Support Fenland, Development Officer update

Published on: November 15, 2024

Since joining the Support Fenland team just over three months ago it’s been a very busy time, with the project continuing to gather momentum. As a resident of Fenland and also having worked locally in the charity sector, I feel privileged to play my part in helping local groups and organisations flourish in their communities.

One of the first tasks was to plan our official launch at the Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech on 24th September. It was a great success, with over 40 group representatives and stakeholders attending. After a presentation about the project, we gathered valuable feedback, hearing first-hand about some of the challenges and positive aspects experienced by the voluntary sector in Fenland. From this, we identified key priorities that the project would focus on going forward.

A diverse group of people stands together in a hall, smiling and holding a pink "Community Fund" banner, at the launch of the project

Whilst recruiting for our communications role, I was given an extra day a week to fill the gap on an interim basis and that included compiling information for social media and writing and distributing press releases to local newspapers and magazines to heighten awareness of the project. We had some excellent coverage following our launch, and it was good to build rapport with local editors and journalists who are keen to continue to promote Support Fenland.

Here are some of the articles:

An open copy of the Fens magazine showing articles with colourful pictures

The publicity has been an excellent springboard for generating more leads and conversations, and has resulted in me now working with several voluntary organisations offering support with sourcing grants and funding opportunities. Another of my tasks was to write a communications mapping document highlighting and planning the communication opportunities and challenges which will influence the ongoing and future promotion of the project.

The first few months have also been about meeting, listening, and networking with different groups and looking at ways in which Support Fenland can work collaboratively. These include, I Love Wisbech, Fenland Youth Network, Integrated Neighbourhood Partnership, Collaborative Fenland (Wisbech Community Farm) and Living Sport, who recently had a two-day Fenland Place Leadership Programme event in Wisbech, which I found extremely beneficial in building rapport with other attendees. (see photo below)

A group of five people sit around a table covered with papers, maps, and stationery. They appear engaged in discussion. The room has charts on the walls and people in the background near a refreshment table

It’s also been a time of working with our colleagues at CCVS (Volunteer Cambs) where we’ve attended events already happening in the district. This has helped to discover how Fenland communities are engaged in current work. It was great to support the team at the Volunteer Fair in Wisbech a couple of months ago and more recently in Whittlesey (see photo below).

Five people stand smiling behind a table with brochures and branded items. A "Volunteer Cambs" banner is in the background

Having finalised the action plan for the coming year, there are lots of things in the pipeline centred around networking events and training. Including a networking event on the 3rd of December, Let’s Shape Fenland, where we welcome people to find out more about the project and talk through what’s going on around them and issues they are facing across the district.

Visit the Let’s shape Fenland together page if you’re interested in joining.

Then, March 2025 is Support Cambridgeshire’s Funding Month, and I’ll be delivering a Fundraising training session with lots of ideas on how to generate extra income for charities and voluntary sector groups. More details on this, plus other training opportunities, will follow soon.

My passion is to see Fenland communities go from strength to strength, and I’m committed to offering groups and organisations the support that they need, including advice and guidance on their group structure, sourcing funding, grant applications, and much more.