Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 23.9.24 Period start date To 23.9.25 Period end date
Charity name: The Cambridge Room (CR)
Charity registration number: 1210177
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 |
1.To advance education for the public benefit in the planning and design of built environments and their impact on physical and mental health 2.To promote good citizenship for the public benefit by encouraging and facilitating participation by the public in democratic and legal processes of the planning system, including through research, and the publication of the useful results of such research, in improving the reach and quality of public participation in the planning and design of the built environment to ensure that a diversity of voices are heard, in particular those from marginalised groups 3.To develop capacity and skills, particularly of socially and economically disadvantaged groups in the region, in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
During this first year of the CR’s existence the focus has been on building networks within the local community. Much of this has been done through its experimental events in its pop up shop, Unit 57, in the Grafton Centre and the events and workshops therein. Purpose 1 Events and workshops relating to the advancing of education Purpose 2 Events and workshops encouraging the public to participate in the processes of the planning system. |
| Ongoing research on the impact of the CR is being written up by researchers in the Community Design Research Lab in Cambridge University. Purpose 3 Volunteering and work experience opportunities. Events and workshops in socially and economically disadvantaged areas. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 |
The trustees have given due regard to public benefit. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-benefit-rules-for- charities |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference |
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| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 |
Not applicable |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 |
Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 |
The CR has benefitted from extensive volunteer input in the following forms: - Trustee management (20 days) - explaining the purpose of the CR to visitors and inviting engagement with the activities and exhibitions within the space & collecting visitor data (circa 100 days, 5 volunteers); - Design and hosting of events in the CR pop up shop (circa 70 events, circa 350 hours); - Supporting CR events such as the opening party (circa 100 hours); - Writing blogs, social media and other dissemination material for the CR (circa 5 days) |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 |
The Charity leased a pop up space in the Grafton Centre in Cambridge from March-September 2025. During this period it hosted 70 events and workshops attended by almost 2000 members of the public. The public had free access to in person events. See www.cambridgeroom.org Objective 1 To advance education for the public benefit in the planning and design of built environments and their impact on physical and mental health. ‘Let’s Talk About’ events in the CR, including ‘Let’s Talk About a Healthy Cambridge’. The CR is supporting the development of a major research report on ‘A Healthy Cambridge’. Objective 2 To promote good citizenship for the public benefit by encouraging and facilitating participation by the public in democratic and legal processes of the planning system, including through research, and the publication of the useful results of such research, in improving the reach and quality of public participation in the planning and design of the built environment to ensure that a diversity of voices are heard, in particular those from marginalised groups. Events and workshops such as Let’s Talk About the Beehive have enabled members of the public to have an improved understanding of events underpinning particular planning decisions, in this way facilitating their participation in the planning system. Citizen education was the particular focus of a series of lunchtime talks by local historian Anthony Carpen. The activities of the CR, particularly with regard to increasing the diversity of the space, are currently being written up as two research papers in their final stage of review with_Buildings and Cities_journal. The CR is the subject of two ongoing PhD projects, one on knowledge exchange, the other on the benefits of the CR to older people. An interactive exhibit within the space, a timeline of community activities in planning in Cambridge, has allowed members of the community to add their narratives to this an ongoing history project on planning in the Cambridge Objective 3 To develop capacity and skills, particularly of socially and economically disadvantaged groups in the region, in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society. |
|---|---|---|
In terms of developing capacity and skills the CR has benefitted from the regular input of a team of volunteers who have been helping to keep the pop up shop open while adding new experience in community engagement to their CVs. The CR also provided work experience to two Year 12 pupils. Activities include a public talk and exhibition that shares the knowledge and experience of developing a community garden project at the Abbey area, one of the city’s most deprived wards. The Charity collaborated with the Cambridgeshire Repair Café Network to run 3 repair cafés , helping local residents building skills, saving money and developing social connections. The Charity helped to facilitate a symposium on – community led research Shared Knowledge is Shared Power attended by over 100 community members. - https://www.cambridgeroom.org/events/shared knowledge-is-shared-power-symposium
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
We are very pleased with the degree of engagement with the CR but the Charity is conscious of the need to improve engagement with socially and economically disadvantaged groups and is developing plans to do so in the coming year. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
The CR projected an annual income of £5000 during its first year. It was hindered in achieving this due to difficulties in negotiating the lease of the pop up space which took nearly 6 months. The CR received £500 per month, over 5 months, from the Community Design Research Lab within the Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, for help in facilitating its research work within the CR space (total £2500). Other income (amount) was derived from small donations from visitors to the space. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 |
Not applicable |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | £1,977.83, including reserves |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Aim to have reserves as 3 months running costs, which equates to £540 x 3 = £1,620 |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £1,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Further funds have been received and grant applications continue |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The charity continues to benefit from research funding, offering facilitation services to the Community Design Research Lab in the Department of Architecture. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Not applicable |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | - Eviction from current premises in Grafton Centre. - Inability to secure a long term financial pipeline. - Inability to access a greater diversity of communities in line with charitable objectives. - Inability to recruit financial and legal expertise into its Trustee team. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO - FOUNDATION |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | (1) Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed [for a term of [three] years] by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. (2) In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. Appointment must be agreed by a majority of all trustees. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: | |
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | No new trustees have been inducted since the Charity was set up. If a new trustee joined the team we would provide them with an induction pack including:the charity's governing document, strategic plan, financial accounts, and mission/vision statements is provided. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity has a Chair and a Treasurer. Other than this the charity has a flat organisational structure with all Trustees having equal status within the organisation. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 |
Other
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name Other name the charity uses Registered charity number Charity’s principal address
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ze'ev Feigis | Chair | |||
| Maria Abreu | ||||
| Patrick Usborne | ||||
| Peter Studdert | ||||
| Katherine Thornburrow |
Treasurer | |||
| Olutumininu Hawkins |
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| Fabrizio Galeazzi | ||||
| Flora Samuel | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature{s) Full namelsl Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etcl Gkni Fr Date
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