Stories and News

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. 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.

Match My Project (MMP) is an online platform connecting local community organisations with suppliers and businesses to deliver social value commitments. Through MMP, VCSEs can post projects requesting support—whether that’s volunteer time, specialist skills, resources, sponsorship, or even larger building works. Suppliers can then browse these projects and offer help, aligning their social value commitments with real community needs. Find out more by reading Support Cambridgeshire's newsletter here: Match My Project: Connecting Communities and Suppliers for Social Value Find Match My Project's website here: Match my project

Also known as Corporate Volunteering, Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV), is becoming increasingly popular. It is when a company encourages and enables its employees to volunteer for charities or community groups. This can be by offering paid time off during work hours for volunteering activities, or it may mean organising group volunteer days, or even just promoting opportunities. ESV benefits the employer, employees, and the community. However, some businesses are still unsure where to begin when developing a volunteering programme. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of ESV, ways to engage with charities, and the support businesses can offer to their employees. Benefits of ESV Employees who are encouraged to volunteer locally are more likely to feel part of the local community and experience a boost to their wellbeing. A more engaged workforce can lead to increased retention rates. Promoting volunteering is a signal to your employees that you care about others and not just your bottom line. Volunteering as a team can lead to improved communication and strengthened relationships in the work environment and help develop key skills such as leadership, teamwork, planning, and confidence. ESV strengthens connections with the local community, enhances brand reputation, and supports your Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives. Volunteering can also boost productivity and develop key skills such as leadership, teamwork, planning, and confidence. FHASS Employability Hub article: The Benefits of Volunteering: Enhancing Skills Development while Helping Individuals and the Community NCVO article: Volunteer impacts - Time Well Spent: A national survey on the volunteer experience Pro Bono Institute article: Driving Impact and Engagement: The Business Case for Corporate Volunteerism 3 Ways to Volunteer or Engage with a Charity 1. Donating equipment or resources Businesses can support charities by donating items such as office furniture, IT equipment, or other resources. These contributions help charities reduce operational costs and improve their working environments. 2. Fundraising Many organisations select preferred charities to fundraise for throughout the year. This can take the form of challenges such as sponsored runs, or other events such as bake sales to raise money and awareness. 3. Sharing skills Skill sharing is a powerful way for employees to contribute meaningfully to the voluntary sector by offering their professional knowledge and experience. This approach can have a lasting impact on both the charity and the individual. Here are some effective ways to share skills: • Joining Trustee Boards Employees with experience in finance, HR, legal, marketing, or governance can bring valuable insights to charity boards. Serving as a trustee helps charities make strategic decisions and ensures good governance, while giving employees leadership experience and a broader perspective. Rooted in Community: Natalie's Experience as a Fusion Trustee . • Mentoring and Coaching Professionals can mentor charity staff or volunteers, helping them develop skills in areas such as project management, communications, or digital tools. This builds capacity within the charity and fosters personal growth for both mentor and mentee. • Pro Bono Services Businesses can offer free professional services—such as legal advice, graphic design, IT support, or financial planning—to charities that may not have the budget for these resources. This can be done as one-off projects or ongoing support. • Workshops and Training Sessions Employees can run workshops for charity teams on topics like leadership, safeguarding, fundraising strategy, or digital marketing. These sessions help upskill charity staff and volunteers, improving their effectiveness and confidence. • Flexible Volunteering Days Instead of one-off volunteering days, employees can spread their time across the year to support a charity’s ongoing work. This might include helping with communications, data analysis, or strategic planning during quieter periods at work. Skill sharing not only strengthens the charity sector but also enhances employee engagement, professional development, and a sense of purpose. Volunteering Days Volunteering days as a small team offer a great opportunity to bond with colleagues, contribute to the community, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. Ensuring employees feel involved in the planning and decision to participate is vital, as is making sure the outcomes benefit the voluntary organisation. There should be no cost, or additional burden to the voluntary group. Here’s How We Can Help You Visit Volunteer Cambs to see if there is an opportunity that suits you, or join the Volunteer Pool Beyond Volunteer Cambs: There are some excellent networks and platforms that can help strengthen links between the voluntary sector and business. Take a look at: • Get Synergised & Networking with Purpose , delivered by Rachel Hales, is a must for companies working across Cambridgeshire. This business consultancy and award-winning With Purpose Membership Network enables businesses, registered charities, social enterprises, and public sector organisations to collaborate and deliver meaningful social and economic value, as well as collective impact. • Match my Project Match My Project is a platform connecting community projects with businesses and suppliers offering support. It helps organisations deliver social value by matching resources like skills, materials, services, or funding to local needs. The goal is to strengthen community resilience and create long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits for Cambridge. Locally, there is one platform for Cambridge City Council and another for Cambridgeshire County Council .