Community Groups

What’s going on in the community

  • Badminton Club: Harston Badminton Club is a friendly group of adult players who meet in the school Hall, Mondays 7.30-9.30. We play socially, i.e. not in competitions, have a range of abilities but mix in to have a good game. Anyone is welcome to come along to a session and see for themselves. For more information contact Hilary Roadley on 01223 871244 or hilary.roadley@hotmail.com.
  • Better Brew Cafe @ Harston Village Hall: Better Brew is a volunteer-run community group which provides cafe facilities in the Village Hall on the first Saturday of every month, 10:30am-12:30pm.
  • Churches: There are two churches in Harston, both of whom have their own websites with details of services, contact details and support they offer for the community.
    • All Saints’ Church is the Parish Church (Church of England). Full details can be found on its website.  
    • Details of the Baptist Church can be found on its website. 
  • Circle Left – Harston and Haslingfield Folk Dance Club: http://www.circleleft.org.uk/
  • Community Orchard Group: The group meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9.30am until 11am. It is simply a volunteer group so anyone is welcome to come along and help.
  • Cubs and Scouts: 1st Harston Scout group runs a Cub pack for boys and girls from 8yrs to 10.5yrs and a Scout troop that takes boys and girls from 10.5yrs up to the age of 14.5yrs. The group meets at the Harston school hall on Wednesday evenings during term time (cubs 6pm, scouts 7:30pm) and are able to offer Scouting to youngsters from Harston as well as surrounding villages, such as Hauxton, Newton and Foxton. Roger Summerfield is the Group Scout Leader (GSL). Scout leader (SL) is Gerry Collison, assistant Scout leaders (ASL’s) are Tim Anderson, Ben Harris, Charly Cornell and James Prisk.  The Cubs are run by Brenda Free (Akela) assisted by Colin Free (Baloo) and Amanda Free (Kaa). The Scout group offers a wide and varied programme of activities throughout the year aimed at different ages and abilities including a few camps throughout the year.  If you have any other question or would just like to know more please do not hesitate to come along one troop night and one of the leaders will be pleased to help or alternatively you can contact them here.
  • Harston Painters: Harston Painters is a local group of amateur artists who meet in the Village Hall’s Large Committee Room each Friday morning from 9.30 to 11.30. It is a self-help group and does not provide tuition. Members are required to have an acceptable level of artistic ability. Our work is usually discussed informally within the group. We hold an exhibition of our work every other year. At the present time our membership is full, but details can be obtained from Joan Bull on 01223 872888.
  • Harston Residents Group: Us! Contact: www.harstonvillage.uk/contact-us
  • HATS (Harston Amateur Theatre Society): HATS is a drama group based in Harston, Cambridge that performs once a year in the village hall.  It is open to anyone who is prepared to make the meetings. They have an informal, relaxing and friendly group creating an atmosphere aimed at enjoying themselves and hence entertaining audiences. Contact Rupert Dick on 01223 870985 or rupertdick@hotmail.co.uk.
  • Indoor Bowls: A friendly indoor carpet bowls club that mixes an element of skill with a social sideline. Mondays evenings from 7.30pm to 10.00pm except Bank Holidays. Contact Brian Nash on 01223 874321 or just come along any Monday.
  • Kiddiwinks Pre-School: Contact Katherine Cobbald on 01223 870345.
  • Local History Group: Harston Local History Group is an informal group of volunteers who started October 2014 to try to gather together all the historical information we can find in the village on Harston and find ways of sharing it with the local community. We received a Heritage Lottery Grant at the end of June 2015 to ‘Explore Harston’s Heritage’ and create our own history website – www.harstonhistory.org.uk. We have scanned old photos (from the late David Deacon Collection) and collected oral memories from some of the older residents (see Harston Memories section). In Harston Village Hall we also give free illustrated talks on different topics of Harston’s history throughout the year – see events section of the website or village magazine for details. You can see different history displays on the first Saturday morning of each month at the Better Brew Fair Trade café in the Village Hall and look out for our history articles in the parish magazine. We also welcome any information, photos or documents you may wish to share with us on Harston’s history and are always available at the Better Brew Café for a chat. For more details contact  hilary.roadley@hotmail.com or 01223 871244. Why not come along and find out more about Harston’s history and heritage.
  • Lunch Club: The lunch club meets every Monday in the Harston Village Hall except Bank Holidays and during August. Spaces are available for anyone over 65 from Harston, Newton or Hauxton who would like an excellent home-cooked meal and good company for just £2.00. Transport can be arranged. Ring June Boakes on 01223 870777 if you would like to join or if you can help with preparing veg, cooking, serving, or washing up.
  • Social Car Scheme: The social car scheme was introduced to the village in 1991 by Mrs Peggy Heap. She was the driving force behind it for over 20 years. As coordinator she recruited a team of volunteer drivers form within the village boundary. Many villagers have benefited from the scheme & are extremely fortunate that Peggy developed the idea. Thank you Peggy. The volunteer car scheme continues to provide the service. As the village grows & the average age  rises the demand for lifts increases. We transport people from within the village to medical &  medically related appointments within a five mail radius of Harston. This area covers the surgery in Harston & Health centre in Great Shelford, the optician & dentist in Great Shelford & the many clinics at Addenbrookes. Drivers waiting time may cause concern & in the case of Addenbrookes we deliver the passenger but they are responsible for making their own way home. A small contribution is made by the passenger & a small subsidy from C.C.C. We are not allowed to make a profit. This scheme is not an alternative for a cheap taxi service!! It should be emphasised that the volunteers are giving their own time & that the contributions given do not cover the total motoring cost. Anyone needing transport for medical journeys must contact the co-ordinator-Mrs A. Holden on 01223 870647 between the hours of 09.00hrs-11.00hrs,  Monday-Friday at least 24 hrs. before appointment time, preferably 48hrs before the pick up from the passenger’s home. Should no one be available to take the call please leave a message on the answer phone. The co-ordinator will then be able to confirm eligibility of request, confirm a driver & advise on cost. Having read this article some of you may feel able to give some of your valuable time to the scheme. The village needs to recruit more drivers to ensure that the scheme continues to deliver through the next decade. PLEASE VOLUNTEER. Contact Angela Holden on 01223 870647
  • Women’s Institute: Harston Women’s Institute meet every first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in Harston Village Hall except during January.  The committee organises a varied programme of meetings which are entertaining and informative and are always happy to welcome new friends of all ages at their monthly meetings. Harston WI started in 1920.  It belongs to the Cambridge Federation of WIs and have joint meetings twice a year with Pampisford, Sawston, Stapleford and Newton WI’s. You are very welcome to come along to one of the meetings to see what it is are all about – not just Jam and Jerusalem! Contact  Marilyn Dickerson on 01223 871725 or email harstonvillagewi@gmail.com to find out more.

Have we missed you out? Let us know.