Making a Difference Together: Community Impact at The Cambridge Building Society

Volunteers busy painting an outdoor pergola for It Takes A City

At The Cambridge Building Society, community impact is measured not only through fundraising, but also through the time and effort its team gives back locally. In 2025, the team contributed 934 community hours, including 285 volunteering hours with its community partners across 19 projects, supporting organisations in Cambridge that work with people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. 

A key focus of this work is building long-term partnerships with local charities that share a commitment to supporting vulnerable people in the community. This is why relationships have been developed with Emmaus Cambridge, Jimmy’s Cambridge, and It Takes a City - organisations that all play a vital role in providing shelter, support, and pathways towards greater independence. These partnerships reflect a shared aim of enabling people in the local area to realise their potential, with a strong focus on housing stability and long-term change. 

A significant proportion of community hours in 2025 were spent supporting Emmaus Cambridge, which provides shelter, work opportunities, and long-term support for people experiencing homelessness. The sense of purpose and community at Emmaus left a strong impression on those involved. 

As one volunteer reflected, it was:

 “great to get involved and do something practical outdoors… it felt good to know our work will help the garden grow and benefit the wider community.” 

Others described the experience as: 

“an eye-opener into how the charity operates and all the people involved in giving a hand up to those in need,” while also highlighting the “strong sense of community… with staff members and companions working hard together.” 

The impact of these partnerships is also reflected in wider community activity, including support for Jimmy’s 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner and involvement in It Takes a City’s Street Storage project, which provides secure storage for people experiencing homelessness and has supported over 40 individuals. 

For many of its team members, experiences like this offer a deeper understanding of the impact, community organisations like It Takes a City have on people rebuilding their lives. One reflection captured this clearly: 

“It was nice to learn about all the great work they are doing to support homeless people in our city. It feels good that we at The Cambridge can volunteer and serve our community to really make a difference.” 

Lis Silver, CEO, at It Takes a City:

“It takes a City were thrilled to host a team in April from Cambridge Building Society as part of a project to refurbish our Crossways hostel, which provides accommodation for those experiencing homelessness.  The team came in and helped with the renovation by picking up paint  brushes and giving bedrooms, corridors and our outdoor pergola a much-needed refresh in April.  Walking into a clean fresh environment is a great way of showing the people we accommodate that they are valued and providing a space where they can relax and prepare for the next stage of their journey into stable accommodation.”

Through these 934 community hours, The Cambridge Building Society continues to focus on practical, long-term impact - helping local organisations support people to move towards stability, independence, and secure housing.