A14 Community Fund – funding for local communities?
The A14 Community Fund is a legacy of the new A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon road improvement scheme.
The 21 mile improvement scheme will include a major new bypass of Huntingdon between Swavesey and Brampton, a widening of the road between Brampton and Alconbury, and improving the junctions at Bar Hill, Swavesey, Girton, Histon and Milton.
As part of a commitment to supporting local communities, the A14 project team at Highways England has launched the A14 Community Fund.
The fund, administered by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, will support local projects that consider and respond to changes brought about by the improvements, and provide them with resources to react to these changes.
The fund comprises a series of grant rounds.
Local groups and community organisations will be able to apply for grants of 10k which generate positive change and bring communities closer together.
Grants will be awarded over the next two years for community projects addressing a wide range of issues, including the environment, health and well-being, heritage, arts, skills and culture.
Gerard Smith, legacy lead for the project at Highways England explains that while the road scheme will relieve congestion and unlock growth, it is important to look at the broader picture and consider how the scheme will affect quality of life in the area. He states:
“The construction of the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme will have a lasting impact on communities that live around it, opening up opportunities for positive initiatives to the benefit of everyone in the area. We want to work with local communities to make the most of these opportunities and ensure we leave behind a positive legacy once the project is completed”.
To find out more about the fund visit the Cambridge Community Foundation website.
Projects already funded by the road improvement scheme:
Great Paxton Community Village Shop Ltd has been awarded a grant of £9,965.00 to provide a convenience shop for the local community including volunteering and work experience opportunities, and to support others to develop community shops.
Alconbury C of E Primary School has been awarded a grant of £5,000.00 for an artist to work with the whole community to update 5 murals in the school hall (one of which will be transport inspired and reference the A14).
Groundwork East has been awarded a grant of £10,000.00 to improve the confidence and employability of people furthest from employment, by growing wildflower plugs for use on the borrow pit nature reserves created by the A14.
Histon & Impington Community Orchard Project has been awarded a grant of £1,751.00 to complete and help maintain the orchard by providing a motorised brush cutter & hedge trimmer, and an information sign and to support others to develop community orchards.
