Case study - Journal

Partners, not just funders: Linx Youth Project’s first Match My Project success

Linx Youth Project team and three young people stand together in the new kitchen.

What happens when businesses stop seeing community organisations as beneficiaries and start seeing them as partners?

The story of Linx Youth Project’s new kitchen shows exactly what’s possible when organisations align around shared purpose rather than simply a transaction.

Meet Linx Youth Project

Linx Youth Project has been supporting young people for over 30 years, helping them in their personal, social and educational development through access to and involvement in new opportunities and experiences.

In light of widespread cuts to youth services, the Middlesbrough-based charity aims to provide opportunities outside education and the home for young people to have fun with their friends, be creative and make positive change in their communities, shaping the place where they live for their futures.

The scale of their impact is significant.

Between September 2024 and September 2025:

375 sessions were delivered
919 individual young people engaged in their youth club
6,134 young people attended their open access sessions

Working with an organisation like ours requires trust, clear communication, and a shared commitment to sustainable impact.

— Linx Youth Project

The challenge: a 20-year-old kitchen

Linx Youth Project is a hub of constant activity. From helping with homework to hosting coding and photography workshops and enabling young people to take part in climate action, the team provides a vital safety net and launchpad for the community.

Central to this mission is providing hot, nutritious meals in some of Middlesbrough’s most deprived areas, alongside cooking classes that teach young people valuable life skills like nutrition.

However, their kitchen was 20 years old. Despite careful maintenance, it was no longer fit for purpose and showed significant wear and tear.

With limited funding options available, a full renovation felt out of reach.

A man in a black polo shirt and dark work trousers stands on a small step stool in a kitchen under renovation. He is smiling and holding a long, yellow spirit level vertically. In the background, a section of the wall is painted light blue, and various tools—including open toolboxes, a drill, and a sealant gun—are scattered across a wooden countertop and open white shelving units.

This project was so much more than cupboards and worktops – it’s a place where youngsters can learn, start conversations, build confidence and form lasting friendships.

— TT Installations

How the partnership came together

When the need was posted on Match My Project, Equans, an energy and technical services provider, offered an ex-display kitchen that would have otherwise gone unused. Local family-run business, TT Installations, then stepped up to fit the kitchen at no cost to the charity.

This partnership marked a first. It kicked off Thirteen Housing‘s journey with Match My Project, launching in the autumn of last year. For Linx Youth Project, it opened their eyes to a new way of working:

“This initiative has genuinely helped us to shape how we think about working with local businesses. It has shown us that businesses are not just potential funders, but skilled partners who can bring expertise, problem-solving, and long-term value.

The collaboration with Match My Project, Thirteen Housing, Equans and TT Installations (and our staff) demonstrated what is possible when organisations align around a shared social purpose.”

— Wayne Mason, Chief Executive Officer, Linx Youth Project

More than just a kitchen

When asked about the impact, the team at Linx were clear about what this new space will mean:

“This kitchen will strengthen how we support young people at Linx. It is not just a physical upgrade; it is a functional tool that enables us to deliver practical life-skills work around cooking, nutrition, budgeting, and independence.

It also allows us to better support young people who may be experiencing food insecurity, anxiety around shared spaces, or even barriers to engagement. The kitchen will become a safe, purposeful environment where meaningful conversations and learning can happen naturally.”

— Wayne Mason

Why the space matters

Two younger individuals wear black aprons with "Cooking Together". One is holding a bag of grated cheese over a pizza base on the counter, while the other looks on.

The impact goes beyond the practical or aesthetics. The team knows that a high-quality environment directly fosters engagement and a sense of self-worth:

“A high-quality environment significantly changes how young people engage. When a space is well-designed, modern, and clearly valued, it sends a strong message that they are valued too.

We hope to see higher levels of respect for the space, an increased willingness to participate, and deeper engagement in both 1-to-1 support sessions and group workshops. The kitchen feels professional and welcoming, which helps young people take the activities (and themselves) more seriously.”

— Wayne Mason

A strategic shift: lessons for the future

Don’t underestimate the value you bring to the table. Businesses are often looking for meaningful ways to contribute and need your insight to do so effectively. Be clear about your needs, set boundaries, and seek partners who respect your values and your community.

— Wayne Mason, Linx Youth Project

This partnership has changed Linx’s long-term strategy for approaching their resource needs:

“It has reinforced the value of partnership-led solutions rather than relying solely on grants or donations.

