Match my Project is an online platform that enables suppliers and businesses wanting to deliver social value or corporate social responsibility activity to support community projects in Cambridge.
The platform allows community groups to publicise their specific wants or needs such as volunteer time, specialist advice or skill, objects such as refrigerators or funding. Suppliers and businesses can then easily offer to match their needs from their own resources. This increases resilience in the community sector and makes it simpler for businesses and suppliers to deliver social value activity where it is needed most.
To mark the official launch of the platform in Cambridge, the council hosted an event which brought together community groups and charities in the city with businesses and networks. They had the opportunity to learn more about the Match My Project platform and the benefit it can bring both to participant organisations directly and the city more widely.
Case study
In the lead up to the official launch, the council has been piloting this initiative with selected organisations.
Cambridge Sustainable Food (CSF) created a project requesting the purchase of 8 induction cooker hobs, which would enable them to offer cookery workshops in the community. The workshops help people on low incomes or those facing barriers to work, learn new skills and reduce their expenditure by cooking low cost, healthy meals.
Macbrook Gas Ltd saw the project and requested to match with it offering to purchase the induction cooker hobs with the aim of having a positive impact on Cambridge residents.
Both organisations acknowledge that without the platform they would not have been able to collaborate in a way that benefits the community. Since then, the two organisations have partnered on additional projects to benefit residents of Cambridge.
Cllr Rachel Wade, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “It is fantastic news that we are making Match My Project available to organisations in Cambridge and empowering them to give back to the community.
“We know that charities and social enterprises are often in need of funding or resources to deliver their highly valued work and help people. We also know that there are organisations that are looking for a way to give back to the community but aren’t sure how to.
“Match My Project is a really important step in connecting charities and social enterprises to organisations who together can help each other to have a positive impact on communities in Cambridge.
“Thriving communities depend on everyone coming together to support and empower them and that’s exactly what we hope to achieve with Match My Project.”
Cambridgeshire County Council are also working with Match My Project to facilitate the delivery of projects across Cambridgeshire. Both councils are working together to maximise the social value impact for residents in Cambridge.
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