Corporate Partners (CSR)
Cambridge House welcomes private and public-sector organisations that join us in our mission to provide the best possible support to the communities we serve. A growing number of partners support us in ensuring we are fit to make a positive difference and continue to deliver excellent services in a diverse inner-London setting.
Partnering with Cambridge House gives our corporate partners worthwhile and visible corporate social responsibility projects. It is their chance to show that they stand for more than profit – an opportunity to give back to communities in which they are based; involve their staff and see the tangible results of their efforts.
Macfarlanes
Macfarlanes, a City-based independent law firm with a strong international outlook, recognises the role it has to play in the wider community. All staff – fee earners and non-fee earners – are encouraged to be involved in its CSR activities. Our longest running corporate partnership, Macfarlanes has been supporting the legal centre at Cambridge House for over 30 years. A fortnightly free debt-advice service involves volunteers from across the spectrum of legal staff, from partners to trainee solicitors. More than 25 lawyers are currently participating in the scheme and serve about 150 clients a year with over 60 hours of pro-bono advice. Macfarlanes supports the management of Cambridge House through the provision of a solicitor to act as Company Secretary, a member of the board of trustees and pro-bono legal advice for service-delivery and property related contracts. In addition, Macfarlanes is supporting Cambridge House’s redevelopment project through construction contracting advice. Cambridge House’s annual celebration dinner for all corporate partners is kindly hosted by Macfarlanes at its Cursitor Street office suite.
Broadgate Estates
Broadgate Estates provides focused property management services to an extensive portfolio of mixed-use developments and landmark properties across the UK. The needs of Cambridge House and the property management skills of Broadgate Estates created a framework for an extensive partnership between our two organisations. Senior level support in both organisations has filtered down to engage employees at all levels and ensures commitment to the partnership remains strong. The primary focus to date has been on skills sharing between the two organisations with Cambridge House benefiting extensively from Broadgates Estates’ property expertise. In return, employees of the City firm develop their technical skills by being exposed to an older style Georgian building and through being introduced to a diverse range of people, enhance their interpersonal and communications skills. Broadgate Estates support includes; IT department supporting the evaluation and procurement of a new IT system saving Cambridge House £50,000 over a 3-year period; sharing Cascade HR software resulting in considerable improvements in HR management and associated cost savings; sharing ongoing Heath and Safety training opportunities with the charity’s facilities staff. A Broadgate employee with property management expertise sits on the governance group for the Cambridge House Redevelopment Project, and Cambridge House’s Adult Learning Disability Group 19+ has been commissioned to produce Broadgate Estates’ 2009 Christmas cards. The partnership has also enabled valuable introductions to Broadgate Estates’ clients and suppliers.
Cambridge House’s partnership with Broadgate Estates is captured in Creating a Successful Charity Partnership, a case study by Heart of the City.
Knightsbridge Guarding
www.knightsbridgeguarding.co.uk
Knightsbridge Guarding Limited specialises in high calibre bespoke security services specifically for the corporate sector. Introduced to Cambridge House through Broadgate Estates, Knightsbridge Guarding’s involvement has had a significant impact on Cambridge House and our service users. At no cost to the charity, Knightsbridge Guarding have installed high specification CCTV equipment worth more than £30,000, and a round-the-clock monitoring service. This improves the onsite security of Cambridge House’s premises, staff and services users many of whom are children and vulnerable adults. The partnership has also enabled valuable introductions to Knightsbridge Guarding’s clients and suppliers.
Eurotech Monitoring
Eurotech Security provide fully customised, integrated security solutions for residential and commercial properties, and work with a wide range of corporate clients. Introduced to Cambridge House through Knightsbridge Guarding, Eurotech Security provide the charity with a 24-hour key holding service on a pro-bono basis.�The partnership has also enabled valuable introductions to Eurotech’s clients and suppliers.
Vault IT
Vault IT design and manufacture bespoke surveillance products, systems and installation and offer specialist consultancy advice on security systems. Clients include third-party security partners, blue-chip corporates, the military, police forces and central and local government. Introduced to Cambridge House through Knightsbridge Guarding, Vault IT installed the CCTV and modern entry control system at the charity’s premises. Vault IT also trained Cambridge House’s staff on the access control system and software ensuring the safety and security of all staff and service users.
Charles Russell
Charles Russell are a top 50 full service law firm. Their clients range from international, FTSE and AIM-listed businesses, to governments, not-for-profit organisations, private individuals, trustees and intermediaries. They also recognise their responsibilities to the wider community; the ways in which they manage their impact on the environment and their contribution to the community. Charles Russell have kindly donated more than 20 desktop computers to Cambridge House; and our premises benefit from volunteering support as part of the annual ‘team challenge’ day.
More London
More London is a modern development on the south bank of the River Thames, near Tower Bridge. It includes the City Hall, a sunken amphitheatre, office blocks, shops, restuarants and a pedestrianized area with open-air sculpture and a water feature. Outdoor exhibitions and cultural events are frequently hosted. Introduced to Cambridge House through Broadgate Estates, More London has enabled various groups from Cambridge House to attend arts and cultural events being held at More London.
City Action
City Action matches the needs of community-based organisations in London with the employee volunteering aspirations of staff from City companies. By hosting City Action’s Community Tour of Southwark, Cambridge House was able to show case the scope of its work in the community and present an extensive ‘wish list’ to the range of corporate firms looking to engage with community partners. From the outset Cambridge House had a clear vision of the kind of corporate support that would benefit our organisation with City Action providing helpful introductions and brokering a number of our corporate partnerships. City Action continues to support us in developing an appropriate CSR monitoring and evaluation system.
Heart of the City
Heart of the City help businesses in the City and City fringes to learn from one another how to develop voluntary and socially responsible programmes in the community. A number of Cambridge House’s corporate partners have benefited from Heart of the City’s free support for businesses developing and expanding their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. All companies participating in the Heart of the City programme receive support tailored to the company’s size, sector and CSR experience. Areas covered include: extensive mentoring support, practical workshops and access to resources and networks. Cambridge House’s partnership with Broadgate Estates is captured in a Creating a Successful Charity Partnership case study.
Cambridge House partnerships come in as many different forms as the organisations that support us. Partnerships may include any combination of possibilities for supporting our work, including:
- Financial support
- Skills exchanges
- In-kind donations
- Mobilising volunteers
For more information on starting a partnership with Cambridge House contact:
Burger Edwards, Director Business Development and Finance.
