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Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV)

Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV), also known as corporate volunteering, is when employers support their staff to volunteer with charities or community groups. This could include paid time off to...

Building the right fit: How businesses and charities can create meaningful partnerships

One of our development team spoke to Heidi Mulvey, Head of Community Engagement at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, about her colleagues’ experience of volunteering with charity...

Building meaningful business partnerships – Case study: Red Hen Project

Jennifer Rutter from the Red Hen Project, a grassroots charity in Cambridge that provides support  to children aged 0-12 and their families, spoke to a member of Support Cambridgeshire’s...

Getting started with Employer Supported Volunteering

If you’ve been hearing more about Employee Supported Volunteering (ESV) and wondering whether it’s right for your organisation, read on. Many businesses are looking for meaningful ways to connect...

Updates from us and our community – September 2026

As we move into September, there’s a real sense of momentum across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

Cambridgeshire Faith Organisation Research 

Since 2024, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICS have funded work delivered by Support Cambridgeshire, which looked at mapping the Faith community and the work that they do within...

Rowan

Growing through volunteering

When I was asked to write about recruiting young volunteers, my first instinct was to produce a simple factsheet. Something practical to help organisations use Volunteer Cambs, understand the basics,...

Moving on from a voluntary role

We know that volunteering can be a wonderful and extremely rewarding experience – meeting people (and making new friends), doing something useful and productive, feeling valued, building...

Updates from us and our community – August 2026

As we move into August, there’s a real sense of momentum across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

Building for the long term: reflections from two social enterprise leaders

Starting a social enterprise can feel like a balancing act. You’re trying to create social impact, earn income, secure funding, build partnerships and manage day-to-day operations, often all at...

SORP 2026: Demonstrating impact

By Support Cambridgeshire’s Development Team As a result of the Charity Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 26) all charities reporting to the Charity Commission must be able to demonstrate...

Cambridge Cancer Help Centre

Updates from us and our community – July 2026

As we move into July, there’s a real sense of momentum across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

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Four trees do not make a forest: the small charity ecosystem

The small charity sector in Cambridgeshire is, quite honestly, amazing. It is resourceful, adaptive and normally ahead of the curve on statutory offer. I could leave this blog there, to be honest,...

Retention FAQs for volunteer managers

Managing and retaining volunteers

Volunteers are more likely to stay when they feel welcomed, supported, useful and valued. VIOs can improve retention by offering clear roles, good communication, regular support,...

Recruitment FAQs for volunteer managers

Leading a charity merger: Governance lessons from the Support Cambridgeshire Co-Chairs

In June 2023, as the Chairs of CCVS and Hunts Forum, we sat down in a room alongside our respective CEOs to discuss a big question: Was it time to merge? It was not the first time this question had...

Cross my palm with silver: Part 2

Views on some of the national drivers that charities in Cambridgeshire need to think about These are some of the areas charities will need to consider as they navigate the future. They may find their...

Updates from us and our community – June 2026

As we move into June, there’s a real sense of momentum across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

The sandwich question: when controls become bottlenecks

Most small organisations have their own version of what I’ve come to think of as ‘the sandwich question.’ It usually sounds something like: “Can we order lunch for the...

U3AC (University of the Third Age in Cambridge)

Cross my palm with silver: Part 1

These are a number of changes within the local statutory sector (including councils and health services) that I think charities in Cambridgeshire should be keeping view and reflecting on within their...

Creative Health Network

Charities, CICs and Community Groups that provide or are interested in creative activities for health outcomes in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. Also Creative Health practitioners and...

Updates from us and our community – May 2026

As we move into May, there’s a real sense of momentum across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

Support Cambridgeshire photo competition

2026 photo competition

Cambridge Cyrenians

Finance support for voluntary groups

Finance information for groups

Book a room

Book a room

Updates from us and our community – April 2026

As we move into April, there’s a real sense of momentum across Cambridgeshire’s voluntary and community sector.

The Ferry Project

Huntingdon Network

What should you consider before working with a Professional Fundraiser?

Many organisations think about using a professional fundraiser when they need extra time, skills or capacity to bring in funding. This blog explores the advantages, risks, funder perspectives, real...

CARESCO – Sawtry

Recognising donations in kind: Showing the full value of your charity’s work

Many charities rely not only on cash income, but also on generosity given in other forms: Free venue space Professional services offered pro bono Donated equipment Specialist support provided...

Update from us and our community – March 2026

March brings real momentum for Cambridgeshire’s voluntary sector, with new funding, improvements, collaborations, and communities driving change.

