Welcome to the second instalment of our blog! It’s been a busy month at Cyrenians so here’s a roundup of our news for February.

Our allotments are looking greener by the day now that Spring is on the way. Ruth Wood, Project Co-ordinator and Horticultural Therapist, would welcome new volunteers to work on this project, growing vegetables, herbs, soft fruit and tree fruit using organic methods. No experience is required – you just need to be willing to muck in with all sorts of gardening tasks on Tuesday or Thursday mornings. Or maybe you’d be able to drive people to and from the allotment site in our Land Rover on Thursday mornings. Contact ruth@cambridgecyrenians.org.uk for more information about volunteering and news from the allotment, you can follow the allotment project on :

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_allotmentproject/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheAllotmentPr1

Several of our residents have started courses this month, with the support of our Meaningful Activities Worker, Shanice Jones. Two residents from our ex-offender’s project have embarked on a Fork Lift and Warehouse Training course which will enhance their employment prospects. A Sudanese resident is attending an English adult learning course to help with his language skills and integration while another resident has been funded by Streetaid on a Telehandling course.

Welcome to James Martin who joins us as Director, having worked with the homeless in Cambridge for many years, latterly at Wintercomfort. He is replacing Brian Holman who we will speak about in next months blog. James had this to say about his new role:

“I’m really excited to be joining Cambridge Cyrenians, a local charity which I have always respected and known to deliver a high quality accommodation and support service. I would like to wish Brian all the best in his new life in France, I have worked alongside Brian for the last 15 years in different roles and always been impressed with his knowledge and hard work to support the homeless in Cambridge. Having spent the last 7 years running Wintercomfort Daycentre I am really looking forward to the challenge of Cambridge Cyrenians. I am a keen runner and triathlete and here is a picture of me having just finished 2019 Cambridge half marathon”

In football news, Senior Project Worker Kristian Claxton and two of our residents made it onto the pitch at the Cambridge United ground before the Tranmere game to receive trophies from the 2018 Tommy McLafferty Cup. The residents accepted the runners up cup while Kristian won the “Goalkeeper of the Tournament” award.

In more football news, weekly training at Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre for this year’s Tommy McLafferty Cup is going well. The team does need eight pairs of astro turf football boots so if you, or anyone you know, could help with that, please contact our office on 01223 712501.

One of our longest stay residents has moved into his own flat this month. We’ve supported him over the past nine years, during which time he’s been a key member of the football team as well as the allotment project. We helped him move in, spruced the flat up and installed a cooker plus he received a Move On Pack with a toaster, crockery and other kitchen kit from The Besom in Cambridge. We will keep in touch with him as he settles into life in his new home.