Whom we support
At the start of each year, we select ten local, national and international charities to support with the money raised from our events. This year, we are proud to support the following charities – scroll down to read more about them!
Alzheimer’s Research UK
Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity. As research experts, we specialise in funding world-class, pioneering research at leading universities to find preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia. We believe science and innovation hold the key to defeating dementia and invest in the scientists learning more about the condition and its causes.
Our findings improve the lives of everyone affected by dementia now and in the future. We forge partnerships with Government and other key organisations to make dementia research a national priority. We encourage everyone to join us in supporting research and achieving a world free from dementia.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross in East Anglia helps 100 people every day to withstand or recover from a crisis. To find out more about how we are saving lives and changing lives please visit: http://www.redcross.org.uk/nearyou
This World AIDS Day on 1 December, we are looking at the effects of isolation on young people living with HIV. Many don’t feel they can speak to anyone about their status – but having just one safe and supportive relationship could make all the difference to their lives. If someone close to you was diagnosed with HIV, could you be there for them? To find out more click here.
Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre
CRCC is a specialist sexual violence organisation which was set up to support women and girls who have experienced any form of sexual violence. CRCC acknowledges all forms of sexual violence, including: rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape in marriage, forced marriage, and so-called honour based violence, female genital mutilation, trafficking and sexual exploitation, ritual abuse, irrespective of whether the violence is from known or unknown perpetrators.
CRCC’s core service is currently a telephone helpline offering support, information and signposting for women and girls of any age whose lives have been affected by sexual violence. CRCC offers vital support to approximately 260 helpline callers per year, some of whom relay on our service long- term. Currently the helpline is open one evening a week Wednesday 7.30 – 9.30pm and on Saturdays 3pm – 5pm. Outside of these times we have a 24 hour answerphone and all calls are returned.
Helpline: 01223 245888
Office: 01223 313551
Email: crcc…@gmail.com
Website: www.cambridgerapecrisis.co.uk
Post: Box R, 12 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD
FoodCycle Cambridge
Each year, the UK food retail industry sends 1.6 million tonnes of food to landfill, a quarter of which is estimated as still being fit for consumption. FoodCycle raises awareness of food waste and food poverty by reclaiming good food to make delicious, nutritious meals for people in need in the local community.
Here in Cambridge, we collect food from local retailers on Fridays and serve it for lunch on Saturdays at the Centre at St Paul’s on Hills Road. To find out more about what we do (or if you just fancy a free lunch and a chat), feel free to stop by – 12:30pm, every Saturday.
Haven House
Haven House Children’s Hospice is a special place for special children. We care for children and young people between the ages of 0 to 19 who have life-limiting conditions and who are unlikely to reach adulthood. The services at Haven House include day care, overnight stays and end of life care for children whose needs are complex and the families can find the support they need when they need it most at no cost to themselves.The further assistance for the family includes:
- Toy home loan
- A community play specialist
- Music and movement therapy
- A youth club and weekend packages for 11-19 year olds
- Coffee mornings for parents/carers
- Support group for siblings
- Regular group for parents and their child to play and socialise
At any one time, around 150 families in the local communities across North and East London and West Essex are benefiting from these services.
Jimmy’s Night Shelter
Medecins Sans Frontieres
Médecins Sans Frontières MSF (Doctors Without Borders) is an independent humanitarian medical aid organisation. MSF is committed to providing medical aid where it is most needed, regardless of race, religion, politics or gender and also to raising awareness of the plight of the people it helps.
MSF’s core work is providing medical aid in crisis situations – armed conflicts, epidemics, famines and natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. All these situations call for a rapid response with specialised medical and logistical help.
Every year, MSF sends around 3,000 doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators and other professionals to work alongside approximately 25,000 locally hired staff. Together they run medical projects in more than 60 countries around the world.
Unicef
UNICEF works to protect child rights worldwide, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets out the rights of all children to be free from exploitation, violence and abuse. UNICEF is the largest global organisation working specifically for children and their rights.
UNICEF works with families, communities and governments in more than 190 countries worldwide to help every child reach their full potential through long-term and emergency work on health care, education and protection for children at risk. This can be as simple as providing teaching materials to a school, to working long term with governments to improve their healthcare policies.
We raise money to help children all over the world. We and receive no income from the UN and rely totally on voluntary donations.
WaterAid
WaterAid transforms lives by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education for some of the world’s poorest communities. We work with local partners and involve the local community in our projects, making sure that the most marginalised people benefit from the solutions, and that the projects are sustainable and the community have the skills and knowledge to maintain them.
We believe that water and sanitation form the building blocks of development and enable people to take the first, essential step out of poverty – as well as the obvious health benefits, they enable children to go to school and women to earn a living.
Currently 4,000 children die every day from diseases relating to unsafe water and poor sanitation. It costs on average just £15 to enable one person to gain access to a lasting supply of safe water, sanitation and hygiene education – imagine how many lives you could change!
WinterComfort
Wintercomfort for the Homeless operates year round providing support services and basic amenities for homeless people in Cambridge.
Each morning we run a welfare service providing hot food and laundry facilities for anyone without a roof over their head. This time is also an opportunity to put people in touch with other essential services like medical care, addiction support and housing advice.
For the rest of the day we provide opportunities for individuals to develop their skills and realise their potential. We run a full range of training from basic numeracy and literacy classes to IT, ESOL and job skills.
Wintercomfort also operates three social enterprise projects which aim to equip homeless individuals the practical skills and experience they need to gain employment; food4food provides buffet catering to private clients across the city, and last year opened a lunchtime café in Chesterton whilst the WinterWillow team craft handmade eco-coffins from English willow.