Match My Project: Connecting Communities and Suppliers for Social Value

Match My Project (MMP) is an online platform connecting local community organisations with suppliers and businesses to deliver social value commitments.

Active with Parkinson’s Cambs

Charity reporting (SORP 2026) series – Part 3

This is Part 3 of our simple – Charity reporting (SORP 2026) series.  Before we look at the changes, let’s start with a simple question: It’s not unusual for charities to...

Charity reporting (SORP 2026) series – Part 2

This is Part 2 of our simple – Charity reporting (SORP 2026) series.  If you’re not sure what reporting tier your charity falls into, start with Part 1: What reporting tier is your...

CIC Network

Charity reporting (SORP 2026) series – Part 1

Before talking about SORP 2026 and the upcoming changes, is important to determine the type of accounts your charity needs to prepare – many local charities are unsure which rules apply to...

Lights, Camera, Impact: How charities can use video and storytelling to connect and inspire

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, video stands out as one of the most effective tools available to charities and voluntary groups. It is engaging, accessible, and highly impactful. Whether...

Case study: Sabr Arts and Crafts – creating a support network for a grassroots initiative

Sabr Arts and Crafts is a grassroots initiative to create a welcoming space that addresses mental health and well-being, particularly for women from the South Asian community, who...

Our offices

Explore the information below to find addresses, travel details, and room-hire options.

The Maple Centre

Spotlight bulletins

How we promote you

We know the importance of stories about both the sector and the individual organisations and people that make it so special. We collect case studies that showcase your work, we spotlight different...

How we represent you

CCVS is privileged to sit in many partnership meetings, boards, and working groups where we fight for the sector to be fully included and involved as an equal partner in new projects and the...

Research

Support Cambridgeshire carry out an annual survey. We also carry out bespoke research when commissioned. If you are interested in talking about any of our findings or understanding more about our...

News

Job Listings

If you are looking for a charity role that makes a difference to your local community scroll through the current job opportunities below. You can find jobs available at CCVS and other external groups...

Advertise your job role

Job roleIs your organisation a member of Support Cambridgeshire? I confirm my organisation is a member of CCVS/Support CambridgeshireName of the contactContact emailName of the roleWhat organisation...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Learning and Skills Fund project

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Learning and Skills team has relaunched its funding programme for voluntary sector organisations. The fund supports projects that use...

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

If you want a job done ask a busy person, or so the phrase goes. In this case the person asking was Sarah Crick, the CEO of Red Hen, and the person she asked was me. Would CCVS (soon to be Support...

REMO

March & District Model Railway Club

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...

Maps Murmurations Project: Where Generations Meet

Since last autumn, CCVS Volunteering for All has been working in partnership with Cambridge City Council and a range of community organisations to deliver a creative, intergenerational project that...

Cybersecurity for community groups: Simple steps to stay safe

Charities are facing growing threats as cybercrime continues to rise.  Our on-demand training: Cybersecurity for Small Charities covers the basics of staying safe online, but the digital landscape...

Social enterprise and charity – entrepreneurial thinking or commercialisation?

This blog was written in response to the article in Third Sector: Ian MacQuillin: Have we seen Dan Pallotta’s Ted Talk too many times? In financially tight times it is only natural that the...

Celebrate your people’s achievements with Digital Badges!

Support Cambridgeshire are excited to introduce digital badges for local community groups and charities to recognise the awesome skills and achievements of their learners, beneficiaries and...

Incoming changes to employment rights

This article is published with the permission of Lyndsay Salmon HR consultant and Support Cambridgeshire Trustee: Exciting news for the HR enthusiasts out there – on 1 July the Government...

Why we’ve left X (formerly Twitter)

After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision to leave X. For our communications team, it was an easy choice.  What began as a supportive, inclusive, and vibrant platform for connection...

The Next Chapter

GET group – what does the future look like?

CCVS, and now Support Cambridgeshire, took over the GET group when the original charity closed. We want to see the network continue but also want to ensure it is meeting the needs of the sector and...

Funding sources

Support Cambridgeshire 4 Community is a free self-service website which enables voluntary and community organisations to browse, search and apply for grants to support their work. You can also...

We’re here to help you!

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re one of the many remarkable people helping to run a community group, charity, or voluntary organisation in Cambridgeshire. Whether you’re a...

A missed chance to make a real difference to volunteering

So RVS are developing a multi million pound national volunteering site that will “supercharge” falling volunteer numbers around the UK by widening access and removing barriers. See here. I have...

