Abbey People and Kings Hedges Family Support Project have been awarded £499,997 over five years from The National Lottery Community Fund to continue delivering Abbey Together – a trusted, place-based programme supporting families across the Abbey area of Cambridge.
The funding follows the successful completion of an initial three-year National Lottery award and represents a second, long-term investment in the programme, reflecting the strength of its impact and the confidence funders have in the partnership’s approach.
Abbey Together was created to address gaps in family support for parents and carers who often fall below statutory thresholds but are nonetheless under significant pressure. Delivered jointly by Abbey People and Kings Hedges Family Support Project, the programme offers consistent, relational support through weekly family groups, parent wellbeing sessions, outdoor learning, early years provision, and inclusive community events.
Over the first three years, Abbey Together has supported more than 560 local residents, with:
- 86% of parents reporting improved emotional wellbeing
- 100% reporting increased confidence
- 73% of families reporting improved school readiness and transition support
- Strong year-on-year growth in engagement, volunteering, and peer support
Families consistently report reduced isolation, stronger relationships, and increased confidence to navigate life changes, outcomes achieved through trusted relationships, joined-up working, and long-term presence in the community.
The continuation funding will enable Abbey People and Kings Hedges Family Support Project to build on what works, deepen co-production with families, strengthen early-help pathways, and embed sustainability over a five-year period.
Nicky Shepard, CEO of Abbey People, said: “This funding is about far more than money, it’s about trust, continuity, and believing in what families tell us they need. Abbey Together works because it’s relational, local, and long-term. Families don’t need short interventions that disappear just as trust is built. They need consistency, emotional safety, and people who will walk alongside them through different stages of life.
The National Lottery’s decision to fund Abbey Together for a second time is a powerful vote of confidence in the partnership between Abbey People and Kings Hedges Family Support Project, and in the families who have shaped this programme from the start. This funding allows us to move from proving the model to embedding it, so families can not only cope, but truly thrive.”
Suzie Pollard, Project Manager of The Kings Hedges Family Support Project, said: “We are thrilled to continue our work with the Abbey Together project, thanks to another incredible five years of funding from the National Lottery Community Reaching Communities Fund. Over the past three years, we have made a fantastic start, and this continued support will allow us to strengthen community engagement, support families, and deepen the partnership between our two organisations. Bringing our teams together in this way is incredibly exciting, and we look forward to what the next five years will bring as we continue to listen to and learn from the families and service users we work with.”
Abbey Together operates across familiar community spaces in Abbey and Kings Hedges, creating accessible entry points into support and reducing the need for crisis intervention. The programme has also strengthened local systems by improving coordination between voluntary, statutory, health, education, and community partners.
The five-year award includes a tapered funding model, enabling both organisations to develop match funding and long-term sustainability while maintaining the relational approach families value most.
As Abbey Together enters its next phase, the partnership remains focused on early intervention, reducing inequality, and building a stronger, more connected community – ensuring families are supported not just in moments of crisis, but throughout their lives.
