We owe a lot to Cambridge. It’s the city many of our team call home, and the place that’s supported our growth into a globally successful business.
But there’s no escaping the growing poverty and inequality we’ve seen over the last eleven years. Cambridge is often named one of the most unequal cities in the UK. Over the past couple of years, our communities have been struggling more than ever, through a pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. We want to do what we can to bridge the gap.
This year, we’ve donated a total of £70,000 to five charities who are making a real difference on the ground, working tirelessly to make life better for people throughout Cambridgeshire.
Read on to find out more about their work.
Centre 33 – supporting young people
Every year, Centre 33 helps thousands of young people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to turn their lives around, and thrive.
Their teams, based in local drop-in centres and schools, offer a range of support services from free counseling and mental wellbeing help to information on sexual health, housing, and budgeting. They also run a dedicated project to help young carers manage the added responsibility of caring for other family members.
Our donation last year helped the team continue to offer their services through another tough year. We’re proud to continue our support through 2023.
“Thank you for my life” – Anonymous letter to Centre 33
Watch the video
Cambridge City Foodbank – emergency food supplies and fuel vouchers
With rising living costs, donations to local food banks have dropped at a time when more people than ever need help.
Cambridge City Foodbank is also seeing unprecedented levels of demand for its fuel support scheme, which provides gas and electricity top-up vouchers to people facing financial crisis.
It’s part of the Trussell Trust’s network of foodbanks across the UK, and has had a presence in Cambridge for over ten years. In the last six months, Cambridge City Foodbank provided 6,798 emergency food parcels to the local community, with 2,642 going to children.
Our donation will help to keep the charity’s distribution services open through a tough winter, so fewer people will face the impossible choice between heating and eating.
The people at the foodbank were wonderful, they understood and saved us. – Holly, a foodbank user
Jimmy’s Cambridge – support for people who are rough sleeping
People can find themselves homeless for any number of reasons – whether they’ve lost a job, escaped domestic violence or experienced mental ill health.
Jimmy’s, a community-based charity, has been there since 1995 for anyone who finds themselves homeless and in need of support.
This year, our donation will help Jimmy’s to redevelop their East Road site, to provide an additional five beds for people living on our streets – along with a hot meal and a friendly face when they need it most.
They took me from street to shelter to house to home. – Harry, who used Jimmy’s services
Red Balloon – re-engaging young people with education
Many students struggle with school life, and Red Balloon offers them an alternative option that puts them at the heart of their own academic progress.
Last year we made a donation which helped the charity to build a new Red Balloon of the Air hub: a space for students to meet and learn in person.
This year our donation will be used in part to expand their facilities with a new garden and workshop.
The past doesn’t make me feel sad any more. Now I just think about the future. – Red Balloon Student
Cambridge Women’s Aid – supporting survivors of domestic abuse
Women’s Aid is a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services in England, and build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated.
Our donation will help Cambridge Women’s Aid to continue their work offering expert confidential support, including resettlement, emergency accommodation and life skills training for women and children affected by domestic abuse.
It’s so empowering and comforting to know that others are stood beside you. – Anonymous service user
For over a decade, we’ve created technology to make the world a safer place. Closer to home, we hope our donations will make Cambridge a safer place, too, helping people to claim the rights that many of us take for granted: to food, warmth and support.
One of our core values is to be ‘responsibly ambitious’. For me, a huge part of that is about reflecting on our success and paying it forward, to make a positive difference in the community. – Joe Parry, CEO, Cambridge Intelligence
