Category: News-in-brief

  • Top award for local library volunteers

    Volunteers from Histon library are among the team recognised for the initiative, seen as a lifeline for many in the community.

    The hard work of local library volunteers was recognised last month as Cambridgeshire’s Library@Home initiative was presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

    During the ceremony, library helpers were presented with an engraved crystal and a certificate, signed by the late Queen (one of the last documents to be signed by Her Majesty.) The prestigious award is the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups.

    A team of volunteers at Histon Library are part of the scheme, bringing books and audio materials to local residents who find it difficult to get to the library for a range of reasons, including disability, illness or caring responsibilities.

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    Visits can be tailored to residents’ specific needs, with volunteers delivering people of all ages large-print books, health literature and even hearing aid batteries straight to their homes. Helpers even have time to stop for a chat.

    Cambridgeshire County Council Volunteer and Health Development Manager, Elizabeth Sheppard says: “This is brilliant recognition for the amazing work our Library@Home volunteers do. These dedicated volunteers have provided a lifeline of friendship and books over many years, and especially during the Pandemic.”

    The crystal award and certificate will be on show at libraries across Cambridgeshire throughout the year. And in May 2023, two lucky volunteers with the Library@Home service will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace along with other recipients of the 2022 Awards.

    If you’d like to find out more about volunteering for your local library, email volunteers@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or ask in your local library.

  • Women’s Institute ‘tree of hats’ heads off to help the homeless

    Women’s Institute ‘tree of hats’ heads off to help the homeless

    The popular HI Friends Christmas Tree festival has played a part in helping to provide some much needed warmth for those in need this year thanks to many hours of hard knitting by the Histon & Impington Women’s Institute (WI).

    The colourful creations by the Histon & Impington WI which will now keep the homeless warm this winter. Photo Sophie Howson.

    One hundred and twenty beautifully created bobble hats, hand-knitted by the 64 members of Histon and Impington WI formed their entry to December’s festival. These have now been donated on their behalf by the Daily Bread Co-operative to organisations such as Wintercomfort and The Lockon in Fair Street, both of which work to provide warm winter clothing for the City’s homeless and rough sleepers.

    Speaking to HI HUB about the project, organiser Sophie Howson said:

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    “As a WI we decided that it would be lovely to have a project that would help others and the Christmas Tree Festival was an excellent vehicle. The members were very enthusiastic and many learned, or re-learned, to knit together and make hats and colourful pom-poms for the project. We have future projects planned now as it has been a really excellent and fun thing to do with a philanthropic outcome. We always want to encourage more members to the WI and would love to see some new faces at future meetings”.

    The next branch meeting is at Histon Methodist Church Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 18th February and new members are very welcome. There will also be an illustrated talk on ‘Literary Cambridge’ by Peter Hains on Thursday 19th January. Full details here.

    Get in touch, or find out more, by emailing hisimpwi@gmail.com