We can now become more confident in articulating our needs clearly, engaging businesses early, and co-designing solutions that meet both community needs and partner objectives.”

— Wayne Mason

Ready to bring your next project to life? It takes less than 15 minutes to sign up and post a project. Find your local authority at matchmyproject.org to get started.

Advice for businesses:

For businesses hoping to move past one-off donations toward community partnerships, Linx offers these insights:

Approach community organisations as partners, not beneficiaries
Understand their mission, constraints and long-term goals
Be open to dialogue and flexibility in approach
Be prepared to invest more than just money; skills, time, and relationships matter!

Advice for community leaders:

Don’t underestimate your value. Businesses need your insight to create local impact
Be clear about your needs and set boundaries
Seek partners who respect your values and your community

Maximise your impact on the platform.
Book a free 15-minute session with Susanna or email hello@matchmyproject.org to troubleshoot issues and learn expert tips to boost your performance.

📣 How Buggies 4 Brum turned collaboration into powerful citywide support — and national BBC coverage

🏆 How 25 years of community expertise has shaped The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour’s approach to rising demand

Volunteers from Chichester Harbour Rotary Club supporting the town's food bank with their clothes bank.

How 25 years of community expertise has shaped The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour’s approach to rising demand

The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour has just completed their 40th project on Match My Project, working with 21 different suppliers to get essential resources to families and individuals in need.

For over 25 years, they’d built strong networks, developed relationships with local partners, and created effective systems for meeting community needs through donations and fundraising.

But the cost of living crisis has changed the landscape.

The club joined Match My Project in May 2023, adding a new tool to their well-established approach to community support.

We spoke to the club’s community chairman, Thérèse Brook, to find out how.

“We could just about rely on donations before the cost of living hit, one way or another, by juggling things around,” Thérèse explained. “But now, we know with the increased demand, the shelf is sometimes bare.”

The problem isn’t just volume — it’s timing and reliability. “The demand and the donations don’t always match up.”

Thérèse explains that they can’t rely on waiting until those key donation periods like the spring cleaning season when people get rid of stuff they no longer need.

Match My Project helps to balance out and minimise those pinchpoints.

The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour's clothes bank set-up at Chichester District Foodbank, as they prepare the usual essential items as well as festive gifts.

A quarter of a century on the frontline

The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour has been providing wrap-around community support for over a quarter of a century.

Recognised by Rotary International in 1998, they were Chichester’s first dual-gender Rotary club.

They’ve built deep roots in the community, running their own clothes bank, alongside Chichester District Foodbank, and providing practical help for families impacted by poverty, asylum, illness and domestic abuse.

“For some people, it’s the first time they are receiving something new.”

Their work is diverse. They run tea dances for people with Alzheimer’s and partner with Mind charity to support mental wellbeing in the community.

However, much of their work is frontline crisis response, providing essential items for people getting back on their feet. This includes women escaping domestic abuse moving into safe, yet empty, houses to refugees who’ve just arrived, and families pushed into poverty needing a helping hand.

Thérèse makes clear that while a kettle or a toaster might seem small, it can be the life-changing missing piece.

She explains that when you give someone something they’re without, when you show that act of kindness, it makes people feel human.

“I think quite a lot of people, when they get stuff, have been promised stuff over the years and it never happens. But I think the networks we’ve got now in Chichester, working together, I can say if somebody promises, you get it.”

Match My Project helps to make sure the club can deliver every time for the people in need.

Essentials that change lives

This Social Value isn’t simply about items.

It’s about connection and community building.

When the club delivers essential items, they’re not just dropping off a toaster and leaving.

The Chichester Harbour’s Rotary Club has got extensive contacts for signposting, so once people have the essentials that allow them to get out of bed and leave the house, they know where the networks are — the social activities, the food pantries, the skills workshops.

“The first step is restoring self-esteem, and giving hope to individuals. Without that, you’re not going to be fitting into a community or anything else. You have to start somewhere.”

It’s the first connection, or a bridge, so that people can then reach out.

Therese Brook and supplier Purdy with donations of microwaves and kettles ready to be given to families in need.

The difference quality partnerships make

Thérèse says Match My Project has given them access to a community of suppliers who genuinely want to help. There’s not that attitude of “they should be grateful for anything. Anything will do” — a misconception that can sometimes surround charity work.

