstrates how the power of social enterprise can create lasting change that strengthens rural communities.”
Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), said: “It’s inspiring to witness yet another outstanding example of our Market Town funding in action, helping communities flourish. I’m delighted that we could contribute something that will have such a positive impact on our Fenland region and enable the farm to continue thriving and growing stronger.”
