Cambridge Aid
formerly Cambridge Central Aid Society
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2025
146th Annual Report
Cambridge Aid Reference and Administrative Information
Trustees
The Mayor (President ex officio) Mr J Limmer (Chair) Mrs R Norridge (Honorary Secretary) Mr P Ray BEM (Honorary Treasurer) Dr A Stevenson (Honorary Vice-Treasurer) Mrs S Gower Isaac (representing Cambridge & District Citizens Advice) Mrs L Allin Ms S Gilbey Ms E Lamb Mr K Smith Mrs R Winter
Registered Office 66 Devonshire Road Cambridge CB1 2BL
Registered Charity Number
204327
Independent Examiner
N Seabrooke 11 Shannon Close Haverhill CB9 0LT Bankers CAF Bank Ltd Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4TA
Website
www.cambridgeaid.org
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Cambridge Aid
Trustees’ Report
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report on the affairs of the Charity, including the Receipts and Payments Accounts and the Independent Examiner’s report for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity dates to 1880, when its forerunner the Cambridge Charity Organisation Society was established. In 2019 the Charity changed its name from Cambridge Central Aid Society to Cambridge Aid.
The trustees endeavour to appoint new trustees who will provide valuable and practical skills for the Charity. The following have been trustees during 2025:
The Mayor (President ex officio) Mrs L Allin Mr J Limmer (Chair) Ms S Gilbey Mrs R Norridge (Hon Secretary) Ms E Lamb Mr P Ray (Hon Treasurer) Mr K Smith Dr A Stevenson (Hon Vice-Treasurer) Mrs R Winter Mrs S Gower Isaac (representing Cambridge & District Citizens Advice)
On 29 September 2021 Trustees adopted a revised constitution. Formerly the Charity had been governed by resolution. This being part of a process of modernising the governance of the Charity.
Objects
The main objects are the improvement of the conditions of the people of the city of Cambridge by such means as 1 conducting enquiries and studies that will lead to social improvement. 2 social and charitable work; and 3 training suitable persons for charitable and social work
Membership
Every person who contributes £100 or more or at least 20 hours of their time in a calendar year shall be a member of Cambridge Aid for that calendar year and the successive calendar year, although Trustees do have a limited power to refuse membership,
General Meeting
Annual General Meetings must be held at intervals of no more than 15 months, on notice of no less than 14 working days. The Trustees may call a special general meeting at any time and are required to do so at the request of 10 members or 10% of the membership, whichever is the greater.
Officers and Trustees
Cambridge Aid and its property is managed and administered by a committee comprising the elected officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice-Treasurer) and other committee members, who together act as the trustees of Cambridge Aid. Trustees may be elected in general meeting or appointed by the existing trustees. Trustees automatically retire following an annual general meeting unless re-elected at that meeting.
The Public Benefit
The Charity’s Objectives fall within the classification of “The Prevention and Relief of Poverty.” The Trustees confirm that their activities are fully consistent with the Objectives and the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit has been borne in mind throughout the year.
Most benefits are provided to people who lack necessities (including furniture, beds, carpets, curtains, white goods (including cookers and washing machines) and are given the resources to obtain them. The Charity also helps fund holidays for families and children in need and helps pay utility bills for those in fuel poverty. The Charity also provides grants for training or necessary clothing, equipment, or identification documentation to improve people’s prospects for employment. The benefits are provided to people referred to the Charity by organisations (including Citizens Advice, Social Services and charities helping the homeless and those with mental health difficulties) that are helping resolve or alleviate the underlying causes of their social or financial distress.
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Cambridge Aid Trustees’ Report (continued)
Achievements and performance
Honorary Secretary’s Report
One of the major changes for Cambridge Aid this year was redefining the geographical area in which we work. In January 2025 we contacted 11 referring organisations to say that we would be restricting our grant giving in future to Cambridge City and its environs in South Cambridgeshire (Cambridge City, CB21 to CB25 and SG8 and SG19). This decision was taken to keep both our workload and expenditure at sustainable levels. Responses were appreciative of our past work and we were able to signpost referrers to alternative sources of support in their localities.
