Cambridge Street Aid

The Cambridge Street Aid Fund offers grants of up to £750 to help homeless or vulnerably housed people in Cambridge City to find and sustain accommodation and employment.

Individuals must be referred by an organisation (voluntary sector or local authority) that has assessed the individual’s circumstances and can verify that they are in need of immediate assistance that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

Grants will be paid to the referring agent to apply the money for the purpose agreed.  Grants may cover small capital items  or other costs such as training, travel or clothing.

Requests for a long list of items will not be favoured - applicants are invited to prioritise  and only seek funds for high priority essentials.  The request must be for a person that is a resident of, or has links to, Cambridge City  

Referring agents  should apply on the application form.  There is no set deadline for applications and they can be submitted at any time.  Requests for up to £250 will be considered within 7-10 days.  Requests for over £250 will take at least 2-3 weeks.  Applicants should allow at least 3 weeks before chasing up on their applications.

Maria's Story
"In the summer of 2014 I was employed and had enjoyed an eighteen year career teaching and as a FIP worker. I had a nice salary and a four bedroomed house. Things in my personal life had reached a crisis point following the breakdown of my marriage, the death of my father and facing up to child sexual abuse. I was using alcohol to supress feelings I could no longer deal with. In July 2014 I was charged with driving whilst over the legal limit and subsequently lost my driving licence, followed by my career and then my home.
 
I realised I had to address my drinking and for me the only answer was abstinence. I attended ninety AA meetings in ninety days and was referred to Inclusion [an organisation helping people with addictions] via my GP. After several months of living in the homeless hostel… I was then referred by the Council to the Single Homeless Service… I will be signing the contract tomorrow for a room in a shared house via Town Hall Lettings [the Council’s social lettings agency]. I have also started a voluntary position close to the house and I feel so much more positive than I have in a long time.
 
After the most challenging time in my life I feel I have finally turned a corner. With the support of Inclusion and AA I have been happily sober for over two years, and with the help and support from the Single Homeless Service, I finally have suitable housing. I am so very grateful. I feel I now have a solid foundation on which I can build a positive future."
Matthew's Story

"On the 26th of October 2015 I became homeless after a disagreement with my family, I then lived in a tent in a wood… After about 10 months of trying to survive outside I thought to myself things are not getting better I’m just surviving not living, so I went to Cambridge City Council for help and a team for young adults helped me get in touch with Town Hall Lettings which is a letting agency that helped me get a room in a house in Chittering, Cambridge.


I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I’m now building mylife back together again and have now found a job and I'm much happier. I think it’s very important to get people off the street and into housing as soon as possible. It’s a very scary and dangerous place on the street when you think that no one cares about you and your mind starts to become wild"

To donate

Donations to the Cambridge Street Aid Fund are welcome and can be done in one of three ways

By text - Text CAMB16 £3 to 70070 to donate £3 to Cambridge Street Aid

By justgiving.com -Visit the Fund page

By cheque - send cheque, payable to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, Hangar One, The Airport, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8TG