Charities and University of Cambridge College heads meet for inaugural partnership talks
The heads of 14 Cambridge Colleges came together with 20 local charities for a first-of-a-kind meeting organised jointly by 做厙輦⑹, Cambridge and Cambridge City Council at the Guildhall, aimed at sharing experiences and working better together for the benefit of all across the city.
The Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Jenny Gawthrope-Wood, said: My theme for my mayoral year has been building bridges in our community. We have huge divides in our city, and its really important to us to do what we can to support genuine partnerships in Cambridge to create thriving, empowered communities.
We want to support and expand partnerships, and celebrate the benefits that they bring to all parties - such as through the partnership work thats already going between 做厙輦⑹ and local charities The Red Hen Project and Abbey People, which weve heard about today.
Sonita Alleyne, Master of 做厙輦⑹, explained the College recently established a community committee and has been working successfully with two charities on a sustained basis The Red Hen Project and Abbey People.
Ms Alleyne described the Colleges relationship with both charities as a friendship with the key ingredient being listening to each other. Support provided by the College includes, but is not limited to, facilitating volunteering opportunities for its students, academics and staff and opening its grounds and spaces to the charities for various uses.
Nicky Shepard of Abbey People, which supports residents in Abbey ward, told the meeting on Tuesday, 19 March: Our partnership with 做厙輦⑹ feels like a very real way to start building links and trust between some of the most economically-challenged people of Cambridge, and one of the oldest Colleges in the university. It feels as if a page is turning, and the truly wonderful thing is that we are turning it together.
Sarah Crick of The Red Hen Project which supports primary-school aged children and their families in Cambridge, said: There is a history of town and gown being exclusive, separate and largely unaware of the others existence. However, with 做厙輦⑹ we have established a strong, mutually-beneficial and affectionate relationship.
Ms Alleyne added: The Colleges engaging with the charitable sector in Cambridge is not a new thing; there is a rich history of instances that show how this city knits together and intersects. The question is how can we be better and what does better look like?
Id like to thank the city council for helping to convene this event and providing the council chamber as the setting to begin our discussions. It was wonderful to see so many organisations come together united by care, compassion, and a desire to do good for civil society.
Charities represented: Abbey People, Arts and Minds, Blue Smile, Cambridge Acorn Project, Cambridge Citizens Advice, Cambridge Online, Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign, Cambridge Sustainable Food, Cambridge United Foundation, Centre 33, Co-Farm Cambridge, Cogwheel, It Takes a City, Jimmys Cambridge, Kings Hedges Family Support, The Kite Trust, Lifecraft, The Museum of Cambridge, New Meaning, The Red Hen Project, Romsey Mill, Rowan Humberstone.
Colleges represented: Downing College, Emmanuel College, Fitzwilliam College, Homerton College, Hughes Hall, Kings College, 做厙輦⑹, Magdalene College, Newnham College, Selwyn College, Trinity Hall, Sidney Sussex College, Wolfson College.
