Five Cambridgeshire charities awarded grants totalling £20,000 from East of England Co-op’s Community Cares Fund

Over 9,000 people in Cambridgeshire will benefit from donations being made to five local charities who have each received grants of between £2,000 and £5,000.

The East of England Co-op is donating £220,000 in total to good causes across East Anglia as part of its Community Cares Fund, which will directly benefit over 43,000 local people.

Cambridge Cyrenians is one of the 54 charities set to receive a portion of the East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund.

The charity, which provides supported accommodation for men and women experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, will use the funding to support their Community Allotment project.

The site covers six allotment plots and gives 25 regular attendees the chance to grow vegetables, fruit, and wildflowers, as well as a safe and supportive space to develop skills and social connections.

Ruth Wood, Allotment Project Coordinator at Cambridge Cyrenians, said: “We’re so grateful to have the support of East of England Co-op. This grant will help us to continue to facilitate our unique, therapeutic horticulture project. At the heart of the project is a really supportive community who support each other in all things, not just the gardening.”

Other recipients of the funding in Cambridgeshire include Safe Soulmates, Cambridgeshire Deaf Association, Buckden Parish Council, and Pinpoint Cambridgeshire.

Each year, the East of England Co-op invests part of its profits through its Community Cares Fund to support local charities and community initiatives across East Anglia. Since its launch in April 2020, the Co-op has donated over £1 million through its Community Cares Fund and this support has helped over 95,000 local people. 

Doug Field OBE, Chief Executive of the East of England Co-op, added: “We are pleased to support Cambridge Cyrenians and we hope our donation will help them continue to deliver their important work.

“For over 155 years, our East of England Co-op has proudly served our communities. We strive to make a real difference by supporting those in need. Our focus has always been, and always will be, on strengthening our local communities. This latest round of funding from our Community Cares Fund will directly benefit over 43,000 people.

“I'd also like to express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated charity partners across the East of England. Their tireless work ensures that those who need help have someone to turn to.”

For more information about the East of England Co-op’s Community Cares Fund or to apply for funding visit: https://www.eastofengland.coop/community/community-cares-fund