Making Links seeks to operate in the spirit of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) document, “The Reception and Integration of New Migrant Communities” (2007), which stressed the need for “bringing communities together and facilitating interaction between them”. The numerous women and children who attend (currently around 50 each week) comment that Making Links frees them from feelings of isolation, helps them build multicultural friendships and empowers them with knowledge about the local community. Thus Making Links presents a friendly St Neots face to people who might otherwise be outsiders.

The weekly sessions are free and include refreshments, a 1½ hour art and craft session which varies each week, visits from free local service providers such as community police, children’s health services, EAL providers, etc, and a crèche within the meeting room provided by Sure Start. The Making Links project is being co-ordinated by Anna Kay (a Hinchingbroke A&E nurse) and Carolyn Owen (a retired teacher and nursery leader), supported by 9 volunteers from the church, and under the oversight of the Trustees of the Heart of the Community Trust.

Making Links meets in the Priory Centre every Thursday in term time from 10.00 am to Midday. It is supported by charitable grants from the Town Council, Sure Start, Luminus, the Muir Group and other generous local donors.



The aims of the project are:

· To develop cross-cultural friendships

· To promote cultural identity and self-esteem

· To promote community relationships with local service providers

· To support the client group in meeting the needs of their children (0’s-under 5’s) through

promotion of services for under 5’s and Women’s Health

· To empower the client group to be part of decision making processes within the group

· To support clients who wish to access training to promote self-development and

employment opportunities