Friends of Arbury Library AGM (Tonight!)

The Friends of Arbury Library group is holding its AGM tonight at 7pm in the Arbury Community Centre - please come along if you'd like to contribute!

If you can't make it you can visit the Friends of Arbury Library website here;

http://friendsofarburylibrary.blogspot.com/

Friends of Arbury Library AGM

The Friends of Arbury Library will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 29th February, 7.00pm (in exactly two weeks time). It is due to be held at the Arbury Community Centre on the corner of Campkin and Arbury Roads.

The aim of the meeting will be to discuss what the future may hold for Arbury Court Library and it's open to everyone, not just existing Friends members.

Local County Councillor Andy Pellew said "Arbury Library is absolutely key to our local community and while the threat of imminent closure has passed the Conservative-controlled County Council is still making cuts to budgets across the board and as it's shown, with it's savage approach to Bus Subsidies, that if not enough people are using a service the local community will lose it. I'd urge everyone with an interest in the local library to come to the Friends AGM - these groups really do make all the difference."

You can find more about your local Friends group on their website;

http://friendsofarburylibrary.blogspot.com/

It costs nothing to join the Friends of Arbury Library and in turn you will be kept informed about local events.

February drop in session

If you have an issue with services provided by Cambridgeshire County or Cambridge City Council then we may be able to help, and there are several ways to get in touch.

If you'd like to speak to one of us face-to-face then you can come to our monthly drop in session on Saturday. We'll be at the Arbury Community Centre from 10am until noon.

So please do come and see us if you have a problem.  If you can't make us, you can of course phone or email.  The details are on the left hand side of this webpage.

The first drop-in session of 2012 will be on Saturday 14th January at the Arbury Community Centre. As usual we'll be there from 10am until noon.

You don't need an appointment, just turn up and we'll be happy to chat to you about whatever is on your mind. Whether it is a local problem like graffit, flytip; or a wider issue please do drop in.

If you have a problem but can't make the session then you can contact us by phone, email or post: see the details to the left of the page.

The next drop in after this will be Saturday 12th February.

Drop in session at Arbury Community Centre

Second Saturday of the month means it is time for our monthly drop in session.

Do you have a local issue you'd like to discuss with your local Councillor? Maybe you have a view on a local problem, changes to the library services, or what you'd like to see your Council (either City or Council) doing in King's Hedges?

This Saturday (December 12th) from 10am until midday you can come and talk to us at the Arbury Community Centre.

No need for an appointment, just turn up!

Local Councillor Drop-In Surgery This Saturday!

Do you have a local issue you'd like to discuss with your local Councillor? Maybe you have a view on Councillors allowances, changes to the library services, or what you'd like to see your Council (either City or Council) doing in King's Hedges?

This saturday from 10am until midday you can come and talk to us at the Arbury Community Centre.

No need for an appointment, just turn up!

King's Hedges Surgery

Today I'm at Arbury Community Centre for the latest King's Hedges Liberal Democrat Surgery. If you have a local issue you'd like me to look at or just want to talk feel free to drop by.

I'll be around until midday, and if you can't make this one then you can always catch us at the Arbury Carnival on the 11th June.

Drop in session on the 14th May

It is now May so it is time to post a reminder of our next drop in session on Saturday 14 May.

This will be at the Arbury Community Centre on Campkin Road from 10am until noon as usual.

Hope to see some of you there!

At the community centre: Drop-in session

Andy and myself are at the Arbury Community Centre on Campkin Road until noon.

Do drop by if you have any problems or just want a chat.

It's a lovely day in King's Hedges!

Reducing waste: food events in King's Hedges

Supported by Cambridge City's Recycling Champions three events have been arranged for the "Love food, hate waste" campaign. These are intended to be fun events to give ideas about how to reduce food bills and reduce rubbish in the bin.

The first event was on Thursday last week with a butcher.

The next two events are both at Arbury Community Centre, and are free with no need to book. Just turn up.

On Thursday 14 April there is a family food fair, with lots of stalls about different ways to feed a family. The hope is for it to be a fun family activity during the school holidays. It runs from 10am until 1pm.

Finally on Thursday 28 April at 10.30am a professional chef will be demonstrating how to make tasty meals out of leftovers and common store cupboard ingredients. The results will be available for tasting by the audience.

April begins...

A new month means it is time to mention our next drop in session.

As usual it will be held on the second Saturday of the month, which this month is April 9, and will be from 10am until noon at Arbury Community Centre.

We usually sit in the reception area, but we have a private room if needed. If the weather is nice we might sit outside! This time Andy and myself are scheduled to attend.

CAB launch information point at Arbury Community Centre

Last week Andy Pellew and myself attended the launch of the new CAB information point at the Arbury Community Centre. In the picture are (left to right) Cllr Tim Bick (the Executive Councillor for Community Development responsible for supporting the project) myself, Alan Soer (Manager of the Community Centre), the hub itself and Andy.

Supported by the City Council, the CAB point provides information on a range of issues. It provides independent and confidential advice on housing, benefits, family law, employment rights, taxation, and other issues. It also provides suggestions about where to go to for more help if needed. With a touch screen it is designed to be easy to use.

