Stronger Together: Celebrating a Year of Social Impact Partnerships in Cambridgeshire

Last week, we were proud to join Cambridge Housing Society (CHS Group) at their Russell Street service to celebrate the first anniversary of their Social Impact Partnerships Initiative - an evening that brought together corporate partners, community organisations and, most importantly, some of the residents whose lives have been shaped by that support.

The event, held on Wednesday 9 September, marked twelve months of collaboration between CHS Group and the businesses and organisations working alongside them, including Goal 17. For us, it was a chance to celebrate some fantastic work and reflect on what these partnerships can achieve when everyone shares a common goal of genuine, lasting change for people in need.

A year of helping hands

CHS Group's Social Impact Partnerships Initiative helps people in supported housing in a number of ways, including the mentoring services we provide. Since May 2025, Goal 17 been changing lives by building meaningful, consistent, and supportive relationships for the residents living in CHS services. Here is just one example:

Richard and Paul's story

Since Richard was first introduced to his mentor Paul, their relationship has flourished. Initially, Richard, who has autism, found it challenging to open up to Paul as he was overwhelmed by the prospect of having a mentor. To put Richard at ease, Paul adapted his communication style so they could talk more openly, without any expectations.

Paul has been credited by Richard as being empathetic and person-centred. He consistently seeks out new opportunities and makes sure to check in with Richard first to ensure that activities align with Richard’s interests and comfort levels. Paul regularly communicates with both Richard and CHS's support team to ensure that he is providing the best possible support and asks for guidance from the team when it is needed.  

Richard has shared that he genuinely values his time with Paul and they regularly discuss their interests together. Richard has recently joined a library which is a huge positive step for his development. He and Paul have been talking about their favourite books which has added another layer of shared interest and bonding.      

Richard and Paul stay in touch between sessions via our unique messaging platform Wowment, which works entirely through WhatsApp, making it easy to arrange meet-ups and maintain a consistent connection. This ongoing communication has helped create a sense of reliability and comfort for Richard.

“My experience with the Cambridge Housing Society/Goal 17 mentoring programme has been incredibly positive," says Paul. "Building a connection with Richard over time has shown me just how powerful a consistent, supportive relationship can be. It’s been rewarding to see his confidence grow and to watch him take steps independently, such as attending activities on his own. Mentoring hasn’t just benefited Richard, it’s also been a meaningful experience for me. It’s given me the opportunity to support someone in a practical way, share experiences, and see real progress develop over time. I would absolutely encourage others to consider volunteering; even small amounts of time and encouragement can make a genuine difference in someone’s life.”

One year down, many more to go

Meeting some of the residents whose lives have been changed over the past twelve months was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

One quote that captured the spirit of the evening came from Blake at Sureserve - one of the corporate partners behind the initiative - whose company's donation helped fund the mentoring scheme. Reflecting on the event afterwards, Blake said: "I really enjoyed the event, it was very emotional and a perfect example of how partnership can produce positive social impact in the community."

That's exactly what this initiative, and others like it, are about. When businesses, organisations and communities come together with a shared purpose, the results speak for themselves – in this case, literally! A room full of people who feel more supported, confident and happy than they did a year ago is the best result any of us could ask for.

Evenings like this aren't just about celebrating a year gone by. They're about building momentum for the year ahead and keeping the good work going. Thank you to CHS Group for the invitation and to every partner in the Initiative. Here's to another year of wonderful support in Cambridge!

Want to take part?

On that subject, we're still looking for more volunteers in the Cambridge area. If you're interested, or know someone who might be, please visit the CHS site for more information (https://www.chsgroup.org.uk/social-impact-partnerships/) or email kristina.cairns@chsgroup.org.uk.