Subcommittees: our areas of work
Our four subcommittees cover the areas of governance/management, fundraising and marketing, application and grant-giving processes, and investments. Subcommittees met periodically throughout the year and took turns to report to the monthly trustee meeting.
• Governance/Management
Updates were made to the data protection and health and safety policies. A new serious incident policy and a new environmental policy were created and approved. Currently, the outcomes of a SWOT analysis of our activities is being considered.
• Fundraising and Marketing
We applied for new grants throughout the year, with mixed results. Successful applications were made to Simon Gibson Charitable Trust for basic household necessities; St James Place Foundation for items for children (to cover clothing, uniform, furniture, trips), and the City Council (furniture, white goods, and any type of household item).
Our volunteers and trustees continue to attend events in support of Cambridge Aid. In April, Ken Smith, Joel Limmer, Rachel Norridge and Shelley Gregory-Jones represented us at a Sampson Orchestra concert in aid of Cambridge Aid, where Joel introduced the work of Cambridge Aid to the audience. We had a stall in the foyer and took a generous collection in buckets at the end of the concert. We were also able to connect with friends and supporters, old and new, with free tickets for the concert.
Later in the year, Ken Smith represented us at the Little St Mary’s Auction of Promises in our aid, where he gave a short talk about Cambridge Aid and its work. Joel Limmer and Rachel Norridge attended the Cambridge Rotary Christmas concert at West Road Concert Hall, where Cambridge Aid was one of four local charity beneficiaries. Our promotional leaflet was updated for these events.
We were delighted to be one of Cambridge Rotary’s chosen charities this year under the president Gill Coe. Gill joined us at our AGM in June to learn more about our activities and has been generous and active in support of us.
In 2024 we had begun to discuss the idea of a Friends of Cambridge Aid group whose purpose would be to raise money for Cambridge Aid, removing a proportion of fundraising responsibility from the trustees. After further discussion this year in the Subcommittee it was decided to put the idea on hold due to lack of sufficient resource.
• Applications and Grant Giving
As ever, we are deeply appreciative of the work of our Treasurer Paul Ray and Vice-Treasurer Anna Stevenson, who continue to process many applications and answer queries with speed. They are supported by a subcommittee of trustees who approve each week’s grants, discuss the less clear-cut applications and help shape general application and grant-giving policy. Some small changes have been discussed and agreed to the grant-giving process this year. As well as the postcode changes, some restrictions have been put in place regarding flooring/carpeting costs. In addition, as mobile phones are becoming essential for claiming benefits, seeking work, staying in touch with support networks etc., it was decided that the loss of a mobile phone should be considered a change in circumstance (and therefore eligible for a second grant in a 12-month period).
• Investments
The Investments Subcommittee continues to review our investments, the performance of which are satisfactory given current market conditions. The Subcommittee plans to undergo a thorough review of our investments in March 2026.
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Cambridge Aid Trustees’ Report (continued)
Relationships with other charities and community groups
Anna Stevenson and Ken Smith took turns to attend the local Charity Networking Group Meetings, Lauren Allin and Shelley Gregory-Jones met with council representatives on a number of occasions to talk about the work of Cambridge Aid, the role of the Communities team, local poverty reduction initiatives, and the Community Reference Group which provides advice on local poverty issues. They also attended a council meeting to discuss upcoming changes/replacement for the Household Support Fund.
Trustees and volunteers
Paul Donert, our Independent Examiner, sadly died in November. We are very appreciative of his 14 years of service to Cambridge Aid, free of charge. His funeral took place on 20 November and was attended by Paul Ray. Nicolette Seabrooke, an Advice Services Supervisor at Cambridge Citizens Advice, has kindly agreed to take over the role as Independent Examiner of our accounts.
