Centre for Warmth funding and how it’s helped C3 Impact (The C3 Church)

Support Cambridgeshire received a grant in 2024,  administered by NAVCA and funded by Cadent under their Centres for Warmth Programme. 

The Centre for Warmth Programme aims to support people who are living in vulnerable situations by keeping them warm, safe, and connected. The project is based on identifying and partnering with local charities in areas of high deprivation, fuel poverty, and risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, who are located close to areas where Cadent are carrying out mains replacement work. 

Through this programme Support Cambridgeshire have been able to give small grants to community initiatives in Cambridge, Huntingdon and Wisbech.  

This is the story of C3 Impact (The C3 Church), Cambridge, highlighting their important work and the difference this grant has made.  

Who is C3?  

C3 is a vital lifeline for many local residents—it’s grown into a place where practical support, kindness, and community go hand in hand. Over the past few years, its C3 Impact Programme has developed into a deeply trusted and much-needed service. The Programme, the social action arm of the C3 Church, offers help with everything from food insecurity to language learning, mental wellbeing, and support with everyday struggles. 

What makes C3’s work so distinctive is the holistic way it supports people—not just in crisis moments, but by walking alongside them over a period of time. The church has become a warm, welcoming space where people can find  food or advice, and also dignity, encouragement, and human connection. 

How has the Centre for Warmth Programme supported and broadened the work of C3 

In recent months, additional funding through the Cadent and NAVCA Warm Centre Grant has made a profound difference. Thanks to this support, C3 has been able to extend and strengthen many of its services. Crucially, the funding allowed the church to restart its Citizens Advice signposting service, helping residents access benefits, advice and personalised support at the  moment they need it most. At a time when navigating the benefits system or finding accurate information about energy bills and debt can feel overwhelming, this one-to-one help is invaluable. 

The grant has also enabled the church to continue running its free weekly community hubs, including Wednesday’s Impact Hub, Food Truck Fridays, and the new Evening Community Space. These aren’t just drop-ins—they are safe havens. On any given day, guests might arrive cold, hungry, isolated, or worried. But they leave having had a hot meal, a warm conversation, and a genuine sense of being cared for. Many say it’s the only place they truly feel seen. 

The warm space element of C3’s offer is more than just physical comfort. It’s about emotional safety too. With energy costs still high and social isolation on the rise, having a welcoming space where people can simply sit, chat, and feel part of a community is now more vital than ever. The Warm Centre funding ensures these spaces can remain open and resourced—not only in the coldest months, but throughout the year. 

C3 also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities, where people can clearly see the positive impact they have on others’ lives and the wider community, while also building their own skills and confidence. 

A quote from The Centre C3 Impact Team: