Cambridgeshire Community Foundation is celebrating awarding more than £40million in grants to support communities since it was established in 2004.The foundation celebrated the milestone at a special event in July, supported by CCLA Investment Management and hosted by PEM, bringing together the current and former team, trustees, ambassadors and volunteers.President, vice presidents, staff, trustees, ambassadors and volunteers at the celebration event to mark Cambridgeshire Community Foundation surpassing £40million in grants awarded to support local communities. Picture: Cambridgeshire Community FoundationGrants have been distributed through a range of charitable funds established by organisations and individuals wishing to make a lasting difference in their community. The foundation has supported more than 3,000 charitable and community organisations, helping fund projects that improve health and wellbeing, support young people and older residents, strengthen connections, create opportunities for people facing disadvantages, and more.Its portfolio of over 70 funds includes partnerships with councils, philanthropists and businesses like The Cambridge Building Society, Birketts and Cheffins.Chief executive Michael O’Toole said: “Reaching £40million in grants awarded is a remarkable milestone, but what matters most is the difference that investment has made for people’s lives across Cambridgeshire.“Behind every pound granted is a story of local generosity creating local impact. This achievement belongs to our supporters, partners, volunteers, trustees, staff and community organisations who have worked alongside us over the past 22 years to address need and create opportunity. “We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved together, but we also know there is much more to do. Communities continue to face significant challenges. Cambridge remains one of the most unequal cities in the country, with a 12-year difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived residents. We are also seeing many disparities across health, employment, education and more between the north and south of our county.“Our ambition is to grow local giving, build new partnerships, and ensure even more funding reaches the organisations making a difference on the ground. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain firmly focused on the future and on supporting a thriving, resilient Cambridgeshire for generations to come.”Cambridgeshire Community Foundation staff celebrate surpassing £40million in grants awarded to support local communities. Picture: Cambridgeshire Community FoundationOne of the most recent grants that helped the foundation reach this milestone was awarded by The Cambridge Building Society Community Fund to Concrete Rose Collective CIC. The grant is helping to establish a ‘bank of mum and dad’ for care-experienced young people and care leavers facing financial barriers at critical moments in their lives.Its operations lead, Mike Farrington, said: “Most people have a ‘safety net’ of friends or family to turn to when they need a bit of extra financial support. That is not always the case for the young people we support.”Peter Burrows, CEO of The Cambridge, said: “Congratulations to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation for reaching this major milestone. Working together, we have pledged more than £400,000 to good causes and charitable projects – including innovative multi-year grants to support charities like Concrete Rose – to help tackle housing issues and deliver long-lasting change across the communities we serve.”For more on the foundation see cambscf.org.uk.
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation surpasses £40million in grants to support local communities