“Anything won’t do,” Thérèse said firmly.

Having a network of businesses who understand this isn’t luxury stuff — that a new kettle represents dignity, that these asks are instrumental to restoring hope for people with little — makes all the difference.

Good working relationships mean suppliers come back again and again to offer support, understanding that their role in this isn’t just about ticking a box or doing the bare minimum, but about enriching lives.

Strategic thinking in action

Thérèse thinks two or three times before posting a request onto Match My Project

In the club’s monthly meetings, they discuss how fundraising is going, the challenges, how they’ll meet them, and where to pull resources from. They’re always weighing up options, drawing on networks they’ve created over 25 years.

“Every time we have a need, we ask ourselves: ‘Is there another way?’”

Their funding pools are always an option, but it’s about understanding trade-offs — what you won’t be able to buy if you use that bit of funding there.

Match My Project has become part of that strategic toolkit — not replacing their established networks and funding streams, but providing that extra degree of assurance when demand is high, one that offers a more direct route, without expenditure or the admin of searching outside their networks.

“It’s not an automatic, go-to. If we can get it somewhere else, we’ll try to widen out that community giving network,” Thérèse explained. “But when I look back on the list of things that we’ve got from Match My Project, we wouldn’t have been able to give nearly as much or the quality.”

The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour's clothes bank set-up at Chichester District Foodbank.

Words of wisdom

When we asked Thérèse for advice for other community organisations using the platform, her response was characteristically practical:

“Make each word work. People don’t have the time to read an essay. Be honest with yourself about why you need it and the key difference it will make.”

And to businesses and local authorities considering supporting this work? The message is clear: these aren’t just one-off donations. They’re instrumental to building a happier, healthier community.

After 25 years of community service, The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour understands that sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is ensure someone has a kettle for their morning cup of tea.

How you can help

The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour is currently seeking towels or funding to purchase them for families in the Chichester area.

To support this project, search for ‘80 Bath Sheets for families 20 mile radius of Chichester‘ in Hyde Housing Association’s Match My Project Directory.

Not registered yet? Sign up to Hyde Housing’s Match My Project here, or add Hyde Housing to your existing account if you’re already registered with another authority (How to Register with Multiple Authorities)

Stack of towels ready to be donated to families in need by The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour.

Are you a community organisation interested in receiving resources from businesses on Match My Project? Sign up via your local authority’s homepage at matchmyproject.org. Your project could be the next to receive crucial support and resources.

Extra Resources

🔗 The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour’s four top tips for community organisations looking to maximise their impact on Match My Project.

The Rotary is a global network of volunteers who lend their time and skills for humanitarian service. United by a belief in service above self, their work is motivated by a desire to create lasting impact in our communities, through local and global projects. Find out more here.

Buggies 4 Brum Campaign Launch. Photo: Samuel Singer — The Buggies 4 Brum campaign was launched after the Safe Sleep Scheme which provides sleeping equipment to families with children under 5 who are living in crisis situations.

“One mother had to use a shopping trolley to take her child to a medical appointment.”

In January 2024, Birmingham PlayCare Network launched its Safe Sleep Scheme with Thrive Together Birmingham, Spurgeons and Barnardo’s to give families cots and Moses baskets.

While working on that project, their Business Development Manager, Emma Martin, realised the need for pushchairs, with many families struggling without.

During harsh winter months, there was a concern that some families without cars would feel “trapped at home“, isolated from the local community, and without easy access to essential appointments for their children.

One mum had to use a shopping trolley to take her child to a health appointment.

“We have many families currently living in crisis who can’t afford the basics to support their children. To be able to access a pram could be life-changing — simply by being able to take your child to appointments, get a sibling to school on time, whilst your baby is warm and dry in a lovely new buggy.”

The mission was simple but urgent: help families access the basic equipment they need to keep their children warm, safe, and mobile.

This was the launch of the Buggies 4 Brum appeal, asking businesses and individuals for donations of preloved or new buggies and prams.

Since their launch, in mid-November at the Fort Shopping Centre, Birmingham, with support from Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Voluntary Service Council and partners, the appeal has gained national attention through a BBC feature.

To maximise impact, Birmingham PlayCare Network posted their request for buggies on the Match My Project platform, along with a second request for a photographer to capture the launch of the Buggies 4 Brum campaign.

Local supplier BSN Group Construction stepped in and supported both.

We spoke to Emma about how the Match My Project platform has supported the campaign.

PlayCare Network's Emma Martin at the Buggies 4 Brum campaign launch. Photo: Samuel Singer

“Five minutes to load up a project was easy.”

Discovering Match My Project

Emma first heard about Match My Project (MMP) through PlayCare Network’s reuse project The Scrapstore, but it was a conference last year — highlighting collaboration between charities and private businesses via Social Value — that prompted her to give the platform a try.

“I’m an optimist and thought I had nothing to lose. Five minutes to load up a project was easy, and I knew our work was impactful. I was hopeful that businesses would want to support what we were trying to achieve.”

“MMP has definitely made my work easier — without question.”

How Match My Project Changed Their Approach

Using Match My Project has transformed the way Birmingham PlayCare Network secures support.

Emma shares:

“MMP has definitely made my work easier — without question. Whereas before I could spend hours writing a funding bid which could be rejected with no feedback, now if there is something I need to support the centre or a new campaign, I can put it on MMP. Our requests can be supported by multiple partners and we can really develop relationships with those businesses.”

Instead of laborious fundraising applications, Match My Project allows for quick resource requests that build genuine working relationships with businesses.

“Businesses can directly see how their support is helping our local community.”

“It’s all about building relationships with businesses.”

A Platform for Partnership

Beyond donations, Match My Project has opened the door to ongoing relationships with volunteers and businesses.

“We’ve met quite a few businesses who said it was hard to find places to volunteer or support. Those people are now regularly in contact with us, looking to see when they can do their next volunteering day.”

For other community organisations looking to get support, Emma’s advice is simple:

“It’s all about building relationships with businesses, and making the requests achievable, not complicated, and if financial asks — realistic.”

A Message to Future Business Partners

“It’s great to meet new partners. They’re genuinely interested in what we do and respect us for it. People are often surprised by how much we achieve with very limited resource. For those operating in the charity sector, to have our work valued and recognised across the business world is important.”

#Toys4Bham is running in 2025 after last year’s successful campaign.

How you can help Buggies 4 Brum

Donate a Preloved Buggy or Pram — Double buggies and newborn prams are especially needed. Don’t worry, charity partners will repair and refresh it if necessary.

Make a Financial Contribution — Help us buy new buggies in bulk. Your donation also supports jobs for people back into employment.

Spread the word — get your employees, volunteers, customers or supporters on board. Download the flyer here.

Making a Difference for Birmingham Families this Christmas

Birmingham Playcare Network runs a range of schemes to support families — from collecting and redistributing craft supplies as part of The Scrapstore, to donating toys to children at Christmas through Toys4Bham, running coffee mornings in their Warm Welcome community space, and helping mothers connect through Brummie Mummies.

Together with their community partner, Thrive Together Birmingham, they are always looking for more support. As we count down to Christmas, Toys4Bham is up and running for 2025, aiming to make the festive period as special for as many vulnerable children as possible.

Are you a business that can help?
Head to the Match My Project platform and offer your support.

🔗 You can read the BBC piece here: Charity’s appeal to give pushchairs to families

💡 Top 5 Tips for Community-Based Organisations to Maximise Social Value through Match My Project

Village Heating and Hyde Housing’s Sheltered and Supported team serve up community spirit.

Each year, residents of Hardwick Court, Erith, celebrate the end of Wimbledon with strawberries and cream.

This occasion is typically funded by the residents themselves.

This year, when Wendy Woods, Housing scheme officer at Hyde Housing, noticed low morale amongst some elderly residents, she decided to host a ploughman’s lunch followed by Strawberries and cream – free of charge!

Woods notes that a significant number of the residents live on fixed or low incomes, making it difficult for them to afford nutritious meals or transportation to social events.

Hoping to treat the residents, Woods turned to Match My Project to bring her idea to life.

Soon after the project went live, Village Heating committed to funding the event. Woods notes the professionalism of Rajesh Vekria, Village Heating’s Chief Financial Officer – Hyde Housing’s Sheltered and Supported team received £150 in Morrisons vouchers on the very same day the offer was accepted.

Thanks to Village Heating’s generous donation, 28 residents enjoyed cheese, ham, fresh bread rolls and pickles. They then had strawberries and cream for dessert, followed by a music quiz to round off the afternoon.

