If you want a job done, ask a busy person! The story of the NEC Charity Hub

Within a 5-month period Camcycle, Turtle Dove Cambridge, Noise Solution, Autism Action and Cambridge ReUse moved into the Hub. Together we have created a space where local groups can work in a professional and affordable environment, whilst also building connections with each other.   

This is a brilliant opportunity for local groups and has only happened because of the hard work and support we have had from numerous people. I do want to thank Sarah for bringing this opportunity to us. I know there were ulterior motives, but this is good for the local sector and is absolutely what CCVS is all about. 

This project wouldn’t have happened without The Crown Estate, who are the building owners and our landlords, as well as Savills the site management company. They have bent over backwards to smooth out every problem and issue that has come up. They have been accommodating and understanding; however I am not sure they have any idea about what letting a bunch of charities take on the building might mean. What I do know is that as things progress they will more than meet us halfway, they will in fact walk with us to make this work and to ensure it has as big an impact as possible. 

I also need to thank Tees Law and especially Sarah Coates who have done all our legal work on a pro bono basis. Sarah and the team have gone above and beyond as they have guided us, provided detailed instructions and made sure we had a more than equal place at the table to sort out the lease. In addition they have provided us with all the paperwork to manage the licence process, which has been so useful. Without their help we would have fallen at the first hurdle of getting all the legal paperwork sorted in time for Red Hen to move in. My eternal thanks go to Sarah for her patience and understanding. 

Since moving in many local companies have supported the hub. We have received donations of technology to kit out the space, plants to help create a pleasant working environment and the time of skilled professionals to get things working.  

For this, our sincere thanks to Sustainable Tech 4 Good, The Good Plant Company, Cambridge Design Partnership, Qualcomm Technologies International Ltd, MathsWorks, Gearset and CPS Building Services Ltd. 

Final thanks go to folks at CCVS. Thanks to the trustees for giving us the go ahead to do this at short notice, with little or no paperwork, and only a vague plan about who might move in. We had to work quickly and we were able to thanks to their trust and vision. Thanks go to Sally Page whose lap I have dropped this onto. Once the legal work was completed Sally has arranged all the important bits and is getting the new tenants settled in. Apparently, they need things like a fridge, wi-fi and keys! – all this and much, much more has been organised. 

This is a first for CCVS and although it is a lot of work it will provide a real benefit to local charities. The trustees have agreed that they do not want CCVS to ‘profit’ from the generosity of all the partners and as such we will deduct our costs and any remaining income will be put into a ‘Cambridge charity property fund’. How we use that fund will depend on how it grows. It could be used to help organisations with deposits, it could go toward moving costs when people move out, it could be the start of a fund that contributes to a permanent charity hub in the city. 

We hope to be able to occupy Byron house for the next couple of years, depending on how the redevelopment plans progress, we will keep everyone informed of future plans.  We see this as the beginning of our relationship with The Crown Estate and we look forward to working with them and with other tenants on the business park to see how we can further help local charities and community groups.  

Watch our video to meet the tenants!