The current economic climate means that access to advice is very important and hopefully this project will allow wider access to support.

Thanks to the Community Centre for agreeing to host the Hub, and particularly to Alan Soer for the work he put in to enable it to go in and work.

King's Hedges Councillor Surgery Next Saturday (12-FEB-2011)

If you are free on Saturday 10-12am and want to meet and discuss local issues I'll be at the Arbury Community Centre holding our monthy Liberal Democrat surgery. If you have any issues you would like your local Councillors (both City and County) to work on over the coming months please feel free to drop in - you'll find us just inside the main entrance (but we have the meeting room booked if you'd like to discuss anything in private).

See you there!


NB: If you would like to ask any of us a question and you can't make the Arbury Community Centre on Saturday then you can always contact us using the details on the left or our Ask Your Local Councillor feature.

Love Food, Hate Waste?

On Thursday 17th February from 10.30 until 1pm, Arbury Community Centre will be hosting a Love Food, Hate Waste workshop for people interested in reducing the waste they send to landfill, and getting the most from the food they buy.

It is aimed at our local recycling champions, who are volunteers, who work to increase our recycling and decrease our waste in their communities. The City Council is on the look for more, so if you are interested in either the workshop or becoming a champion please get in touch with me. (The organisers would like some idea of numbers in advance!)

Ward drop in session

Once again, we're at the Arbury Community Centre on Campkin Road. If you've got a problem that you'd like to discuss, we're here until 12, or you can always contact us with our details on the left hand side.

At the drop in session now (until noon)

Our monthly drop in at Arbury Community Centre has started. For those who don't know the centre is on Campkin Road, near the Arbury Road junction. It should be in the middle of the map below:

View Larger Map

(Bellerby's is the language school next to the Manor. I have no idea why that is included when Manor isn't.)

If you can't make it but need to speak to a councillor then use our contact details (on the left).

Drop in tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that I'll be at Arbury Community Centre tomorrow (saturday) from 10am until noon.

Do drop by and have a chat if you have any problems, or just to say hello!

Arbury Community Centre goes from Strength to Strength

A press release from the Community Centre:

Cambridge's Arbury Community Centre is going from strength to strength with a record number of visitors in the last year.

A new board of 10 trustees has also been formed with the number representing a significant increase on the previous year.

Newly elected Chair of the Association, Jo Richards said, "It's a tribute to the hard work that has been put in over the past year that at a time when companies and individuals have been cutting back, we have attracted a record 51,500 visitors."

Newly elected Vice Chair Cllr Mike Pitt added, "The centre offers everything from aerobics, and cheerleading to social enterprise, stamp collecting and yoga. It's good to see that the local community is getting more and more use out of this valuable resource and I'm excited to be involved."

Year on year usage of the community centre has increased by almost six per cent despite the economic downturn and there are plans in place for a regeneration of part of the centre in 2011.

CAPTION: Alan Soer, Arbury Community Centre Manager with newly elected Chair of the Association, Jo Richards.

I'll just add that it really is a pleasure and privilege to join the Association, the Centre plays a huge role in Arbury and King's Hedges.

Other Trustees include Neil McGovern, Andy Pellew and Arbury's Alan Levy

December drop-in session

December has begun so probably time to mention the December King's Hedges councillor drop-in session. This will be at Arbury Community Centre, Campkin Rd, on Saturday 11th December, from 10am until noon.

Please do say hello if you are passing, and if you have any problems we can help with then come and see us. You can always phone or email if you prefer.

There is also the weekly drop-in at the Guildhall on Friday lunchtime (but we can't guarantee a King's Hedges Councillor for that).

Your community centre needs you!

Arbury and King’s Hedges residents are being urged to have their say on who runs their community centre.

Trustees of the Arbury Community Centre are to be elected at its Annual General Meeting tomorrow evening (Tuesday, November 16).

Councillor Neil McGovern, Chair of Trustees, said "With increasing bookings, a dedicated professional staff, as well as recent renovations our community centre is where it should be; right at the heart of the local community. As trustees we've done this by focussing on the unique needs of North Cambridge and providing a link between local group organisers and people interested in joining the groups."

County Councillor Andy Pellew, a trustee said "Engaging with the local community in this current economic climate is always going to be more difficult but it's vital, especially given the Government’s commitment to the 'Big Society', that successful Community Centres like this have the support of their local communities.

“I urge everyone to attend the AGM and have their say on who will run their community centre for the next year. If you would like to be more involved than that of course we’d welcome you."

Alan Soer, Centre Manager and Chair of King's Hedges Neighbourhood Partnership said "This government may be talking about the 'Big Society' but here in North Cambridge we've been doing this for years. Volunteering can be, in my experience, one of the most rewarding things you can do with your time - this isn't about endless meetings and nothing ever happening, we're at the cutting edge delivering services to real people for whom the benefits can be enormous".

The meeting takes place at 7.30pm at the Arbury Community Centre on Campkin Road (CB4 2LD). Parking is available on site. Enquiries should be directed to Alan Soer (Centre Manager) on 01223 712038.

CAPTION: Alan Soer (Centre Manager), Jo Flood (Vice Chair), and John Robershaw (Treasurer) from Arbury Community Centre Trustees