Read about community events in this week's Hunts Post

The 1st Brampton Cubs have been working towards their community impact badge by taking part in the Million Hands Programme.

This is a five-step programme which involves: identifying a need; planning action; taking action; learning and making more change and telling the world.

The group decided to support the charity Crisis in working towards ending homelessness for good.

They identified that they needed to raise awareness of the problem and that much-needed funds were required to help those in desperate need, right at the very heart of the issue.

Step three of the project is about taking action and they decided to take part in a nine-mile walk around Grafham Water followed by a rough sleepover, whilst raising sponsorship money in aid of Crisis.

The cubs organised a fund-raising walk. (Image: BRAMPTON CUBS)

This provided an experience of what it might feel like, to be tired and hungry and not have a home to go to or a cosy bed to sleep in.

The cubs slept outside to experience the feeling of rough sleeping. (Image: BRAMPTON CUBS)

The walk took place on June 10 in the searing heat and the cubs did brilliantly.

This was followed by a trip to the Co-Op in Brampton to ask for any leftover food for supper and breakfast and any cardboard they had spare.

The cubs then slept outside in cardboard boxes in the rear garden of our scout hut.

We set up a Just Giving page for the cubs and their families to raise money for Crisis for this event and we are so proud to say we have so far raised £1,385, which is totally amazing!

The cubs have reflected on their experience and here are some of their thoughts on how it felt to take part in the event, taking the project further and continuing their support.

“The walk made us feel tired, but we felt proud of ourselves for completing it and raising so much money to help. Sleeping on cardboard boxes was uncomfortable though," Alice, aged 10.

“We need to spread the word and tell lots of people that homelessness is a problem and how they can help,” Jack, aged eight.

“It’s not very nice to feel hungry and not be able to have much food to eat,” Harris, aged nine.

"The money they have raised will make a real difference in helping to end homelessness and we, at 1st Brampton Scout Group, couldn’t be prouder of them, said Claire Newman, cub scout leader of the group.

"Thank you to our cub families and to the Co-Op in Brampton for all your support," she added.

You can help Crisis to end homelessness by donating money to the charity.

www.justgiving.com/page/1st-brampton-cubs-homeless-challenge?

Claire Newman

1st Brampton Scout Group

New booklet from St Neots Community Archive Group

St Neots Community Archive Group has produced a booklet called A Short History of St Neots Library.

Written by the late Pam Ostler, well known to many in the town both as a librarian and as a museum volunteer, it investigates the history of libraries in general, and then St Neots Library.

In particular, its beginnings in the Market Square, the High Street and Cressener House, before moving to purpose-built buildings first in Huntingdon Street and then to its current location near The Priory Centre.

There is also information about how the move in 1985 from Huntingdon Street to its new premises took place.

The booklet includes several photographs and costs just £4 and is available from both St Neots Museum and St Neots Library.

Dave Jarrett 

St Neots Community Archive Group 

Traditional Sea Sunday service to take place in Huntingdon 

The Huntingdon Branch of the Royal Naval Association will be holding the annual Sea Sunday service on July 9 in Huntingdon Market Square.

The service is traditionally held in July to remember the work of all seafarers around the world, both Merchant Navy as well as the Royal Navy. 

The focus of Sea Sunday is also to remember just how much we all depend on sea borne trade in all aspects of our lives.

The service starts at 11.30am and lasts about half an hour. It includes the traditional naval hymn and National Anthem and wreaths will be laid in memory of sailors who have 'crossed the bar'.

The public are welcome to come along and join with the members of the RNA Branch,  Sea Cadets, the Merchant Navy Association and other visitors.

Rev Dr Clifford Owen

Padre, Huntingdon RNA Branch

A Clarification

In last week's Hunts Post in the Great Ouse Valley Trust column, we credited the photograph to (GOVT). We would like to point out that this amazing photograph was actually taken by Nigel Sprowell. Many thanks Nigel, and apologies for the error.
This is the image which was taken by Nigel Sprowell. (Image: NIGEL SPROWELL)