Rana, a Master’s student at the Department of Archaeology (Heritage Studies) at the University of Cambridge. Has been in touch.
Mill Road Central Mosque dome, seen from roof-height
I am conducting research on ‘heritage-making’ in Cambridge, looking at the Cambridge Central Mosque in particular and how locals respond to/ engage with the space. This is in relation to broader community and cultural relations in the city.
Rana, MPhil Heritage Studies, University of Cambridge
Rana is hoping to contact individuals in the Mill Road “Community of Communities” who might want to take part in her research.
Taking part in Rana’s research would consist of a chat (around 30 minutes) either online or on the phone.
Rana adds that she would also be happy to meet in-person at the Cambridge Central Mosque, Mill Road, and show them around. She is looking for a diverse range of participants local to the area – no specialist or previous knowledge needed – just anyone who is local and enthusiastic about Cambridge!
Rana would also really appreciate you forwarding this blogpost, or the email link to anyone else who you think would be interested in contributing to her research.
Shops and railings along Mill Road displayed a version of the above poster for several weeks
The call went out to Mill Road area’s fashionistas to try their luck as models for the forthcoming Mill Road Preloved Fashion Show.
Organisers were overwhelmed as nearly 40 men and women of varying ages, styles, heights and ethnic heritages – credible super models every one – turned up for the casting event at the Mill Road Community Centre.
The event is part of Love Mill Road’s Fringe Celebrations Click the image above to view/download a printable PDF to display in your window
Despite the models’ diversity there are uniting features; all participants love Mill Road and walked with elegance; candidates expressed their love of pre-loved clothing in advance of their screen shots and turns on the catwalk.
It was interesting to learn why they all preferred charity shop and other pre-loved clothes.
Kitty told Mill Road Bridges that she had always worn pre-loved clothes. As a child in Essex her mother would get outfits from Ebay because they searched for quirkiness. Now, as an adult, she continues to shun new clothes.
Pam Wesson, a well-known local trader in pre-loved fashion, is attracted by value and quality, brand-new Amani suits for around £50 for example. She enjoys acknowledging provenance and when she is selling at her outlets she often mentions previous ownership.
Emma and Nicky have collected so many fabulous garments that they now concentrate on looking for statement jewellery; whereas younger people are motivated to get a basic wardrobe economically.
Naturally many participants are motivated primarily by sustainability. Academics and administrators from both our universities were present at the audition. They seem to choose pre-loved to relax in for ethical reasons even if they buy high end High Street and tailor-made suits for work.
Carol’s relationship with preloved fashion stretches back many years, as a young single parent she would dress her children in items from jumble sales out of economic necessity but never resented doing it. Jumble sales gave way to charity shops and styles change but, although she found herself on a firmer footing financially, she refused to buy distressed jeans with holes and grunge shirts at high street prices.
It comes as no surprise that so many participants are motivated by ethical concerns. Fast-fashion is wasteful of energy and water, it exploits human labour and is ruining the planet.
Mill Road EcoChic showcased clothes and accessories from Mill Road’s charity and vintage shops on the catwalk, alongside local designers who specialise in sustainable fashion.
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
Photos Chryssie Greece
The show offered a unique and memorable celebration of creativity and sustainability, reflecting the diversity and independence of Cambridge’s distinctive Mill Road neighbourhood, featuring stylish, exciting finds curated by enthusiastic fashionistas and modelled by local real people.
Stylish, exciting finds curated by enthusiastic fashionistas and modelled by local real people.
Mill Road EcoChic Fashion Show provided:
pop-up stalls focused on sustainable fashion
a spectacular catwalk fashion show featuring clothes from Mill Road’s fabulous charity and vintage shops
food & drink – pizzas from Scott’s All Day and drinks from Bacchanalia.
The next Mill Road Fringe event will be an EcoChic Fashion Show, on Saturday 2nd March 2024 at Mill Road’s St Barnabas Church, featuring clothes from Mill Road’s charity shops, vintage stores and designers.
Your spotlight moment has arrived! Mill Road Fringe are looking for models for the Mill Road Eco-Chic Fashion Show in March. Please register your interest by emailing community@millroadwinterfair.org and come along to the Mill Road Community Centre (behind the Old Library) on Sunday 21st Jan between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm to sign up. All genders, ages (18+) and sizes are welcome.
Could you, or your group, help to improve people’s lives, locally?
Click the image to read the the guidelines and start your application
If only you had a little bit of funding…
Community groups can apply for up to £5,000 grant funding from Cambridge City Council’s Area Committee Community Grants scheme.
Voluntary and community organisations, or groups of local residents, can apply for the grants. But hurry, the deadline for applications is 31st January 2024.
Get your paperwork in good shape. (You’re getting public money, so you need to show that everything is legit.) And get cracking.
Grants could be for venue hire to host activities; costs to run activities that benefit people on low incomes; or activities that reduce poverty.
Examples of successful applications from 2023-24
Ainsworth Area Residents’ Association
Provision of mini allotment planters and mural signage for Ainsworth Street community garden plus additional new allotment planter to be located in Ainsworth playpark. Aims…
Improve urban landscape.
Encourage social connectedness and reduce isolation through engagement in community activities.
