Cambscuisine Community Fund

Grants of average £4,000 are offered with the aim of helping people who are socially disadvantaged and to build healthier, inclusive, sustainable communities.

Founded in 2001, Cambscuisine operates 6 restaurants in and around Cambridge and is a family-run business with roots deep in the local area. They are committed to supporting charities around Cambridge who aim to improve the lives of people who are socially disadvantaged, and particularly like to support giving people a second chance. They already have many charitable programmes in place including paid staff volunteering days and a Back To Work Scheme.

The Cambscuisine Community Fund offers grants to support local voluntary groups, community groups and organisations that are undertaking charitable work with the aim to help people that face disadvantage and to those that engage and support local people, and therefore build stronger, healthier, inclusive and sustainable communities. The aims of the fund are:

1. Provide support and relief to those in need. The Cambscuisine mantra is “giving people a second chance”.
2. Supporting the local environment. Helping local charitable groups or parish councils plant greenery and carry out other environmental projects. (Approximately 20% of the total fund will be used to support this aim.)

Grants will be predominantly made to assist charitable projects in Cambridge, but a wider geography may be considered for projects within a 10 mile radius of Cambscuisine locations. These can be seen on the Cambscuisine website.

Funded projects

Abbey People CIO received £2,000.00 to cover costs of the hub which provides community support, partner drop-ins, food provision and poverty alleviation services for 500 residents in the Abbey/Barnwell area of Cambridge (whilst the Community Centre is being rebuilt).

Cambridge Cyrenians received £3,000.00 to run the Meaningful Activities project to empower 60 homeless or vulnerably housed people to undertake training and work experience to learn new skills, earn qualifications and ultimately move into, or towards, employment.

CHS Group received £15,641.00 to run an Outreach Employment Advice Service for 50 people who are homeless or vulnerably housed in Cambridge to enable them to move on with their lives.

Cogwheel Trust CIO received £2,240.00 to provide weekly counselling sessions for 7-13 vulnerable and financially disadvantaged men to improve mental well-being and reduce the risk of becoming homeless.

The Kite Trust received £4,000.00 to cover one youth worker for 4 days per week for 5 months, including travel expenses for youth worker and young people, as part of a youth work programme that reaches 350 LGBTQ+ children and young people.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) received £5,000.00 towards core services at Milton hospice for 141 children, including end of life care, short breaks, symptom management nursing, wellbeing activities, therapies, counselling, specialist play, spiritual support, and volunteer services in the home.

Home-Start Cambridgeshire received £1,500.00 towards a weekly under-5s support group for 30 mothers and children at Chesterton Methodist Church.

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire received £1,500.00 to provide home-visiting support for 2 vulnerable South Cambridgeshire families who are at risk of slipping into crisis.

Something To Look Forward To received £5,000.00 to support families affected by cancer by providing experiences such as cottage holidays, restaurants meals or spa breaks designed to make facing cancer more bearable.

Fight Against Blindness received £3,499.00 towards an increase in psychologist’s hours to meet the demand for supporting 15 children with sight loss.

CHS Group received £3,000.00 towards an Outreach Employment and Money Advice Service for up to 50 people who are homeless or vulnerably housed in Cambridge, to enable them to get on in life and thrive.

Cambridge Sustainable Food Alliance (CaSFA) CIC received £3,928.00 towards the continued operation of the Cambridge food redistribution hub at Buchan Street Neighbourhood Centre during 2021/22, and/or enabling senior staff to work on establishing a permanent home for the hub.

Turtle Dove Cambridge CIC received £5,132.00 to provide specific employment training and emotional support to 12 young women facing disadvantage, many of whom are at risk of homelessness and living in supported housing.

Wintercomfort received £3,300.00 to support 50 homeless people into work by providing IDs, bus passes or bikes, and a one-off cost of living allowance once they’re employed.