Cheffins - Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Philip Woolner, Joint Managing Partner at Cheffins, discusses their work with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation and the impact their funds have made throughout our county.

Cheffins are one of the Foundation’s longest fund holders, and have supported over 90 causes over the years. With the company celebrating their 200-year anniversary this year, and working more closely with the Foundation as part of their celebrations, we thought it was a great time to hear from Philip about their funds, their plans for the future, and their experience of working with us.

Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund

The Foundation helped Cheffins set up their Grassroots Endowed Fund almost 20 years ago, enabling them to move away from an ad-hoc approach to charitable giving.

“Before we set up the fund, we often couldn’t see the direct impact of our charitable donations”, Philip explains. “The Foundation explained how, by donating through the fund, we could ensure that our money would find its way to organisations that would benefit most”.

Philip continues, “Cambridgeshire Community Foundation is brilliant at finding the local community groups and charities which are really making a difference to people across the region, and understanding what funding they need to keep going”.

To date, the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund has awarded almost £90,000 to local causes. Recent beneficiaries include Caring Hair (Cancer Hair Care), Wintercomfort’s Winter Women service, and Accuro’s Saturday Play Club.

Examples of supported projects

Wintercomfort received a grant to contribute towards the ongoing delivery of their Winter Women homeless support project.

Wintercomfort’s Winter Women homeless support project

Abbey People’s Abbey Food Hub

Find out more about the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund

“
The Foundation gave us the surety that we were giving to organisations who most needed our support
”
Philip Woolner
Joint Managing Partner at Cheffins

Cheffins Next Generation Fund

To celebrate their 200-year anniversary in 2025, Cheffins decided to do even more to support our community by launching their Next Generation Fund, focused on providing mental health and wellbeing support to young people.

“This year we are pledging more money than ever”, Philip tells us. “While we are lucky to live in a prosperous area, the levels of deprivation seen locally can go somewhat unseen. It’s closing this gap in society which we are really passionate about.”

“Cheffins has been committed to supporting the community throughout its 200-year long history, and while the company has evolved, so has the scale of our charitable initiatives.” Philip continues, “That’s why this year we want to celebrate with purpose, and ensure that our fundraising efforts make a genuine difference to people across the region”.

Find out more about the Cheffins Next Generation Fund

“
We hope that our funds will continue to impact people positively. We will continue to support the Foundation as we look to build a strong base for the next generation of leadership and success, not only within Cheffins, but also within the wider community.
”
Philip Woolner
Joint Managing Partner at Cheffins

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