The outstanding efforts and stories of a group of exceptional young people were celebrated in style at the Inspirational YoungStars Awards on Friday night.

It was the showcase of an initiative launched in partnership between the Cambridge Independent and Cambridge Charity Fundraisers to spotlight the brilliant work and stories of youngsters across society.

There was a full array of emotions on display at the awards dinner, which was hosted by BBC Look East’s Jonathan Park.

After the emotional citations of some of the winners, the compere for the evening conducted some superb interviews, with the responses of the young interviewees drawing laughs all round.A judging panel which included Lord Lieutenant Julie Spence, and representatives of Mick George, Cambs FA, Cambridge Charity Fundraisers and the Cambridge Independent felt that the strength of the nominations merited a far broader scope for the awards and increased the range from four to 10 individual award winners, with a further four highly commended.

Read more about the evening by following the link below

https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/in-depth/winners-of-the-cambridge-independent-and-cambridge-charity-f-9261512/

In the lead up to Christmas, Abbey People helped provide hampers and food parcels to local residents. They were able to support 190 households and 487 individuals this Christmas.

They were able to do this because of the support of local individuals and companies in the area,

Cambridge Charity Fundraisers were one of those organisations who helped make it happen

To read more download the file below.

CCFR received a great deal of support from Tesco on Newmarket Road and I must say a special thank you to Julie Izzard The community Champion at Tesco Newmarket Road who was outstanding in helping with this Christmas project along with other CCFR projects.

Above Ian Darler , Nigel Browne , Nicky Shepard , Brian Thorby
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15 family food & gift bags delivered to Barnwell community Centre ready for distribution to the families

We continue to work with a number of other community projects but it would not be possible without the support of so many other people.

Thanks to everybody for your support and for helping so many people at Christmas.

Ian Darler B.E.M
Cambridge Charity Fund Raisers 

Above, Paul Harrison, Sophie Barber, Ian Darler, A & E Sister with family members receiving the gift donations

Dear Ian, Paul and the rest of the team,

I am writing on behalf of the team at Addenbrookes Hospital, Paediatric Emergency department. The team and I wanted to say a massive, massive thank you for your support with donations this year. Thank you for also seeking support from wider networks such as Tesco, this is truly amazing, please pass our thanks on to them too and anyone else who donated. It is so appreciated and I wish you could be here to see the difference it makes.

When Children come into the emergency department it is often a very traumatic time for them, they will often undergo a lot of tests and procedures which can be very scary. Children will often spend many hours in the Emergency Department and sometimes will be admitted or go home. This can be very stressful for the whole family. So, as the Therapeutic Play Specialist it is my role to ensure they have positive hospital experiences, engage in play and fun activities and are awarded for their incredible bravery. It is donations like yours which make an incredible difference to the experience we can provide children in hospital, it puts a smile on the little ones faces despite the horrid times they have had, and it allows the nurses to bond with the child in a positive way despite the procedures they may have engaged in beforehand. It gives us all a reason to smile despite the extremely challenging times.
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Thank you will never explain how truly grateful we are for your support and I can never explain in words the real difference it will make, but honestly, you’re going to make a lot of children very happy. I look forward to working with you in the future. 

See below the photo in the department and a letter received from Sophie Barber

Thank you again! Have an amazing Christmas and Happy New year,

Sophie Barber – Therapeutic Play Specialist, Paediatric Emergency Department, Addenbrookes Hospital
 
The above letter is exactly what CCFR has been about for the past 15 years, We have always tried to help change people’s lives’ for the better  and there is no better feeling than being able to help the children that find them requiring treatment at Addenbrookes.

We have agreed with Sophie Barber to continue supporting them during 2022 and would ask any shops, companies, businesses etc that have any unwanted soft toys, games , sports clothing etc to get in touch with us . We are happy to collect any items that can be donated and will obviously thank them on our website.

Thanks to everybody who has supported CCFR during 2021 and we wish everybody a Happy New Year.
Ian Darler B.E.M
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CCFR

I was so sorry to hear of the passing of our very good friend Mick Curtis.

Mick was one of the first anglers to join CCFR and was always keen to make a donation and support our fishing events, but it didn’t finish there as Mick was always keen to offer support to the other anglers and over the years lent me several rigs especially his paste rigs for what he was well known for in the summer months.  He was a very accomplished angler winning lots of silverware over the years.  Mick was very kind, compassionate, and a true gentleman. Sadly there are few people like that in the world today.  We will all miss his sense of humour and his long, long conversations held on the bankside. He was a wonderful man, and a great friend to so many people.  I will be forever grateful for all that he did for me in helping with Cambridge Charity Fund Raisers and his generosity in supporting our events was incredible.

I could never repay all that he did for me and CCFR, I have spoken to Mick’s wife Ros and agreed that I will introduce a new award during our 2022 fishing series, one which anglers will be able to compete for in years to come.

Myself and all from CCFR extend our deepest sympathy to Ros and family and wish to let them know how much we share their pain at this sad time.

Ian Darler and everybody at Cambridge Charity Fund Raisers

Michael's funeral is on the 21st December at 10.30am at Barton Woodland Burial site . CB23 7BA
In Friendship & Sorrow.