Cambscuisine Community Fund

Our Community Fund

Read our latest fund report here.

£250,000 raised…

Cambscuisine is thrilled to report that we have hit the £259,000 mark for our Cambscuisine Community Fund.

 From Julia at The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, (the trust that looks after our fund) "The Cambscuisine Community Fund demonstrates the profound impact a locally rooted business can have on its community. From giving hundreds of people 'a second chance' to supporting environmental initiatives, their community impact has grown alongside their business. We're proud to manage this fund and we look forward to our continued collaboration to make Cambridge stronger, healthier and more inclusive." If you wish to know more about the foundation or apply via them for a grant from us then please visit here.

Please see the video below explaining what we are doing and why! Video is a little out of date…we no longer have Smokeworks or St.John’s Chop House but the sentiment is the same!

Apply for our fund here at The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.

We are proud to be members of the With Purpose Network - an online and in-person space where businesses and nonprofit organisations come together to create a more meaningful and sustainable impact in Cambridgeshire and beyond. Being part of a community of like-minded businesses that share our commitment to positive change is something we truly value. You can find out more about the network and our involvement here: www.getsynergised.com

Recently we’ve awarded the following:

Other beneficiaries
have included…

Our round before last: 

Case Study from CHS

Polly Thurston, Homelessness Projects Coordinator at Cambridge Housing Society:
Polly has delivered a project supporting those affected by homelessness into employment, volunteering and education. Polly says “With the grants from the Cambscuisine Community Fund to support our project since April 2020, we have been able to support 28 people in Cambridge City affected by homelessness, of these 8 have found employment opportunities, 11 have returned to education and 9 have started volunteering in the community. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the Cambscuisine fund”

  • Case Study 1

    Jackie had been street homeless for a while pre-pandemic. With the ‘Everyone in’ under Covid, she started to engage with services, having a roof over her head made this a possibility to detox from drug use. Eventually Jackie was starting to get bored as she didn’t have her usual habits to distract her, and she was introduced to Polly at CHS. Polly supported Jackie to look at her prospects and start again, enrolling on various courses to increase her confidence, and volunteering to get her work experience and start building her CV. Jackie is now working part-time and has a tenancy in Cambridge.

  • Case Study 2

    James was an ex-offender and living in supported accommodation when Polly met him. He hadn’t worked as an employee before and didn’t think it was possible. James knew he needed to keep busy to prevent him from offending again and desperately wanted to find paid employment. Polly and James worked together to create a CV and covering letter. They applied to numerous restaurants in Cambridge City and James was offered and started a position in a popular City restaurant, starting as a kitchen assistant with the hope to build a career in the field.

Giving Time along the CCF

As a local restaurant group, community is at the heart of what we do.
Here are a few examples of how we try to get involved

– Each restaurant team is given two charity days each year for volunteers to spend time helping a charity of their choice.
– Staff at The Tickell Arms have lead baking classes for the children at William Westley school.
– Across our restaurants we hold regular charity coffee mornings and pub quizzes raising hundreds of pounds for charities such as Macmillan, The Children’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK as well as local community clubs and groups. Staff frequently bake cakes to bring to these events in their own time.