Businesses, charities and civic leaders gathered at the inaugural Making The Difference Conference to discuss creative approaches to grant giving and partnership models to help build a fairer Cambridgeshire.
The event – organised by The Cambridge, Get Synergised and Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (CCF) – was hosted by Jeremy Sallis (pictured) and featured a keynote speech from Ben Kellard at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Lucy Crumplin, Chief Operating Officer at The Cambridge, said:
“Responsible business practices are deeply embedded into who we are and how we approach our customers and the communities we serve through our Making The Difference programme of grant giving and volunteer work.
“As we celebrate our 175th anniversary, we wanted to take that a step further and create an opportunity for the community to come together and look at how we can work in partnership to drive real social and economic change in our region.”
Almost 50 businesses, charities, academic and civic leaders – including The Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire – attended the event held at The Cambridge’s head office in Newmarket Road, Cambridge, last Tuesday.
There were talks from The Cambridge’s Nikki Insley and The Foundation’s CEO Micheal O’Toole, panel discussions featuring Cambridge Innovation Capital, Get Synergised, Red Hen Project, Volunteer Cambs, Conscious Communications and The Cambridge Pledge.
Rachel Hales, Founder of Get Synergised, said:
“Responsible business is good business and so it was an honour to partner with The Cambridge and The Foundation for this conference. We explored how businesses doing well in the city can embed responsibility into their core DNA beyond the tick box – finding meaningful and sustainable ways to give back to the communities that support them.
“We want to drive lasting social and economic good to enable Cambridgeshire to become not only a centre of innovation but also a beacon for responsible business and social collaboration.”
Attendees also heard from Emmaus Cambridge and The Angel’s Foundation UK – two of The Cambridge’s charity partners – about the impact and the difference unrestricted grant giving and partnership work can have on their service users in a powerful film.
Michael O’Toole, CEO of Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, added:
"We were delighted to partner with The Cambridge and Get Synergised to explore what best practice looks like for local responsible businesses. The Cambridge inspired the audience by sharing their work, which is an incredible example of how businesses can move away from tick-box approaches to community support that is mutually beneficial, long-term, and aligns with the business’ purpose.
“It was especially wonderful to see some of the grantees from The Cambridge's Community Fund - which we deliver in partnership with The Cambridge - in the room, sharing the impact that the funding has helped them achieve.”
For more information about how The Cambridge is Making The Difference visit www.cambridgebs.co.uk
