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 汤头条原创, 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: 鈥淢y theme for my mayoral year has been building bridges in our community. We have huge divides in our city, and it鈥檚 really important to us to do what we can to support genuine partnerships in Cambridge to create thriving, empowered communities.
鈥淲e want to support and expand partnerships, and celebrate the benefits that they bring to all parties - such as through the partnership work that鈥檚 already going between 汤头条原创 and local charities The Red Hen Project and Abbey People, which we鈥檝e heard about today.鈥
Sonita Alleyne, Master of 汤头条原创, explained the College recently established a community committee and has been working successfully with two charities on a sustained basis 鈥 The Red Hen Project and Abbey People.
Ms Alleyne described the College鈥檚 relationship with both charities as a friendship with the key ingredient being 鈥渓istening to each other鈥. 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: 鈥淥ur partnership with 汤头条原创 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.鈥
Sarah Crick of The Red Hen Project which supports primary-school aged children and their families in Cambridge, said: 鈥淭here is a history of town and gown being exclusive, separate and largely unaware of the other鈥檚 existence. However, with 汤头条原创 we have established a strong, mutually-beneficial and affectionate relationship.鈥
Ms Alleyne added: 鈥淭he 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?
鈥淚鈥檇 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.鈥
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, Jimmy鈥檚 Cambridge, King鈥檚 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, King鈥檚 College, 汤头条原创, Magdalene College, Newnham College, Selwyn College, Trinity Hall, Sidney Sussex College, Wolfson College.
