How the project will be run

Governance: local, accountable and well-managed

The Project will be run by Hindu Samaj Northstowe (HSN) in collaboration with the consortium partners.

How it will work in practice

• Trustee oversight of safeguarding, finances, and equality and inclusion.
  
  
• A part-time Project Manager to coordinate day-to-day delivery and partnerships.
  
  
• Two clear committees:
  
  
  • one for the temple/shrine
  • one for the Interfaith Community Centre, including bookings and programming

Community Advisory Group

We will create a Community Advisory Group to support the running of the centre. It will provide regular input on priorities such as which activities are most needed, how shared spaces are used, and how the centre remains inclusive and welcoming for everyone. It will also act as a listening channel for feedback and concerns, helping us improve the programme, resolve issues early, and ensure the centre remains fair, transparent and responsive to Northstowe.

Local residents, including youth representatives, will be invited to join this advisory body. We will also invite representatives from different faiths and community groups, as well as council representatives, to help guide priorities and keep the centre welcoming, fair and responsive to Northstowe.

Safeguarding

All activities will be delivered under a clear safeguarding approach, including:

• DBS-checked volunteers where required
• delivery aligned to our safeguarding policy and clear operational procedures

Consortium partners

Most of our consortium organisations are either based in Northstowe, or closely connected to Northstowe through local delivery and a strong local volunteer base. This helps us deliver activities safely and consistently, while keeping the centre Northstowe-first.

Hindu Samaj Northstowe (HSN) is a local grassroots, volunteer-led charity formed in Northstowe to serve Northstowe and surrounding villages. To strengthen capacity and bring in specialist expertise, we have partnered with a carefully chosen mix of strategic organisations to form a consortium. This combines local trust and knowledge with stronger delivery systems and experience in areas such as safeguarding, youth and family provision, wellbeing, arts and culture, volunteering and interfaith community-building.

Cambridge Hindu Forum
Provides trusted leadership on faith operations and governance standards, helping ensure the place of worship is run respectfully, safely and consistently. Their experience strengthens accountability and community confidence, and supports interfaith understanding through a mature local network.

Jain Samaj Northstowe Cambridge
A vital partner for genuine interfaith inclusion and welfare-minded support. They help ensure smaller communities are represented, support respectful shared use of prayer/reflection spaces, and provide a trusted bridge for dialogue so the centre remains welcoming, fair and sensitive to diverse needs.

CamCare UK
A crucial delivery partner for youth and family provision. They strengthen safeguarding, help design sessions that are inclusive and well-attended, and support practical delivery systems (volunteers, routines, mentoring pathways) so the centre can offer safe, consistent youth activities and community support.

Cam Together CIC
A Northstowe-based wellbeing and sustainability partner supporting community-led initiatives. They strengthen preventative wellbeing activities, youth engagement and environmental projects, help shape volunteer-led programmes, and connect the hub to practical local networks that support health, resilience and community cohesion.

Supporting programme partners (cultural and youth leadership)

Cambridge University Cultural Hindu Society
Supports youth and student leadership through volunteering, mentoring and event support, helping young people contribute positively and build skills.

Cambridge United Telugu Association
Helps deliver inclusive cultural and heritage activities that build belonging and shared community experience.

Maharashtra Mandal Cambridgeshire
Supports arts and heritage learning (music, dance, language) and community-led cultural sessions across the year.

Indian Community Waterbeach
Offers collaboration and volunteer support that strengthens Northstowe-focused activities when needed.

Cambourne Hindu Association
Brings shared learning and occasional delivery support, helping programmes stay well-organised and community-led.

Partners strengthen delivery and safeguarding, but the centre remains Northstowe-first most activities are designed for local residents, with clear event planning to prevent disruption and overspill parking.

Traffic and parking: managed to keep streets safe

Northstowe is designed for walking, cycling and public transport. We will operate in a way that protects residential streets and keeps activity community-scale and well managed. Although the temple will be the only Hindu place of worship in Northstowe, the site is not intended to function as a regional destination attracting large daily crowds. Most regular use is expected to be local, through booked sessions, small-group activities and neighbourhood-scale worship.