Our search for a new trustee with investment experience has continued to be active and we are currently talking with a potential volunteer. It has also been good to welcome Nick O’Leary to help with fundraising and marketing. Nick worked as a volunteer with Cambridge Aid a few years ago, helping set up some of our social media channels, and has recently been helping us with marketing literature. We look forward to drawing on his design and web experience in the coming year. Our chair, Joel Limmer, is currently preparing for a sponsored walk between the London Stadium and Cambridge’s Abbey Stadium in January 2026 to celebrate his fiftieth birthday by raising funds and publicity for Cambridge Aid.
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Cambridge Aid Trustees’ Report (continued)
Honorary Treasurer’s Report
In 2025, total grants we made were £139,022 (2024: £175,976 & 2023: £188,213).
We made 950 grants in 2025 (2024: 1,196 & 2023: 1,243) Some 50% of recipient families suffered from mental health issues and 30% had suffered from domestic violence. The referring organisations are listed on page 6. Of the 246 reduction in grants compared to 2024, 132 is attributable to our decision from 1 January 2025 to limit our area of giving to Cambridge City and surrounding South Cambridgeshire villages. The balance of the shortfall appears to be principally due to organisations like Citizens Advice having better access to other grant funding during 2025.
The average grant was £146 (2024: £147 & 2023: £151). The drop in average value was due to the mix of grants given.
What the grants were for is set out on page 6. The most frequent help was given for furniture and furnishings under the headings of empty house/flat starter packs, furniture and soft furnishings, adult beds, mattresses and bedding, and children’s furniture and beds, which total 245 of the 950.
Income was £135,947 (2024: £167,841, & 2023: £178,843). We are very grateful to all the organisations detailed on page 8 and the individuals on page 7, and especially to United Charities of Cambridge for their steadfast support of £40,000. Trustees past and present and their families donated £13,680. Fundraising is tough in the current economic climate and when some organisations are not considering an application until two years after the last successful application.
Our total costs at £1,329 (2024: £1,688) continued at less than 1% of grants made. We are very grateful to Geoff Jones our webmaster for not charging any fee.
Sadly, Paul Donert, our Independent Examiner died in October. We are very grateful for his 14 years involvement with Cambridge Aid
The total value of our historic Endowment Funds to provide investment income rose from £270,865 to £283,590 over the year. The Endowment Fund we received from the Friends of Fulbourn Hospital and the Community in 2024 to provide income for the Fulbourn Fund increased in value from £101,915 to £108,244
With income less than expenditure, our cash reserves fell by £4,853. but remained healthy at £140,786 at the end of 2025.
Financial Review
Cambridge Aid’s receipts and payments for the year ended 31 December 2025 are as shown on page 9.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees consider that, except for the Endowment Funds, all cash and other investments constitute reserves. Taking account of the monthly fluctuations in receipts and donations, and the desire to maintain consistent grant giving even when there are several consecutive months of cash outflow, the Trustees consider that 6 months reserves against annualised expenditure to be prudent and appropriate. On 31 December 2025 reserves were £140,786 (2024: £145,639 & 2023: £155,462). This represents 12 months expenditure cover (2024:10 & 2023:10).
Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
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Cambridge Aid Trustees’ Report (continued)
Stat istics for 2025
| Clients were referred by the following organisations: | |
|---|---|
| Cambridge & District Citizens Advice | 156 |
| Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Social Services including: | |
| Cambridge City Council Financial Inclusion | 37 |
| Cambridge & Peterborough Mental Health Foundation Trust | 40 |
| Change Grow Live | 51 |
| Cambridge City Housing, Homeless & Tenancy Sustainment Teams | 41 |
| Community Services and Family Nurse Partnerships | 11 |
| East Cambridgeshire District Council | 6 |
| Fawcett House Cambridge social care teams | 35 |
| Huntingdon based teams (5) | 5 |
| Kings Hedges Family Support Project | 24 |
| Meadows Children & Family Wing | 22 |
| Other children and family teams (4) | 17 |
| Primary Care teams and surgeries (9) | 56 |
| Sackville House Cambourne social care teams | 37 |
| South Cambridgeshire District Council | 27 |
| Cambridge Cyrenians | 37 |
| Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum | 11 |
| Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign | 13 |
| Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre and Women’s Aid | 32 |
| It Takes a City | 9 |
| Jimmy’s Cambridge | 64 |
| P3 Charity | 20 |
| Probation Service and Police | 23 |
| Red Hen Project | 14 |
| Riverside Care & Support | 20 |
| The Cambridge Housing Society including Corona House | 28 |
| Other Housing Societies (5) | 18 |
| Wintercomfort for the Homeless | 43 |
| YMCA | 22 |
| Others (14) | 31 |
| Total | 950 |
| Help was given for: | |
| Food/household essentials | 175 |
| Electrical goods and gas cookers | 144 |
| Clothes and shoes (76 adult: 46 children) | 122 |
| Empty flat/house starter packs including 52 Emmaus “Solidarity Packs” | 98 |
| Mobile phones | 84 |
| Furniture and soft furnishings | 67 |
| Adult beds, mattresses, and bedding | 52 |
| Providing identification documents and licences | 31 |
| Children’s furniture and beds | 28 |
| Bicycles | 18 |
| Gas, electricity, and heating oil | 17 |
| Other children’s items and outings | 17 |
| Laptops and tablets | 15 |
| Carpets, flooring and curtains | 15 |
| Kitchenware | 9 |
| Rail and bus fares | 8 |
| Skips | 7 |
| Security devices | 6 |
| Moving costs | 5 |
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Deep cleans and clear outs Others (22)
3 29 Total 950
Cambridge Aid Trustees’ Report (continued)
Individuals’ donations received in 2025:
*Wholly or partly gift aided
| aided | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Anonymous* | 12,798 |
| Mr C Allen | 120 |
| Mrs C Aston | 1,250 |
| Ms M Beveridge* | 1,000 |
| Mr D Borin* | 500 |
| Mr C Brown* | 300 |
| Ms W Chiang* | 200 |
| Mrs A Culver | 300 |
| Easyfundraising.org | 20 |
| Mrs M Gray* | 500 |
| Mrs K Haslam* | 200 |
| Ms H Jackson* | 610 |
| Mr P Kourpa* | 120 |
| Mr & Mrs O J Leonard* | 200 |
| Mr D Livesey* | 600 |
| Mr J Limmer including sponsorship* | 1,030 |
| Ms L Llewellyn* | 200 |
| Ms A Miller* | 600 |
| Mrs P Milsom* | 250 |
| Mrs C Myer* | 1,000 |
| Mr & Mrs P Ray* | 6,640 |
| Mrs P Reynolds* | 660 |
| Mrs S Richards | 890 |
| Mr N W Robbins* | 1,750 |
| Mrs E Robinson* | 1,200 |
| Lord & Lady Sainsbury* | 300 |
| Mr P S Saunders* | 1,550 |
| Dr P Scott* | 300 |
| Mrs S Stewart* | 215 |
| Mr & Mrs J H Stewart* | 460 |
| Mr M Talbot* | 250 |
| Mr A Williamson* | 360 |
| Mrs M Williamson | 100 |
| Total | 36,473 |
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Cambridge Aid Trustees’ Report (continued)
Organisations supporting Cambridge Aid in 2025:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Barton St Peter’s PCC | 165 |
| Cambridge City Council | 5,484 |
| Cambridge Rotary Club | 2,000 |
| Cambridgeshire Community Foundation (Hubert Julian Grassroots Endowment Fund) | 3,246 |
| Cambridgeshire Constabulary / Crown Court forfeitures | 5,945 |
| Corpus Christi College | 750 |
| Evelyn Trust | 1,250 |
| Great St Mary’s Church | 167 |
| Jesus College | 750 |
| Little St Mary’s Church | 625 |
| Lyndewode Road Charity Carols Event | 367 |
