Shining light on Cambridge Cyrenians

Cambridge Cyrenians support men and women in Cambridge who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, empowering them to fulfil their potential, whatever their background or past.

The organisation does this through supported accommodation in shared houses, rather than large hostels, where residents are encouraged to take responsibility for their own lives and futures.

The mix of long-stay, short-stay, and move-on houses, and specific accommodation for women, ex-offenders, and those in employment helps residents to find secure, long-term accommodation and leave homelessness behind for good.

Support services

Support services are offered, including

• their Meaningful Activities Project which offers 1-2-1 help for residents to engage with training and employment,
• an Allotment Community,
• and a Mental Health Service.

These additional services can be life-changing for people like Nadia (name changed to protect privacy), who moved into one of the houses in 2019 and received counselling through the Mental Health Service.

Nadia says that opening up to her counsellor changed her life:

I would say to anyone, take that extra help. Just accept that sometimes you need to share your burdens.

In the lockdown, that was when I got my confidence back. Before I had my first meeting with my counsellor, I used to walk with my head down just looking at the floor because I’d lost my confidence. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I convinced myself I was invisible.

During the lockdown, when I’d go out to stretch my legs, everywhere was so empty. I noticed I started to look up. I got more confident. By the time people started coming back out, I was used to looking up again.

Nadia’s story of finding hope and a secure home after homelessness.

Home Art Competition 2024

For many of the residents who live in the supported accommodation, their home with Cambridge Cyrenians is the first step towards finding a secure, long-term home of their own.

As residents move in and out of the houses, the communal spaces are often missing the welcoming and decorative touches that you might find in a permanent home.

The organisation want to make sure their houses really feel like home.

This summer, they are running the Home Art Competition for young people to produce artwork for their 21 supported accommodation houses.

Four winners from the 11-14 age group and four winners from the 15-18 age group will each receive a £50 Love Cambridge Gift Card, kindly supplied by their supporters Cambridge BID, and will see their winning entries printed, framed and displayed in the houses.

Get involved

Donate to their 2024 Meaningful Activities Appeal and support residents to make positive steps away from homelessness.