Hobbies and leisure

Ukrainian refugees granted resettlement status in the last 12 months can apply for a free 6-month (off-peak) membership at Better Health Centres, across England and Wales. Individuals who meet the criteria can apply directly. Organisations and hosts can apply on a person’s behalf.

All Better-operated facilities in England and Wales are part of the scheme. This includes leisure centres, gyms, and pools. In Cambridgeshire, these are:

• Parkside Pools and Gym Gonville Place, Cambridge CB1 1LY
• Jesus Green Lido Off Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 3AX
• Abbey Leisure Complex Whitehill Road, Cambridge CB5 8NT
• Kings Hedges Learner Pool Jedburgh Court, Buchan Street, Cambridge CB4 2XF
• Cherry Hinton Village Leisure Centre Colville Road, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 9EJ
• Cambridge Ice Arena Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8AA
• The Hive Leisure Centre Ely 15 Ely Leisure Village, Downham Road, Ely CB6 2FE

Apply for a laptop

We have partnered with the Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign (CRRC) and provided them with funding that will allow them to supply further laptops to Ukrainian guests who have arrived in South Cambridgeshire as part of the Homes for Ukraine programme. Guests can now apply for one of these laptops, for free, and, additionally, we are also looking for residents and businesses to support this initiative by donating laptops. Any devices are acceptable for donation.

For corporate donations Laptops4Learning (L4L) will send their Tech Couriers to the company by prior arrangement. L4L tech couriers will bring the devices back to their repair centre based in Stevenage. The devices will be repaired / refurbished/ securely data erased to HMG InfoSec Standard 5 Enhanced and a certificate of erase provided by serial number for each device. Audits are provided in full showing the devices collected, along with feedback on who received the donations for use in Company newsletters and data for the CSR, sustainability figures on waste are also provided. If you are part of a local business that wants to donate laptops for re-use to those in need or if you have questions and would like information on the scheme please contact sue@laptops4learning.co.uk or email the admin team.

Joining the library is free (no proof of address is needed).

You can use the library to:

• use study spaces, Wi-Fi, computers and printers
• browse books and borrow up to 12 items at a time
• read eNewspapers in many languages
• attend library events
• join a reading group
• join free story times and rhyme-times for children and their parents/carers.

You can join the library free online.

The National Trust is offering a 6-month free admission pass.

Ukrainian refugees receive 6-month free admission passes to National Trust properties. Hosts and community groups can request passes on behalf of their guests.

They can do this by emailing supporter.operations@nationaltrust.org.uk. They should include the names of their guests, their address, and whether they need an adult or family pass.

The pass will be for adult refugees and children under 18. If the recipient of the pass is here for longer than 6-months, they can apply for a new pass when their existing one expires. Passes should be received within two to three weeks of application.

Hosts can request a 6-month named pass for refugees living with a non-National Trust member. They can do this by emailing supporter.operations@nationaltrust.org.uk. They should include the names of their guests, their address, and whether they need an adult or family pass.

Community Groups can also request single-use passes for visits to National Trust properties for refugees they host. They can ask for two passes per person, up to a max of 100 people. The Community Group representative would need to email supporter.operations@nationaltrust.org.uk with their request for the single-use access passes. Single use access passes do not need to be named.

For more information visit their website National Trust website.

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is giving free admission to the Botanic Garden for Ukrainian refugees living in South Cambridgeshire. Free tickets are now available for those over 16. Children 16 and under are already admitted for free. Host families will need to pay the usual garden admission fee it if they visit with their guests.

Guests can now apply for their tickets by filling out this application form. The tickets will be offered one per person and will be distributed weekly via post.  

The Wimpole Estate is a National Trust property. It is a historic mansion with lots of parkland in the south-west of Cambridge. The estate is offering free admission to local community groups.

The Community Group Admission Pass will give free access to the Estate for up to 16 people. It can be used on any day except bank holidays and the weekends before bank holidays.  

People working with community groups for Ukrainian guests and their hosts are asked to email wimpolehall@nationaltrust.org.uk or call the estate before coming. They should provide the name of their group, the number of people, and their arrival time. 

You can complete an application form [PDF, 2.5MB], and return it with your email instead.

It is advised to visit on weekdays when possible, as Wimpole is very busy on weekends, which means there may be less scope to cater for additional needs. There is a visitor reception center and electric buggies to help people with limited mobility, as well as cafes and shops. 

If you speak English and want to sign up a Ukrainian young person, use the English sign up form. Make it clear that you are signing up on behalf of a Ukrainian young person.  

Реєструйтесь на безкоштовні курси про природу, щоб допомогти добробуту молодих українців

Весна майже на порозі, і це чудова нагода вибратися на природу. У нас є вільні місця на двох природничих курсах two nature-based courses спеціально розроблених для українських дітей та підлітків віком від восьми до 17 років, покликаних допомогти їм покращити самопочуття та підвищити впевненість у собі.

Для молоді віком від 12 до 17 років

У заміському парку Вандлбері Wandlebury Country Park з 17 травня розпочнеться восьмитижневий курс "Природа в голові", організований організацією Find Your Wild Знайди свою дику природу" і спрямований на підтримку психічного благополуччя молоді в невеликих групах (максимум 12 осіб) за допомогою безкоштовних занять на свіжому повітрі в лісопарковій зоні, максимально використовуючи природне середовище. Заняття проводитимуть кваліфіковані інструктори з активного відпочинку та молодіжні працівники разом з офіцером з питань благополуччя, який розмовляє українською мовою. Курс проходить по середах з 16:00 до 18:00, починаючи з 17 та 24 травня, з перервою на тиждень (півріччя), а потім знову продовжиться з 7 червня по 12 липня. Для отримання додаткової інформації та реєстрації на курс відвідайте веб-сайт Ради website

Для дітей віком 8 до 11 років

Лісова школа працює в Мілтон Кантрі Парк Milton Country Park у п'ятницю по обіді з 16:00 до 18:00. Вона має на меті заохотити дітей до навчання в природному середовищі, щоб допомогти розвинути їхню впевненість і самооцінку за допомогою програми, яка включає в себе навички кустарних промислів, ігри, знайомство з друзями, будівництво барлогів, занурення у водойми, пошуки скарбів та багато іншого. Восьмитижнева програма проводиться Кембриджським фондом спортивних озер у партнерстві з Радою. Дітям будуть надані навчальні матеріали Лісової школи, щоб вони могли продовжувати навчання вдома. Бажаючі взяти участь повинні зустрітися в Wild Place в Мілтон Кантрі Парк з 16:00 до 18:00 в наступні дати: 12, 19 і 26 травня, 9, 16, 23 і 30 червня та 7 липня.

Free drama sessions for Ukrainian children and young adults, aged 9 to 15, led by experienced drama worker Sheila Gosling.

This takes place at :

• Cottenham Community Centre,
• fortnightly on Thursdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm

The sessions starts with a fun group warm-up. Then there is a range of games to choose from and drama activities. These range from word games and facial expressions to acting out scenes.

For more information, email Sheeba3434@hotmail.com

Cambridgeshire has many green open spaces. It includes many parks where children can play safely. Most are free to access. Location details, opening hours and other information can be found on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Parks website.

To learn about other activities in South Cambridgeshire, go to the Health and Wellbeing section.