| Magdelene College | 250 |
| Newnham College | 200 |
| Queens’ College | 500 |
| Religious Society of Friends at Hartington Grove | 658 |
| Sampson Orchestra Concert | 701 |
| Simon Gibson Charitable Trust | 10,000 |
| St James Place | 2,000 |
| St John’s College | 400 |
| Trinity College | 2,185 |
| United Charities of Cambridge | 40,000 |
| Total | 77,643 |
Signed on behalf of the Trustees by Mr J Limmer – the Chair of Trustees
Date:
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Cambridge Aid Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025
| General Purpose Fund United Charities of Cambridge Fund Fulbourn Fund Children’s Fund £ £ £ Income Receipts Grants 30,659 40,000 1,835 5,159 Donations 28,433 0 1,070 6,970 Income from Investments 7,568 0 3,702 0 Refunds of old cheques not cashed 1,170 0 0 0 Tax Recovered on Gift Aid 7661 0 1,280 0 Total Receipts 75,491 40,000 7,877 12,129 Expenditure Charitable Activities: Grants to Individuals 76,795 39,953 7,140 15,134 Other Expenditure Bank charges 306 0 0 0 Fund raising costs 572 0 0 0 Administrative costs 451 0 0 0 Total Expenditure 78,124 39,953 7,140 15,134 Net Receipts/(Expenditure) for the year (2,633) 47 737 (3,005) Cash and bank balances brought forward 104,452 22,835 3,898 4,454 Cash and bank balances carried forward 101,819 22,882 4,635 1,449 Statement of Assets and Liabilities: Monetary Assets General Purpose Fund United Charities of Cambridge Fund Fulbourn Fund Children’s Fund £ £ £ £ CAF Bank Account 48,214 22,882 4,635 1,449 CAF Gold Account 53,605 0 0 0 Cash in hand 0 0 0 0 101,819 22,882 4,635 1,449 |
Total 2025 £ 77,643 36,473 11,270 1,170 8,941 135,497 139,022 306 572 451 140,351 (4,854) 135,639 130,786 Total 2025 £ 77,181 53,605 0 130,786 |
Total 2024 £ 109,747 41,252 9,122 185 7,535 167,841 |
|---|---|---|
175,976 402 812 474 177,664 |
||
(9,823) 145,462 |
||
135,639 |
||
Total 2024 £ 82,849 52,790 0 135,639 |
Investments with a market value of £10,000 (2024 £10,000) are held by the charity and are available for redemption by the charity if required. In addition, investments are held within an historic permanent endowment fund with a market value of £71,244 (2024: £66,034) and in a fund of ethical investments managed by Rathbones with a market value of £212,346 (2024: £204,831). In addition, in March 2024 the charity received a Rathbone investment portfolio of £100,179, to provide income to the newly created Fulbourn fund – the value at the end of 2025 was £108,244. (2024: £101,915):
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Mr P Ray Honorary Treasurer Date:
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Cambridge Aid Notes to the Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025
1 Endowment Funds to provide investment income:
36,392 Units IFSL CAF ESG Income and Growth Fund with a market value at end 2024 £43,129 (2024 £40,126)
22,920 Units IFSL CAF ESG Growth Fund Income with a market value at end 2025 £28,115 (2024 £25,908)
Ethical investments managed by Rathbones.
£200,000 invested 7 October 2020 – value £212,346 on 31 December 2025 (2024: £204,831)
Fulbourn Fund investments managed by Rathbones - £100,179 received on 4 March 2024 from the Friends of Fulbourn Hospital and the Community – value £108,244 on 31 December 2025 (£2024: £101,915)
2 Other Assets
£10,000 Scottish Widows Maturity Base Rate Tracker..
The charity has no functional assets of material value.
3 Trustees’ Remuneration
Nil (2023: Nil)
4 Related Party Transactions
One Trustee is a Supervisor at the Cambridge and District Citizens Advice Bureau who referred 16% (2024:18%) of our clients. This Trustee does not vote on any client applications sponsored by Citizens Advice.
One Trustee is an employee of Rathbones Investment Management in Cambridge who manage our ethical and Fulbourn Fund investments.
Independent Examiner’s Report
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 that are set out on pages 9 and 10.
Responsibilities and basis of this report
The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s Financial Statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
N Seabrooke Date:
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