March brings uplifting local news across Cambridgeshire, from a chilly charity swim at Jesus Green Lido to community initiatives
Jesus Green Lido hosts Festival of Chill
A special community cold-water-swimming event will take place at Jesus Green Lido in central Cambridge on 14 March to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice.
The inaugural Festival of Chill is being organised by a group of dedicated all-year-round lido swimmers and is supported by the Friends of Jesus Green Lido volunteer committee as well as the Lido’s management team, Better.
The event will bring together swimmers, spectators and supporters for a lively morning of cold-water-swimming races, food and stalls, and will conclude with a synchronised swimming performance from the amateur troupe, the Centenary Cygnets.
For full information about race categories and to purchase tickets to swim at the event, head over to jesusgreenlido.org
Princes’ Wisbech factory celebrates its centenary
Celebrating 100 years of food production at its Wisbech factory, food and drink company Princes Group welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Cambridgeshire.
Her Royal Highness joined employees and members of the community in unveiling a plaque marking the heritage of canning in the town, followed by speeches from key members of the business.
The Wisbech factory began in 1925 when Samuel Smedley pioneered canned fruit production in the UK. Following this, the factory, known as the Smedley’s, has supported generations of local families with employment and growth. Today, Princes produces more than one billion cans of branded and own-brand food annually across Wisbech and its sister factory in Long Sutton.
Nominate Cambridgeshire’s unsung heroes
The hunt is on for inspirational children and young people in Cambridgeshire – as well as those dedicated to caring for them – as nominations open for the 2026 Well Child Awards, which seek to recognise those with complex care needs as well as the people who support them.
Last year’s winners included ten-year-old Gwen, who refuses to let spina bifida hold her back from her dreams of competitive wheelchair racing; selfless siblings such as 15-year-old Alessia, who is a devoted carer for her sister; and Jackie, a healthcare worker who was praised for being a constant presence for families during their most difficult times.
Before voting closes on 16 March, visit wellchild.org.uk/awards
New initiative gives wedding flowers a second bloom
A new local charity initiative will repurpose wedding and event flowers while supporting vulnerable women across Cambridgeshire.
Launching on 8 March, International Women’s Day, Blossom is led by Elle-Events Management, in partnership with The Angels Foundation UK.
Leftover flowers from weddings and events will be refreshed into bouquets and delivered to women, young and old, in need of encouragement and compassion, including survivors of domestic abuse, those experiencing loneliness and those facing difficult circumstances.
“A simple bouquet can brighten a day, restore dignity and remind someone that they are valued,” said Elle Roberts-Nissen, founder of Elle-Events Management.
“Blossom allows the beauty and joy of a wedding day to extend beyond the event itself and into the lives of women who truly deserve to feel supported.”
To take part in the Blossom initiative, please contact [email protected]
Audley End railway begins a new chapter
Audley End Miniature Railway has revealed a brand-new name and new look to match! Now called Audley End Enchanted Railway, the rebrand is to reflect the growth and expansion of the 60-year-old attraction’s visitor experience, from the original train ride (that remains at the heart of its offering) to the enchanting day out it offers today.
“Our new look and name mark a new chapter and such an exciting time for us. I am so proud to have grown my father’s beloved railway into the magical world it is today, and it’s all thanks to our wonderful customers who come and entrust us to create memories with their families,” said owner Amanda Murray, who took over from her father, the late Lord Braybrooke, in 2010.
“It means so much to be able to share this beautiful corner of the world with so many people. Cherishing childhood, being out in nature and championing human connection in an increasingly digital world is what it’s all about for us.”
Seniors’ exercise club opens in Ely
Local residents aged 55 and over will find a welcoming way to stay both active and socially connected in this new exercise club.
The Seniors’ Club Sessions, held at Hive Leisure Centre in Ely, offer a range of low-impact activities suitable for all fitness levels, including badminton, pickleball, soft tennis and table tennis. All sessions are supervised by a qualified instructor.
Taking place on Wednesdays from 11am to 12pm, led by Better fitness instructor Ginny Kiely, the sessions are open to residents from across east Cambridgeshire. A Better membership includes access to the classes, while non-members can attend their first session for free, with subsequent sessions costing £3.75.
For more information, visit better.org.uk/leisure-centre/ely
Local businesses achieve fundraising records in aid of ACT
After a year-long programme of ambitious fundraising, community events and match funding, Cheffins has now marked its 200-year anniversary by raising £270,596 for charity, exceeding its original bicentenary fundraising pledge by more than £70,000! Of the total funds raised, Cheffins will donate £212,000 to the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) to create a permanent playroom at the new Cambridge Children’s Hospital, which will support the wellbeing of children undergoing treatment for decades to come. In addition, it has also contributed a toy box of more than 200 toys donated by its staff members to symbolise each year of the firm’s history.
Meanwhile, another major ACT donation in recent weeks came from Cambridge Commodities, which presented a cheque for £93,000 – its largest annual amount raised for charity ever!