Cheffins marks 200th anniversary by awarding £20,000 in grants

Two charities have received £10,000 grants through the Cheffins Next Generation Fund to support young people’s mental health.

These landmark grants bring Cheffins’ total community investment through their partnership with the Foundation to over £110,000.

The Cheffins Next Generation Fund was created specifically for the company’s 200th anniversary year, focusing on young people’s mental health and wellbeing across the region

The fund was made possible entirely through the dedication and determination of nine Cheffins team members who took on the Cambridge Half Marathon earlier this year.

The runners, drawn from across the business, set themselves an ambitious target of raising £20,000 specifically to create this anniversary fund.

Their successful fundraising efforts have enabled these two significant grants, turning their personal achievements into vital support for young people across Cambridgeshire.

“
With 200 years of heritage behind us since Cheffins was founded in 1825, we felt it was important to make a meaningful contribution to the next generation and those who will carry our community forward in the years to come.
”
Suzi Jackson
Head of Business Services, Cheffins

Funded projects

Through the fund, Embrace CVOC (Child Victims of Crime) and Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre will each receive £10,000 to provide specialist trauma-informed counselling and emotional support to children and young people who have experienced serious crime.

Embrace CVOC (Child Victims of Crime) will use their grant to provide trauma-informed emotional support and specialist counselling to children who are victims of serious crime in Cambridgeshire. The organisation will offer up to 10 weekly sessions per child, helping them recover from trauma, supporting their mental wellbeing, and reducing future re-victimisation.

Last year, Embrace saw a 38% increase in demand for their services. The charity supported 3,316 young survivors of crime in 2024, helping children who had experienced sexual abuse, domestic violence, physical assault or who had lost a loved one to homicide.

Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre’s grant will help them deliver sessions of specialist survivor-centred counselling with their specialist young person’s counsellor. The £10,000 grant will enable over 200 counselling sessions for approximately 15 young survivors across Cambridgeshire.

These funds are vital to help the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre continue to meet an increasing demand for its services, having seen referrals for children under 12 nearly triple in 2023-24.

Two decades of community impact

Combined with over £90,000 distributed through their Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund since 2005, the business’ partnership with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation has now supported over 90 local initiatives with over £110,000 in total funding.

“
Our 20-year partnership with Cheffins demonstrates how businesses can create sustained, meaningful impact. From their Grassroots Endowed Fund supporting a wide range of local causes to this focused investment in young people, Cheffins exemplifies how a responsible business can effectively support their local community.
”
Michael O’Toole
CEO of the Foundation

The Cheffins Next Generation Fund was a one-time funding opportunity created specifically for the company’s 200th anniversary year. Grants were awarded in November 2025.

However, the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund will continue to support other local charity and community projects. The next round of applications will open on 2 February 2026, with a deadline of 1 May 2026.

Find out more about the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund