Local businesses, charities and public sector organisations are invited to participate in the annual Cambridge Business Community Action Network speed-networking event on Thursday, 1 November, hosted by the University's Community Affairs Team.

The event is a chance to network with companies and community organisations, to hear about company-community partnerships in the area and to learn more about what companies can offer the voluntary sector.

Cambridge Business Community Action Network (CBCAN) is a network of locally based businesses actively working to impact positively on the community. Businesses do not need to be a member of CBCAN to participate.

Participants are assigned to groups according to the nature of their organisation and encouraged to netw ork with representatives from organisations of a different sector.

Last year, Breathe, a workplace design company based in Girton, successfully networked with St John's Ambulance which resulted in their employees being trained in first-aid. The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences was also offered books by Cambridge University Press.

Participants are encouraged to think widely about the resources that exist within their organisations that could benefit the community. This could be something very small or it could be a longer-term relationship.

For example:

• a charity might be looking for free legal advice to enable them to buy a building

• a council might want business people to come into local schools to talk about enterprise

• a company might be looking for ways to improve recruitment or local profile

• a charity might be looking for new trustees

• a company or local authority might be looking for ideas to help their staff to team build.

Penny Wilson, Head of Community Affairs at the University of Cambridge, says, “Cross-sector speed-networking is a great way to meet different organisations and embark on projects to make a real difference to the local community. Businesses often have resources to donate to community projects, whether it's unwanted equipment, staff time for volunteering or simply offering advice.”

The Cambridge Business Community Action Network evening reception will be held on Thursday, 1 November 2007, from 6pm, at Magdalene College Cripps Court, Chesterton Lane, Cambridge CB3 0AG. If you are interested in attending, please contact Pierre Zickert at the University of Cambridge: pz234@admin.cam.ac.uk or 01223 332300 by Monday, October 29.

The event is kindly sponsored by Greater Cambridge Partnership.

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