Building bridges

If you come to Cambridge to study for a degree, there are a wealth of student societies you can join depending on your interests. They range from the cultural and political to the sporting and musical. But there are also societies that work with local communities and help people who are struggling.

Embrace Cambridge is one of these. A student-led society that supports homeless people in the city, it has raised more than £1,000 over the last year for local homeless charities.

James Hyde, originally from Stockport in Greater Manchester, and Thea Redmill, from Eastbourne in East Sussex, have been the society’s co-presidents during that year. Thea was taken aback when she first arrived in Cambridge:

"In my first year I felt quite upset about being in the city, particularly at night, because homelessness is so visible here, especially in the city centre as it’s so compact."

"I remember feeling weird about the fact that I might be coming back from a formal dinner at one of the Colleges and be confronted by all this inequality.  I come from a seaside town where there’s quite a lot of poverty but also quite a few initiatives set up to tackle it. So I really wanted to get involved in a way that would help."

James and Thea have hosted a number of fundraising events which have been well attended by students. These have included football tournaments, pub quizzes and a jazz night.

"There was a lot of organisation that went into the Hot Content gig (a night of music at Clare Cellars) but it was great," says James. "There was a nice moment when our friend Barry, who’s the community engagement officer at Jimmy’s (one of Cambridge’s homeless charities) got up and spoke for five minutes about the work they do and support they give. It was really meaningful for everyone in the room."

But the work isn’t limited to fundraising. Each Saturday evening, between 6.00 and 8.00 pm, students drop in at Jimmy’s homeless shelter to help prepare meals. The group are talking to another charity, Wintercomfort, about providing IT skills for some of the people who it supports. James decided to focus on the experience of homelessness in his dissertation:

"I’m interested in the stigma of homelessness and how that can prevent access to certain services and how dehumanising it can be."

"I was able to interview some of the residents of Jimmy’s and hear about their life stories. What was striking about one of the interviews I conducted was how this guy’s spirit came through… I mean he didn’t want external perceptions to derail his journey. It was inspiring to hear about his determination to move forward."

Thea sees it as a privilege when the residents open up about their lives and confide in them:

"I feel really lucky that they want to talk to us and they don't perceive us as people coming in, you know, and just staying for a couple of hours and then heading back to our comfortable rooms."

"They don’t see us as students who are privileged but people who are genuinely interested in their stories."

Cat Strawbridge, communications manager at Jimmy’s, says the support they’ve received from the students has had a big impact:

“It’s brilliant when student bodies like Embrace partner with Jimmy’s. Not only is it a joy to welcome students into our hostels to cook and serve meals to our residents alongside other volunteering opportunities, but we always hope these partnerships help to inspire events such as 'Humanity Seen: Stories Behind the Streets.'

"All opportunities to share stories, experiences and information about why people experience homelessness are brilliant as they help expand people’s understanding and empathy for those who may be less fortunate than themselves."

"Thank you Embrace, we truly appreciate your support!"

James and Thea will be graduating this year and handing over the reins to a new team, but they’re keen to see the work continue.

“I definitely want to do more fundraising after I graduate,” says Thea. “This experience has shaped me so much and it's something I'm really proud of. I just feel so lucky that I've been able to be part of this community.”

Humanity Seen: Stories Behind the Streets is an event organised by Embrace, which will take place on the 21st June 2025 (from 18:30) at Downing Place United Reform Church. The evening will feature poetry, drama, music, and visual art, all centred around the theme of homelessness. Everyone is invited, whether they are residents, students or visitors to the city.