Martyn’s Law

If you operate a venue with a capacity of 200+, or an event with a capacity of over 800 this will impact you.  In March 2024 we published an article, with an update in November 2024 about The...

Hosting Work Experience Students – should we, or shouldn’t we?

My colleague Ellie, wrote a fantastic blog, ‘Young volunteers – breaking down barriers,’ to share why, we at CCVS, would like to see more young people volunteering, and what needs to happen...

My work experience week, by student Ryan. July 2024.

Hello, everyone. My name is Ryan, and I am a Year 10 student at the Netherhall School. Growing up in Hong Kong, I liked to volunteer during fundraising events for charities. I have chosen to work...

Cultivating Change: Growing for Good!

Recruiting Volunteers

Support Cambridgeshire helps organisations build the skills, systems and confidence they need to recruit, support and manage volunteers well. Many volunteer-involving organisations (VIO’s)...

Data Protection Part 3: Writing a Privacy Notice

This is part three of a series produced by Support Cambridgeshire on Data Protection. In this video, we are looking at writing your privacy notice.   Let’s see what we’re going to...

Data Protection Part 2: What You Need To Do

Welcome.  This is the second short training video produced by Support Cambridgeshire in a series on data protection. In this one, we’ll be looking in particular at the key steps you should...

Data Protection Part 1: What You Need To Know

Welcome.   This is a short training video from Support Cambridgeshire, the first in a series on data protection.   We’re looking at the essentials of data protection law. In other words,...

Bite-size training videos

AI for Voluntary Groups: Getting Started

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. IBM Whether we like it or not, AI is here to stay....

Trends and ideas in digital fundraising

The Charity Digital online fundraising conference is an event we try to log onto each year, as we did in December 2024.  There is usually an eclectic range of speakers to share ideas and highlight...

Blossomify

A personal introduction to Project Management

My first role on leaving university was in project management; to begin with it involved a confusing array of tasks, a seemingly epic cast of people and spreadsheets I couldn’t make any sense of. ...

What does devolution mean for the local voluntary sector?

Just before Christmas the government published the English Devolution White Paper – GOV.UK. They believe that: “Devolution across England is fundamental to achieving the change the public...

From vision to reality: Creating CCVS’s new website

If you’re thinking of starting the process of getting a new website – the condensed story of our process and journey may help.  Our old website was great when first created, but over time had...

Phoenix Youth Provision

Building effective equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI) practice for larger organisations

Hello, my name is Ila Chandavarkar from the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum or CECF. I am with my colleague Louise Tan who is the Development Officer for CECF. We are a charity based in Cambridge...

Building effective equality, diversity & inclusion (EDI) practice for smaller organisations video transcript

Hello, my name is Ila Chandavarkar from the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum or CECF. I’m with my colleague, Louise Tan, who is the Development Officer for CECF. We are a charity based in Cambridge...

Driving Change: Addressing Concerns to Foster Good EDI Practices in Your Organisation Video Transcript

Hello, my name is Ila Chandavarkar from the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum or CECF. I’m here with my colleague, Louise Tan, who is the Development Officer for CECF. We are a charity based in...

Information on Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring is the data you need to regularly collect on each area of EDI guidance you have in your policy to see that practice is according to the policy. You will need to work out how you monitor...

Monitoring and Review of Action Plans

Monitoring is a continuous process of collecting data to verify whether your goals in your action plans are likely to be attained. It relies on data that you can easily and regularly collect....

Example Code of Practice in Recruitment

All jobs are through open recruitment apart from very exceptional cases. Examples of very exceptional cases are projects that need particular specialist skills. You can look at CECF’s EDI policy to...

Example Code of Conduct

It is important for Organisation X to ensure that the conduct of all people connected to its work is in keeping with the Organisation’s vision, mission, values and aims. The core work of our...

Suggestions to ensure EDI policy means real action

It is important that EDI policy is used to guide the organisation and does not remain a document that no one looks at. To enable this, here are some suggestions: Make EDI policy part of the...

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

Thank you to Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum who have created three recordings and supporting factsheets to support you in creating good EDI practice for your organisation.

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News

Tips for making a good funding application

Have you got a constitution and a management committee? Do you have key policies, procedures and insurance in place? Are your accounts up to date? Have you submitted any outstanding reports to...

Planning your comms

If you’re wondering whether you need a comms plan, what the benefit is to you and your organisation, and where and how to get started, this is for you.