Cambridgeshire Acre

Cambridgeshire ACRE supports a range of community-led initiatives that directly benefit rural areas. This includes community-led housing and planning, village hall and community building management, and capacity building for hubs tackling social isolation. They also fund rural economy and employment initiatives, as well as environmental stewardship. Funded activities may cover volunteer training, safeguarding, infrastructure improvements, new community spaces, local partnerships, and wellbeing services. All work must demonstrate a direct rural benefit, and the geographic focus is on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with particular emphasis on rural communities.

Eligible applicants are organisations based exclusively in Cambridgeshire or Peterborough. This includes registered charities, community groups, and social enterprises. The funder prioritises rural areas and small to medium-sized grassroots organisations with modest incomes, though no strict income thresholds are applied. Beneficiaries of funded work include parish councils, village halls, community centres, social enterprises, statutory agencies, and rural individuals. There is no religious restriction.

The funder does not support activities that take place outside the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area, nor does it cover trustee remuneration. These exclusions reflect its focus on local rural benefit and good governance.

Cambridgeshire ACRE does not accept unsolicited applications. Instead, funding is delivered through strategic programmes, commissioned services, or partnerships with bodies such as local councils or Defra. The funder supports both capital improvements and project costs, as well as capacity building for organisations. This approach ensures that funding is aligned with local priorities and delivered in a targeted, collaborative manner.