Here’s what Woods had to say about the experience:

“The residents really enjoyed it, especially some of our older ones who don’t get to go out very much due to mobility issues etc…

My experience of MMP has always been a positive one, it has allowed us to give back to our residents in ways that we haven’t been able to before.

Obviously, it pays to do your research prior to do an application/project but on the whole it has helped improve the lives of our residents in a very positive way.”

What a lovely way to bring the community together! We loved hearing how residents who might otherwise miss out on social events got to enjoy good food, company, and a bit of fun.

If you have a story to share, please do be in touch; otherwise, keep an eye out on our LinkedIn page for more project updates!

Are you a business looking fulfil your Social Value commitments?
You can connect directly with grassroots organisations doing important work in local communities on Match My Project.
Are you a community organisation looking for a direct route to private-sector support? Your project could be the next to receive crucial support and resources.
Sign up via your local authority’s homepage at matchmyproject.org.

Pemberton Green Spaces and Radius Security Ltd dig in.

What started as a pitch at our online event has blossomed into something special.

In late April, we hosted a briefing event for our partners in the North West.

We gathered local businesses, VCSFE’s and public sector representatives to celebrate successes, share tips, and look ahead to the future of social value delivery in the region.

Some community-based organisations from the region pitched their upcoming projects to other organisations in the room.

Here’s one story from a resulting match.

Pemberton Green Spaces needed volunteers to help realise their ‘From Coal to Colour’ planting project in Pemberton, Wigan.

This project aims to enhance greenery on an urban highway in a busy residential area of Wigan’s previous mining districts.

Radius Security employees rolled up their sleeves and got involved.

Here’s what Ange Colquitt from Pemberton Green Spaces had to say about the partnership:

“Businesses like Radius Security are a vital part of our volunteer effort. We’ve found MMP really helpful for getting businesses and other organisations involved. It’s a great way to bring community groups and business/other organisations together.

It was easy to put our project request on the platform (Wigan Council are great at advising too on the off chance something in a request isn’t quite right). After speaking at the North West event, it was straightforward to do the ‘match up’ on the platform with Radius, and then liaise with Darren at Radius directly for the support we were looking for.”

This collaborative effort is brightening up the neighbourhood with colour and greenery while also providing food and shelter for wildlife. As a result, the area feels more cared for, and is inspiring pride in the community.

Here’s to more partnerships planting seeds of positivity in communities across the North West and beyond.

Throughout August, we’ll be showcasing some summer-themed case studies on our Journal and LinkedIn pages. Keep an eye out for more cheery stories like this one, and let us know if you have one to share!

We are proud to announce that Onward Homes has renewed its partnership with Match My Project for another two years. This decision highlights their long-term commitment to delivering social value and supporting the communities they serve.

As one of the largest housing providers in the North West, Onward Homes manages over 35,000 properties across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, and Lancashire. Their mission extends beyond providing housing; they are dedicated to empowering residents and investing in neighbourhoods to help people lead happier, more independent lives.

A Mission Backed by Action

Onward’s collaboration with Match My Project has united businesses, suppliers, and grassroots organisations to achieve tangible results. From community gardening initiatives to skills-based volunteering, every match made on the platform contributes to Onward’s broader mission of strengthening local communities.

Here’s what that looks like in numbers:

🏢 104 businesses signed up to support local communities

🤝 102 community organisations engaged

⏱️ 1,029 volunteer hours donated

🌱 61 projects completed

🔄 53 more in the pipeline

🔧 16 suppliers actively offering support

These numbers represent real people uplifted, spaces improved, and relationships built across various sectors.

Why It Matters

By extending this partnership for another two years, Onward Homes reaffirms its commitment to the importance of long-term collaborations that foster local impact. This partnership enables Onward to:

Support grassroots organisations addressing real-world challenges
Help businesses create meaningful social value within the communities they serve
Build a stronger network of support for residents across the North West

What’s Next?

Onward Homes is committed to delivering practical, high-impact solutions, ranging from volunteering initiatives to supplier-driven contributions. Together, we are working towards a future where housing providers act as catalysts for lasting, community-led change.

We look forward to seeing what the next two years bring, and we’re proud to be part of the journey.

Looking to simplify the way your organisation delivers social value?
Contracting authorities can sign up here to get started.

