Professionals come together to celebrate next chapter of Community Navigator service in Cambridgeshire
Published 28 January 2026
Professionals from across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary, statutory and private sectors came together recently to mark the next chapter of the Community Navigator service, following its successful transfer to Making Space.
The in-person drop-in event welcomed around 30 attendees to learn more about the service following its transition to Making Space on 1 October 2025. Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, the Community Navigator service has supported local people for more than 13 years, helping adults to access information, advice and guidance to improve wellbeing and remain connected to their communities.
The event brought together a wide range of partners, including representatives from Cambridgeshire County Council, adult social care, local care homes, Visiting Support services, social prescribers, HAY Cambs (a local support directory), and Cambs ACRE. Attendees also heard from Ann Pinkney on Care Micro Enterprises, highlighting the strong alignment between this work and the Community Navigator approach.
Guests were welcomed with refreshments and cake, received a Making Space goodie bag, and took part in informal networking after a short presentation from the team. The presentation reaffirmed the core service offer and reassured partners that, following the transition, the key message remains: “we are still here for you".
Kerry Evans, Community Services and Volunteering Manager at Making Space, said:
It was fantastic to see so many partners come together to celebrate this next step for the Community Navigator service. Taking on a long-established service is guaranteed to bring change, but the heart of this work remains the same, supporting people to feel informed, connected and confident. We’re especially excited to have recently welcomed three new team members, including a Wellbeing role and an Older Adult Specialist role, which will help us strengthen the service in areas of identified need and respond even more effectively to local communities.
The Community Navigator service supports adults across Cambridgeshire by offering personalised information, advice and guidance on a wide range of issues. Navigators are experts in their local districts and work alongside people to explore options around housing, mental health, carer support, bereavement, social isolation, home help, IT support, access to community groups and more. By addressing concerns early, the service helps people remain independent and reduces the need for statutory intervention.
The positive impact of the service was reflected in feedback shared on the day, including:
“Thank you so much for your time, guidance and the information; you made a huge difference to the way I have felt about navigating care for my mum.”
“I am back to my old self. I had felt so isolated. The information you sent me was brilliant… I can access groups now. I can’t thank you enough.”
“If I hadn’t had you to talk to about all my worries and anxieties when my husband was in hospital, I really don’t know what I would have done.”
Rachel Space, CEO of Making Space, added:
We are incredibly proud to be delivering the Community Navigator service in Cambridgeshire. This service perfectly reflects Making Space’s values, empowering people by being ready with the right knowledge, at the right time, to make informed choices and stay connected to their communities. By building on strong existing partnerships and investing in new roles, we’re committed to ensuring the service continues to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives for years to come.
The Community Navigator service is open to referrals from professionals and members of the public. To find out more, visit here.