Last week, two of Cambridgeshire's most distinguished visitors came not to inspect, but to listen — and what they found was a community quietly doing extraordinary things.

Francis Burkitt, His Majesty The King's representative in Cambridgeshire as High Sheriff, and Lucy Foice-Beard, Mayor of Wisbech, spent time at Octavia View to see first-hand the work that has made Ferry Project the largest provider of homelessness services in Fenland. For the residents and staff who welcomed them, it was more than a formal visit. It was a moment of genuine recognition.

The guests were taken on an extensive tour of the 'havens' that make up Ferry Project's network of supported accommodation. Each site represents a different stage in the journey from crisis to independence. Since 1999, this continuum of care has helped thousands of people across the Fenland area — not simply offering a roof, but offering a path. Today, around 80 per cent of those experiencing homelessness locally find their way to Ferry Project's door.

The visit took in one of the most valued parts of that journey: a live cookery session in the Cookery School. Here, residents work alongside staff not to earn qualifications, but to rebuild something far harder to measure. Their confidence, routine, and a sense of belonging. 

No tour of Ferry Project would be complete without a visit to the Wisbech Gallery, where a partnership with Blackfield Creatives has brought original artwork directly into the heart of the hostel. The High Sheriff and Mayor took time to admire the work on display as part of this year's 'Open Exhibition'. For residents, the gallery is a reminder that culture and creativity belong to everyone.

After meeting several residents directly, both guests left with a richer picture of what life at Ferry Project looks, feels, and sounds like day to day. That kind of understanding matters. Homelessness in rural areas like Fenland can be invisible, overlooked, and underfunded. When senior figures in public life take the time to see it for themselves it strengthens the case for continued investment, partnership, and recognition.

The whole team at Ferry Project was proud to welcome the High Sheriff and the Mayor, and grateful for the time and thoughtfulness they brought to the visit. Most importantly, the residents who shared their stories and their space with such generosity deserve the greatest credit of all.

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