I am a trustee of a local charity called Cambridge Aid. We help local people in crisis by giving them a one-off grant of up to £200 to get the essentials they need the most. We issue grants, usually within three days of receiving an application, through a network of over 40 charitable organisations and local council teams who act as sponsors, including Cambridge & District Citizens Advice, Cambridge Social Services, Jimmy’s Cambridge, Women’s Resources Centre, Mental Health Foundation Trusts and The Red Hen Project. Our rapid practical grants form part of the support provided by our partner organisations in helping the most vulnerable reduce the hardship they face.

In 2023, the total grants we made were approximately £188,213 – 30% ahead of last year’s record of £144,332 and 78% ahead of the pre-COVID record in 2019. We made about 1,243 grants in 2023 (2022: 976; 2019: 849). 66% were to people living in Cambridge City, and the remaining balance went mainly to nearby villages in South Cambridgeshire. Some 52% of recipient families suffered from mental health issues and 23% had suffered from domestic violence. Through our aid, we empower individuals, help them retain their dignity, and remind them that their community cares about them. Around half of our aid benefits children, and many recipients are single parents.

We are a small charity with a group of unpaid trustees and volunteers who believe strongly in compassion, acting in a non-judgemental way and providing rapid support to those in need. Our trustees carefully scrutinise every request sent to Cambridge Aid. Most requests receive positive responses, and we also make many suggestions for additional sources of help.

We fund the purchase of cookers, freezers and washing machines – the most commonly requested items. The next biggest items are food, everyday household essentials, and clothing for children and adults. We give plenty of help to people moving home - for example, the street homeless moving into pods or other unfurnished flats, women fleeing domestic abuse, and young adults who may not have anyone else to turn to.

I will be fasting for 48 hours from 8 pm on 5 March to 8 pm on 7 March. Please donate to my fundraising generously to support Cambridge Aid!