Faith & Community Land Proposal - Northstowe Phase 1 (Overview)
Who we are
Hindu Samaj Northstowe (HSN) is a local community group and registered charity that has been active in Northstowe for around four years. We began as a small group of residents coming together to create a welcoming space for connection, culture, learning and service. Over time, we have grown into a well-organised volunteer team delivering regular activities and community events.
Through our programmes and outreach, we work with local families, schools, community venues and partner groups. We run youth and family sessions, cultural celebrations, wellbeing-focused activities, volunteering and community support, with an inclusive approach that welcomes people of all backgrounds.
Why we are making this proposal
Northstowe is growing quickly, and residents need more than a standard community centre offer. Our surveys show a clear need for an all-weather space built around three core priorities: interfaith connection, wellbeing support and culture. Families and young people have repeatedly highlighted the need for a safe, welcoming base for youth activities, learning, mentoring and positive social time, alongside spaces for support groups, workshops, arts and community volunteering.
Our approach meets these needs in a joined-up way. Northstowe currently has no Hindu place of worship, so we are proposing one that is open to all, alongside an interfaith community centre that welcomes people of any faith and people of no faith. Together, this creates one shared hub for community-led activity, from cultural celebrations and learning sessions to wellbeing programmes and interfaith gatherings, helping more people feel they belong and supporting Northstowe as it continues to grow.
Our project plan
Community Centre & Temple Project: an interfaith, wellbeing & cultural centre with a Hindu place of worship, serving Northstowe and surrounding villages.
We are proposing one integrated facility on the Phase 1 Faith & Community Land, bringing together:
- an interfaith community centre (for wellbeing, culture, learning and community-led use), and
- a Hindu place of worship (temple).
The building is intentionally planned so that around 79% is shared, bookable community space, and around 21% supports the temple function. The temple will be open to all — including Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, people of other faiths, and those of no faith.
Alongside this, the interfaith community centre will be a welcoming space for community-led activity, from cultural celebrations, arts and learning, youth clubs and workshops, to wellbeing sessions, support groups and volunteering. Most areas will be easy to book for local residents and organisations.
“From Northstowe, For Northstowe”
This Project has grown with local residents and is shaped around Northstowe’s needs. It is not something brought in from elsewhere.
- Local presence: Hindu Samaj Northstowe (HSN) has been active in Northstowe since 2022.
- Charity status: HSN is a registered charity (CIO) with clear governance and reporting.
- Delivery experience: We have a proven track record of delivering community, cultural and wellbeing activities across Northstowe and the wider Cambridge area.
- Strategic partners: We work with a carefully chosen mix of community and specialist partners to deliver practical benefits for a growing town, including youth support, wellbeing, volunteering, arts and culture, and interfaith community-building.
Why this matters for residents
Northstowe needs more than “another hall to hire.” As a new and fast-growing town, it will benefit from a shared interfaith, wellbeing and cultural space designed to help people feel they belong, build relationships across backgrounds, and access activities that support everyday life. This space will provide safe, welcoming provision for young people and families, alongside cultural learning, community support, and opportunities to volunteer and contribute. It will help Northstowe grow with stronger connection, identity and wellbeing.
Northstowe’s population has grown from 2,356 (2021) to 4,700+ (May 2025). Growth brings opportunity, but without enough places to gather it can also lead to isolation and wellbeing pressures. This hub is designed to support connection, learning, volunteering and community life, all in one accessible space.
Our project plan
Community Centre & Temple Project: an interfaith, wellbeing & cultural centre with a Hindu place of worship, serving Northstowe and surrounding villages.
We are proposing one integrated facility on the Phase 1 Faith & Community Land, bringing together:
- an interfaith community centre (for wellbeing, culture, learning and community-led use), and
- a Hindu place of worship (temple).
The building is intentionally planned so that around 79% is shared, bookable community space, and around 21% supports the temple function. The temple will be open to all — including Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, people of other faiths, and those of no faith.
Alongside this, the interfaith community centre will be a welcoming space for community-led activity, from cultural celebrations, arts and learning, youth clubs and workshops, to wellbeing sessions, support groups and volunteering. Most areas will be easy to book for local residents and organisations.
“From Northstowe, For Northstowe”
This Project has grown with local residents and is shaped around Northstowe’s needs. It is not something brought in from elsewhere.
- Local presence: Hindu Samaj Northstowe (HSN) has been active in Northstowe since 2022.
- Charity status: HSN is a registered charity (CIO) with clear governance and reporting.
- Delivery experience: We have a proven track record of delivering community, cultural and wellbeing activities across Northstowe and the wider Cambridge area.
Strategic partners: We work with a carefully chosen mix of community and specialist partners to deliver practical benefits for a growing town, including youth support, wellbeing, volunteering, arts and culture, and interfaith community-building.
What you’ll be able to do here
A genuinely shared building (not restricted by faith)
Shared spaces will be managed through:
- one transparent booking system, and
- an inclusive use policy,
so any Northstowe resident or local group can book on equal terms.
Interfaith in practice: The Community Centre will be suitable for a wide range of community-led and faith-led activities. For example, it can host learning classes, Islamic classes, Iftar celebrations, baptism gatherings, Sikh celebrations such as Vaisakhi, Jain observances such as Paryushana, and seasonal cultural festivals such as Passover and Chinese New Year, alongside many other community celebrations. The space will also be available for residents with no faith, including wellbeing sessions, support groups, learning workshops, and community meetings. All activities will be delivered respectfully and in line with the centre’s safeguarding and shared-use guidelines.
What’s inside
The building includes two dedicated Prayer / Reflection Rooms intended for multi-faith use. They will be available for communities including Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Sikh residents, as well as those of no faith. The same respectful rules and safeguarding standards will apply to everyone.
Shared spaces are planned to be bookable seven days a week, with daytime and evening access, so working residents and youth groups can genuinely use the facility.
We offer a warm, flexible hub designed for everyday community life, not only occasional events. Spaces include:
- A main hall that can subdivide into smaller rooms for youth activities, workshops, performances and celebrations
- Meeting rooms and quiet spaces for mentoring, advice sessions, support groups and community organising
- Multi-purpose rooms for classes, clubs, wellbeing sessions, counselling, arts, learning and interfaith activities
- A community kitchen to support community meals, cooking workshops and cultural food events
- Inclusive access throughout, with step-free entry and accessibility features such as ramps and a lift
- A café and everyday wellbeing offer: the design includes a small café facing green spaces with views across the lake, creating a calm, welcoming place to meet and spend time. Alongside this, we plan a micro grocery or community pantry-style offer focused on sustainable, healthy essentials. This will help the centre support wellbeing in practical, everyday ways.
Programme focus (based on what residents told us)
Based on consultation and resident feedback, our programme will focus on:
- Youth and learning
- Wellbeing and support
- Arts, culture and celebration
- Environment and sustainability
Why youth provision is a priority: Northstowe is a young and growing town. Our bid estimates there may be around 1,200 to 1,350 children and young people, including approximately 480 to 540 aged 11 to 19, based on recent population estimates and age profiles. We also draw on youth voice work, including Youth Parliament Week activities, where young people highlighted the need for more dedicated youth spaces and opportunities as a local priority.
Co-building: designed with residents.
This proposal has been shaped through structured community input, including a formal survey. We are committed to ongoing co-design if the bid is successful, so local residents continue to influence the layout, priorities and how the hub is run.
For that reason, the Project currently uses a working description:
“Interfaith, wellbeing and cultural centre with a Hindu place of worship.”
The Project will be formally named through community consultation after the award.