The Red Hen Project
Cambridge is known worldwide for innovation, growth and opportunity. Yet not all children growing up here benefit from that success. Many face challenges early in life that shape their health, education and wellbeing for years to come.
The Red Hen Project supports these children by working closely with their families - early, practically and consistently - so children can thrive, not just cope. Businesses can play an important role in making sure opportunity in Cambridge is something every child experiences.
Working with us allows your organisation to put its values into action, strengthen your local reputation and offer your team meaningful ways to connect with the community they live and work in.
Our partnerships are flexible, collaborative and shaped around what matters to you - your people, your culture and the impact you want to have.
Why partner with The Red Hen Project
Businesses tell us partnership matters most when it:
- Reflects their values in a tangible way
- Helps attract, engage and retain people
- Creates visible, local impact they can feel proud of
A partnership with The Red Hen Project does all three - while helping more children get the support they need at the moments that matter most.
Ways to work with us
Choose what fits best Every business is different. Choose the approach - or combination - that aligns best with your goals, culture and capacity.
We’ll work with you to shape an approach that feels authentic, achievable and genuinely effective for children in Cambridge. |
Corporate partnerships
Building a long‑term relationship means you support the core impact of our work with children and families. This kind of partnership gives us the flexibility to respond to need, support more children earlier, and create lasting change.
Why it matters: Strengthens your employer brand and reputation as a values‑led organisation with a sustained, credible commitment to the local community.
At the heart of every partnership is the ability to fund what works best for children.
Donations & giving
Direct donations have the greatest impact. They allow us to focus on what children need most so we can reach more children, support families earlier and create change that lasts.
Why it matters: Creates the greatest impact per pound and underpins a credible, outcomes‑focused social investment story your business can stand behind.
Alongside organisational support, many partners involve employees in ways that are simple, inclusive and long‑term.
Payroll giving
A simple, tax‑efficient way for employees to give regularly through their salary, providing reliable support for children and families over time. For us, it provides reliable funding that helps us plan ahead and extend support to more children over time.
Why it matters:
Offers a low‑effort, high‑value employee benefit that reinforces culture, purpose and long‑term community commitment. Many businesses choose to match payroll giving contributions, showing long‑term commitment and making it easy for staff to have an even greater impact.
When leadership chooses to back this commitment, the impact grows even further.
Match funding: rocket-fuel your impact
Match funding is a simple, high‑impact way to extend your partnership. Businesses can choose to match funds raised through hosted events, staff‑led fundraising and challenges, and/or ongoing payroll giving - doubling the difference made through collective effort. By backing the contributions of customers, partners and employees alike, match funding helps ensure more children in Cambridge receive early support when it matters most.
Why it matters: Demonstrates leadership from the top, reinforces your employer brand, and adds credibility to your public commitment - showing that your business doesn’t just encourage action, but actively invests alongside its people and networks.
Some partners also use their profile and networks to champion local children more visibly.
Hosted fundraising events & activities
Bring your people together around a shared purpose. Host a fundraising event for customers, partners, staff or your wider network and turn connection, creativity and collaboration into real support for local children.
Why it matters: Demonstrates client credibility and civic responsibility, deepens relationships and shows visibly that your business is investing in Cambridge beyond commercial success.
Others focus inward, bringing their own teams together around shared effort and purpose.
Team fundraising and challenges
Looking to build morale and momentum? Bring colleagues together around a shared goal by getting involved in a shared challenge. Whether that’s a walk, escape room or creative team-building activities - fundraising builds connection and turns collective effort into meaningful local impact.
Why it matters: Enhances your employer brand, boosts morale and supports attraction and retention by giving people a tangible way to live your organisation’s values.
For businesses looking to go deeper, skills‑based volunteering offers a more personal way to contribute.
Employee volunteering
Meaningful volunteering uses people’s skills, interests and experience in ways that genuinely support our work with local children and their families. By offering employees flexible time to volunteer - whether individually or in small groups - businesses can enable support that is thoughtful, consistent and valuable on both sides.
This approach allows colleagues to share what they’re good at and passionate about, while fitting volunteering around workloads and responsibilities. It also ensures the support we receive is sustainable and genuinely helpful, rather than short‑term or disruptive.
Why it matters: Creates deeper, more rewarding experiences for employees, strengthens your employer brand, and leads to volunteering that delivers real value - building skills, confidence and connection while supporting local children and families more effectively.
A shared investment in Cambridge’s future
Children growing up in Cambridge today are part of the city’s future success. By working together, businesses and The Red Hen Project can help ensure more children have the support they need to flourish - now, and long into the future.
"Before I discovered Red Hen, I was completely isolated. I didn't go out, we didn't go to the park, and I had very poor mental health. I just wasn't in a good place, the Red Hen has supported me for about two years now and there has been such a significant change I attend 2-3 groups a week, I have support and someone to turn to when things go wrong or I'm having a bad day, my kids have so many opportunities and are out almost every day outside of school. I can't thank the Red Hen enough for the support I have received."
Products and services
Parenting courses and workshops
Structured sessions designed to build confidence, share skills and support parents in managing challenges at home.
Weekly groups and drop-ins
Regular sessions that offer a safe, welcoming space for families to connect, share experiences and access support informally.
One-to-one family support
Long-term, tailored support for children and their families, built around individual needs. Family workers develop trusted relationships over time, offering consistent guidance through challenges at home and school.