Merry-go-Round Toy Library
Twice monthly Toy Library at Ross Street Community Centre. Aims…
Reduce social and economic inequality for local families via free sessions.
Allow families regardless of income to access safe, good quality toys and equipment at a nominal charge.
The Signal Box Centre
Weekly summer holiday activities for children aged 6-18 years particularly those living in social tenancies. Aims…
Provide physical and creative opportunities in a structured and positive environment to those who would not otherwise have access.
Reduce social isolation and improve confidence and mental wellbeing through making new friends and playing together.
Successful applications will be for activities which reduce social and/or economic inequality for Cambridge City residents with the most need, taking place between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025, in a defined area of the city.
Need more guidelines on what makes a successful application? You can read the full list of successful and unsuccessful applications from last year, in the PDFs below.
Click the poster to read/download a more detailed PDF
Your invitation to a public exhibition and digital consultation
Railpen would like to invite you to view updated plans to transform the Beehive Centre into an exciting new destination that will provide more than 5,000 job opportunities. We are proposing a mix of new retail, leisure, and community spaces, as well as laboratory and office space for companies in the science and technology industry – all surrounded by new green public spaces, a public community square and wetlands.
Railpen, from latest publicity.
The Beehive Centre is adjacent to Sturton Town to the north of Mill Road on the Petersfield (city) side of the railway.
Railpen are trusted with the safekeeping, investment, and administration of several pension schemes supporting over half a million people connected to the railway industry.
As a pension fund, we focus on delivering long-term social value and, unlike many developers, we do not face the same pressure to generate short-term profits for shareholders or outside investors.
Railpen, from latest publicity.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the consultation or the proposals, Railpen want to hear from you.
Existing Grafton Centre main entrance on Fitzroy Street Click the image to visit the Grafton Consultation website
Trinity Investment Management (not connected to Trinity College) acquired the Grafton Centre in 2022, and are now consulting on changes to the centre that keeps a smaller number of shops, retains the gym and cinema, but converts much of the building into laboratories for science research.
The proposals include:
Reducing the number of shops to reflect the growing number of empty units at the centre – but retaining some retail and leisure, including the cinema and gym, alongside improved public spaces around the centre
Improving the connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians, restoring some of the historic connections that were blocked when the Grafton Centre was built
Repurposing as much of the existing structure as possible – to limit disruption to neighbours and minimise the amount of carbon-intensive demolition and construction
Delivering much-needed research space for promising science start-ups – a sector which is growing and needs more lab space across the city
Masterplan with retail marked in green and the cinema marked in pink Click the image to visit the Grafton Consultation website
Whilst this post is open for comments, and readers are welcome to debate the issues around the proposed development, this does not guarantee thatTrinity Investment Management will be able to engage with them on this platform.
In June 2022 we held our first stage consultation on our proposals for The Beehive Centre at which we outlined our principles for development and asked for the local communities input to create a scheme that brings social value and tangible benefits to the local area and Cambridge.
The consultation was well attended and we heard and captured a wealth of insights and ideas from local people about what you value about The Beehive Centre today, and what you would like to see in the future. This feedback has informed our updated proposals which we are ready to show you at our upcoming consultation.
We strive to work with the people of Cambridge to reimagine a key strategic site, embracing sustainable and inclusive design through a vision to the creation of a new local centre with accessible, green and useable spaces to strengthen Cambridge’s status at the forefront of the science, technology and innovation sector.
four communications on behalf of Railpen
Public exhibition
Thursday 24th November – 2:30pm to 6:30pm Friday 25th November – 2:30pm to 7:30pm St Barnabas Centre, (Old Schoolroom) St Barnabas Church, Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2BD No prior booking required.
Digital consultation
The digital consultation webinar will take place on Wednesday 23rd November – 6:00pm to 7:00pm
To register your interest for the digital consultation, the QR code on the PDF can be captured with your smartphone/tablet. Otherwise it resolves to: https://qrcodes.pro/nPGeLI.
Many of you will be aware that Railpen, who invest the Railways Pension Schemes’ assets, will be redeveloping the Travis Perkins site adjacent to Devonshire Road for long-term tenanted residential accommodation, and that, whilst this has been broadly welcomed by the community, some of the details of Rail Pen’s initial plans were felt to be in need of improvement. Of course, this is an entirely different project to the Beehive Centre, but we’ve referenced it to give context on Rail Pen.
Whilst this post is open for comments, and readers are welcome to debate the issues around the proposed development, this does not guarantee that four communications or Railpen will be able to engage with them on this platform.
Wednesday 16th November 2022, 7:30pm Old School Hall, St Barnabas Church, Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2BD
Please come and join Petersfield Area Community Trust and Romsey Mill Trust to find out more details about all the exciting opportunities.
Click the image to download a printable copy of this poster
Please consider printing and displaying a poster to publicise the meeting. Share widely to let all of your friends, colleagues, neighbours and social media contacts know about the meeting.
What can you do to help make the Mill Road Community Centre a success? Email info@PACTcambridge.org.
Petersfield Area Community Trust are holding an ‘Open Forum’ on Wednesday 5th October, 7.30-8.30pm in the Old School Hall, behind St Barnabas Church, Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2BD.
The meeting is open to all local organisations and individuals who would like to contribute to activities in the new Mill Road Community Centre, which should open before the end of the year.