We also recognise that peak traffic around Stirling Road and the Faith and Community Land is typically during school drop-off and pick-up times. We will plan programs so that larger gatherings do not start or finish during those peak periods.

What this means in practice

• Low on-site parking, prioritised for accessibility, drop-off and essential servicing.
• Active travel first, with good cycle access and cycle facilities near the entrance.
• Booking-led use for busier sessions, with clear joining instructions to support safe arrival and departure.
• Clear no-overspill expectations, resident communications, and monitoring to discourage parking on nearby streets.
• Defined operating limits, with managed timings and capacity for larger sessions.
• For larger events a few times a year, an Event Traffic and Parking Plan, including stewarding, signage, timed arrivals where needed, and neighbourhood communications.
• Resident voice and oversight, with the Community Advisory Group reviewing what is working and helping shape traffic and parking controls so the centre remains safe, fair and responsive to Northstowe.

We will run activities in line with council guidance, including clear limits on numbers and careful management of attendance.

[Link / QR: Full Traffic & Parking Strategy]

What would be the best way to attach this? We have this in PDF

How Northstowe residents have shaped this proposal

This proposal has been shaped by local feedback and regular conversations so it reflects what residents have said they want, and the practical concerns they’ve raised.

What we’ve done so far

• Town-wide “Have Your Say” survey (still open): shared via local WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages and and also featured in the Cambridge Independent
• Formal community survey: 110 responses, highlighting priorities such as wellbeing, youth & education, arts/culture and sustainability
• Household needs survey: 104 responses, capturing day-to-day local needs and practical concerns
• Events and festivals: feedback gathered through conversations, comment cards, post-event reflections and activity logs
• Weekly Pop-Up Meetings: regular opportunities for residents to share ideas and concerns
• Youth and family voice: youth clubs/workshops, Youth Parliament Week (Nov 2025) activity, and ongoing parent/carer feedback
• Wider evidence: signature campaign (1,024 submissions) and ongoing social media feedback (comments, messages, polls)

[QR / link: Have Your Say survey] The same QR code and weblink can be shared here again
Scan to add your views — we will share “You said / We did” updates as the project develops.

What happens next: co-design with residents

If successful, we will continue co-creating the project through a Northstowe Design Forum (in-person workshops plus a digital channel). Residents will help shape the layout, accessibility, shared spaces and how the centre is run and we will choose the final name together through community consultation.

Key Commitments

• Northstowe-first: designed primarily for local residents and local groups as S106 community infrastructure

• Fair access: one transparent booking system and an inclusive use policy

• Community-led space: around 79% of the building is shared, bookable community space

• Accessible opening: daytime and evening access across the week, reviewed against demand

• Safeguarding built in: DBS-checked volunteers where required, clear policies and oversight

• Respectful interfaith welcome: two prayer/reflection rooms for different faiths and no faith

• Neighbourhood-first operations: clear event controls and traffic/parking management to prevent disruption and overspill parking

• Measured impact: GDPR-compliant feedback and participation data to improve what we offer

• Phased, funded progress: we move forward step by step with confirmed funding

Delivery confidence

We have set out a clear five-year phased approach. Each phase delivers a usable outcome and visible community benefit, and we move forward step by step with secured funding.

• Funded-first delivery: each phase begins only when funding is in place, ensuring strong financial stability.
• Multiple income streams: regular community pledges alongside earned income through space hire and programmes.
• Strong governance: charity trustee oversight with clear financial controls and reporting.
• Transparent delivery: clear milestones, risk management and regular updates for the community.
• Growing local backing: an active supporter base and recurring pledges help support day-to-day sustainability.

How residents can get involved

• Take the survey (QR code) to shape priorities, activities and the final name
• Volunteer (youth, wellbeing, events, admin, skills support)
• Partner with us (local groups who need space, services, or joint projects)