The Cambridge Building Society has provided a £7,000 grant through its Community Fund to support women and children leaving refuge accommodation in Cambridgeshire.
The funding, awarded to Cambridge Women’s Aid (CWA) earlier this year, is being used to help 12 women move out of emergency refuge housing by covering the cost of essential household items such as beds, cookers, curtains and carpets.
The support aims to ensure that survivors can establish safe and functional homes as they begin to rebuild their lives.
The Community Fund, managed in partnership with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, provides financial assistance to local charities and community groups twice a year.
The fund is part of The Cambridge’s wider commitment to supporting local people and improving quality of life across the region.
Katie Robinson, community engagement specialist at The Cambridge Building Society, said:
“Cambridge Women’s Aid has been a cornerstone of our community for decades, and their work remains as vital today as when they began. Survivors of domestic abuse deserve safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives.
“We’re proud to support CWA in making that possible, and we encourage other charities and community groups to apply for funding through our Community Fund, which is open now.”
Angie Stewart, chief executive officer at Cambridge Women’s Aid, said: “Experiencing domestic abuse strips so much away – your sense of self, your resources, your ability to live independently.
“Starting again is daunting, and for many women leaving refuge, it can feel overwhelming to face an empty home with very little to put inside.
“This grant means we can make sure those women and children don’t have to go without. Having a proper bed to sleep in, curtains for privacy, a cooker to make meals – these are the basics that turn a house into a home. It allows families to move forward with dignity, knowing they are cared for and supported as they start anew.”