We’re excited to highlight Purdy Contracts Ltd—our top-performing supplier on Match My Project for May. A member of the Kinovo Group, Purdy is a trusted provider of mechanical, electrical, building services, and renewable energy solutions. They joined the platform through Hyde Housing and have demonstrated exceptional commitment to delivering meaningful social value.

Their impact so far speaks volumes:

27 organisations supported
42 projects completed
9 projects currently underway
139 hours contributed

But it’s not just the numbers that stand out—it’s the real, tangible impact they’re making in local communities.

Here are just a few examples of the initiatives they’ve supported:

South London Recruitment Event, in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions – Forest Hill Jobcentre

Replacing damaged basketball backboards for Prospex

Event team support for the Greenwich Community Santa’s Grotto, in partnership with Good Neighbours

Community feedback reflects the genuine care and professionalism of the Purdy team:

“Good Neighbours can’t express our gratitude for the Purdy team attending our event… The Purdy team were amazing, really hands-on, got stuck in, worked well with the team and were a real asset to the day.”
– Good Neighbours

“Purdy (Peter and Pippa) are fantastic to work with. Helpful, flexible and professional… The support makes a big difference to Oasisplay and the children and young people we support.”
– Oasis Children’s Venture

“Purdy Contracts were superb… We cannot thank them enough for the difference their contribution will make to the local community.”
– Prospex

“It was a pleasure to work with Purdy Contracts Ltd. They will make a real difference to 6 families in need who want to make the few clothes they have look smart.”
– The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour

We’re very grateful for this kind support, helping us to help those in our local community who are facing financial crisis.

– Medway Foodbank

Every hour given, every partnership formed, and every project completed helps create positive, lasting change where needed most.

Purdy Contracts Ltd has shown what it means to go beyond the brief, setting a high bar for purposeful, community-focused engagement.

We’re proud to have them as part of the Match My Project network and look forward to seeing even more impact as they and our wider community of businesses continue to grow.

We’re celebrating 1000 matches on Match My Project.

While the impact of 1000 projects is impossible to quantify, we’re toasting to this milestone by sharing some outstanding projects and organisations on Match My Project

1. One business that completed 57 projects on Match My Project

Alphatrack Systems, a fire and security systems specialist, is #1 on two Match My Project leaderboards – Hyde Housing and Hackney Giving.

From providing 60 blood pressure devices for members of Hackney Congolese Women Support Group to funding a year of free, healthy school breakfasts for school children in South London, Alphatrack Systems has set a gold standard for social value delivery.

We are proud to work in partnership with forward-thinking businesses like Alphatrack Systems that use our technology to deliver meaningful social value in local communities.

2. One community organisation that completed 36 projects on Match My Project

Rotary Chichester Harbour has been providing wrap-around support to the Chichester community for over 25 years.

The organisation runs a clothes bank and provides practical support for families and individuals in need. These include members of the community who are impacted by poverty, illness or domestic abuse.

They’ve completed more projects through Match My Project than any other community organisation, and have worked with 17 suppliers on Match My Project, including CLM Fireproofing, Purdy Contracts Ltd., AD Construction Group, Globant UK Ltd. and Cleanscapes Ltd.

3. Providing nature-immersive education to 1,000 children in Islington and Hackney

The Garden Classroom connects urban communities with nature to foster wellbeing and inspire environmental stewardship.

They matched with Just Ask Estate Services Ltd. through Match My Project to receive support for their Urban Forest School programme.

Through Match My Project, Just Ask Estate Services Ltd. offered funding that will allow The Garden Classroom to cover the costs of a facilitator for Urban Forest School sessions. Their support has also enabled the purchase of branded waterproof jackets, whittling knives, Japanese pull saws for woodwork activities, children’s binoculars for wildlife identification, fire kits, cups and flasks, slack lines, and gymnastics rings.

4. Carbon literacy training for young people in the North West

Ridge & Partners, a Built Environment Consultancy, partnered with the Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) through Match My Project to deliver their flagship carbon literacy training programme: Ridge Green Futures.

Ridge invited five young people from GMYN to their offices in Manchester. During the visit, they completed Ridge’s Green Futures certificate, which explores the effects of climate change on the built environment.

This initiative aims to support Stockport-based young people who are or have been in care or are disabled/neurodivergent in accessing introductory opportunities in construction.

Ridge has delivered other work experience opportunities for care-experienced individuals through Match My Project, which you can read about here.

