Fenland Care Together
Fenland Care Together is a specialised community project funded by Cambridgeshire County Council, designed to help older residents across Fenland stay active.
Supporting activity in later life
Fenland Care Together is a community project funded by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Care Together initiative, designed to help older residents across Fenland stay active, independent, and connected. By working closely with Community Living rooms (CLR), libraries, and Sheltered Housing schemes, the project brings inclusive, low‑intensity physical activity programmes into local community spaces for people aged 65+ years and/or who are affected by a long-term health condition or disability.
Over 12-months, our Fenland Care Together project has supported older adults to move more, sit less, and feel better – boosting physical health and emotional wellbeing. Throughout the project we are investing in people, upskilling volunteers and participants so activities can continue long after the project ends.
What do sessions look like?
Our 10‑week programmes are carefully designed to be accessible, sociable, and sustainable. The aim was to gradually build participant confidence, skills, and independence.
Weeks 1-4: Fun, friendly tasters of a wide range of games‑based activities, helping participants discover what they enjoy most
Weeks 5-7: Training and upskilling for staff and volunteers, with equipment and resources provided to support delivery
Weeks 8-10: Tailored support to help sessions transition into confident in‑house delivery
This structure means that all subsequent sessions can continue to be adaptable, support all abilities, and focus on building confidence, routine, and a love of movement.
Care Together locations
The Living Better team deliver activities in 11 local community venues across Fenland. These familiar, accessible spaces are so vital for ensuring that over 270 participants feel comfortable and connected before starting.
- Friday Bridge Community Living Room
- March St John’s Community Living Room
- Chatteris Community Living Room
- Christchurch Umbrella
- Coates Chill and Chat Café
- Manea Community Living Room
- March Library
- Whittlesey Library
- Wisbech Library
- Jubilee Court Sheltered Housing
- St Mary’s House Sheltered Housing
Research and results
The need for this project is clear and compelling. In Fenland, only 49.8% of adults are active enough to benefit their health, with even lower participation among key groups. Just 49.4% of adults with a disability or long‑term condition, and only 42% of those aged 65+ are classed as active (Active Lives Survey 2022/23).
As a mostly rural area, Fenland also faces challenges with limited local infrastructure, which can increase feelings of loneliness and social isolation. This reality highlights the importance of welcoming, accessible spaces where people can connect within their own communities.
Community Living Rooms and other informal community settings offer a powerful opportunity to address these challenges. By introducing fun, game‑based physical activity sessions into these spaces, we can build on their social benefits – reducing isolation, encouraging interaction, and creating a relaxed gateway into being more active.
These sessions are designed not only to improve physical wellbeing, but also to spark confidence, enjoyment, and curiosity, helping participants discover new ways to move, connect, and take part in community life.
We have supported over 270 people across 11 community spaces.
- 78% reported improved mental wellbeing
- 50% felt more connected to others following participation
Working in partnership
The success of Fenland Care Together is driven by strong partnerships. Working closely with Cambridgeshire ACRE and Village Agents, we built on local knowledge and trusted relationships to promote and engage communities to get involved.
Together with the Cambridgeshire County Council team, we have created a sustainable programme that improves health and wellbeing and helps build stronger, more active communities for the future.
Success stories
Check out some of our success stories from participants and volunteers.
Fenland Care Together participant case studies
Fenland Care Together volunteer case studies
Partnership and funding opportunities
Join us in transforming lives through the power of movement. Your support unlocks confidence, resilience, and new possibilities for older adults who need them most. Together, we can support and empower people across the county – helping them to reclaim their independence by offering life changing physical activity sessions and exercise classes.
Partner with Living Better today and become a driving force behind bringing life‑changing programmes to even more communities who need our support.