5. Sustainable, long-term support for young people with disabilities in Birmingham

The Hive College, an organisation that supports young people with disabilities, matched with Kier Highways on Match My Project, to enable some work placement opportunities for their young people.

What started as a single match has now become a relationship. Kier Highways has since provided work placement opportunities for over 10 of The Hive College’s learners, delivered fire marshal and first aid training for learners, and donated over £15,000 to fund a car for the College.

6. Three case studies from Cambridge City Council’s Match My Project Launch event

We saw a diverse range of resources being delivered as part of Cambridge City Council’s Match My Project pilot phase. This included:

– Kier Construction matched with Jimmy’s Cambridge, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness, to provide a design service for the charity’s yearly impact report.

– Connected Kerb matched with Cambridge Online, a charity that advocates for digital inclusion, to donate four laptops to students in need.

– Macbrook Gas matched with Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC to deliver 8 induction hobs for cookery classes for vulnerable community members.

7. Collaborative and creative spaces for local people in Birmingham

Fierce Festival, a festival of theatre, performance and experiences, matched with Birmingham City University on Match My Project to deliver a specially commissioned participatory artwork.

This artwork, called Softly/Tenderly, was aimed at creating spaces for local people to engage with potentially difficult aspects of Birmingham’s history in a gentle, nuanced way.

Birmingham City University and their partner, STEAMhouse, provided technical support to manage the health and safety of the participatory artwork, as well as the physical space and hospitality support for the artwork to take place.

The artwork reached around 100 audiences over a week, and allowed people to engage with potentially difficult narratives in a shared, creative space.

The stories we’ve shared represent just a fraction of the impact our partners have created together.

We’re grateful to everyone who has participated in this growing ecosystem, whether you’ve been with us since day one or joined more recently.

Now, with the foundations firmly established, we look forward to facilitating many more connections in the months and years ahead.

Are you a business looking fulfil your Social Value commitments? You can connect directly with grassroots organisations doing important work in local communities on Match My Project.
Are you a community organisation looking for a direct route to private-sector support? Your project could be the next to receive crucial support and resources.
Sign up via your local authority’s homepage at matchmyproject.org.

In March, we headed to Cambridge for Cambridge City Council’s Match My Project launch.

We loved hearing about some of the projects delivered during the council’s pilot phase of our platform.

From design skills to donations of digital devices, there’s already a great range of resources being delivered to local Cambridge communities through Match My Project, and we look forward to seeing more projects being completed as the platform gains traction.

Here are three case studies shared at Cambridge City Council’s Match My Project launch:

Induction hobs for cookery classes for vulnerable community members: Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC x Macbrook Gas

Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC needed 8 induction hobs for cookery classes for vulnerable community members.

They put their project on Match My Project and matched with Macbrook Gas Ltd. Within days, they had 8 new induction hobs.

Cambridge Sustainable Food and Macbrook Gas have since collaborated on a second project, to install a commercial freezer in Cambridge Sustainable Food’s distribution centre.

John, Director at Macbrook Gas, said this about his experience:

“Match My Project – really, really good to work with. Really good to deliver. Really good things to come.”

Impact Report Design: Kier Construction x Jimmy’s Cambridge

Jimmy’s Cambridge, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness, needed their impact report designed. They posted their request on Match My Project and Kier Construction offered to complete their project.

The charity, celebrating 30 years of support, soon had a professional report to showcase their work … without spending a penny.

Cat from Jimmy’s nailed why this matters:

“The value in this is not just the design value, it’s the fact that we can give these out and email these over as a PDF to our supporters … it’s huge for us. It was money that we didn’t have to spend and it will help our stakeholders feel valued and also want to continue supporting us.”

Laptops for Students in Cambridge: Connected Kerb x Cambridge Online

Cambridge Online which works to reduce digital exclusion by refurbishing and redistributing unwanted digital devices.

Connected Kerb donated 4 laptops to Cambridge Online for students in need via Match My Project.

Marcus Whewell, CEO of Cambridge Online shares his thoughts on the match:

“The simple truth is that Cambridge Online and Connected Kerb would never have found each other without this initiative.

Our orbits are so different; we’d never have come in touch.

And in four weeks, we’ve delivered something of value back to the community. So I’d encourage everybody here: please take the time to visit the site; take a small leap of faith, because in a very simple way, you will help change someone’s life”.