As the company celebrates its 200th anniversary, the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund has awarded grants to Headway Suffolk and 2nd Newmarket Scout Group as part of their ongoing community investment.
Cheffins has announced two new grants through their Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund, continuing a philanthropic partnership with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation that has spanned almost two decades.
The latest awards see £697 awarded to Headway Suffolk to support people with neurological conditions in the Newmarket and Haverhill areas, and £3,620 awarded to 2nd Newmarket Scout Group to deliver first aid training to 250 young people.
These grants bring the total impact of the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund to nearly £90,000 distributed across more than 90 local initiatives since its establishment in 2005.
The fund was set up to maximise Cheffins’ community impact, move away from ad-hoc charitable giving, and ensure that support also reaches smaller, grassroots causes.
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation’s well-established grant-making model and unparalleled local community expertise have been supporting Cheffins to achieve this impact since the early 2000s.
Headway Suffolk will use their grant to provide rehabilitation and support services that help people with neurological conditions rebuild their lives and remain independent in their homes. The organisation's work not only transforms the lives of those with brain injuries and neurological conditions but also supports family members who often become carers.
Helen Fairweather, CEO at Headway Suffolk, commented,
“For people with a regressive disease, we are trying to slow it down, so that people can remain in their homes and out of residential care.
For conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury, we support rehabilitation so that people can regain the skills and functions that they have lost.
Although it's impossible to get everybody back to 100% where they were before injury or disease, we can make a huge difference to people's lives. We have seen people get back to work, education, volunteering and being active members of their community.
There is also a knock-on effect on their carers and loved ones who are also affected by the brain injury.”
Meanwhile, 2nd Newmarket Scout Group will use their funding to purchase essential first aid equipment including CPR mannequins and defibrillation training units, enabling them to deliver practical life-saving skills training to young people aged 4-18 and their parents.
Alex Stokes, Group Lead Volunteer at 2nd Newmarket Scout Group, commented,
“Currently, our young people know some first aid skills and theory, but lack practical training.
Since moving to the area two years ago, I have personally delivered CPR twice in an emergency situation. In both of these situations, I was the only adult in the crowd who knew how to perform emergency response and CPR.
By training the young people and their parents on these life skills, we will be adding over 250 people who have lifesaving skills to the community.
Offering access to this training in our area is really important as it may otherwise be unaffordable for the young people and their parents. The area of Newmarket ranked in the bottom 30% in the English Indices of Deprivation 2019 data for Education, Skills and Training. As the last report was in 2019, the intervening years have seen further significant impact on our young people.”
The awards come during a landmark year for Cheffins as they celebrate their 200th anniversary. In addition to their well-established Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund, the company has launched a one-off anniversary fund, the Cheffins Next Generation Fund, specifically focused on supporting young people's mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
Michael O'Toole, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, said:
"For nearly 20 years, the Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund has consistently supported vital work across the communities in which they operate.
From helping people with neurological conditions rebuild their lives to equipping young people with life-saving skills, these latest grants demonstrate the breadth and importance of community initiatives.
As Cheffins mark their 200th anniversary, their dedication to investing in local communities shows how businesses can be a force for good, supporting both immediate needs and building strong foundations for future generations."
Suzi Jackson, Head of Business Services at Cheffins, said:
“We are delighted to announce these two new grants as part of our 200th anniversary celebrations, during which we have pledged £200,000 to charity. Our Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund is now a cornerstone of our fundraising, and through our long-standing partnership with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, we are able to ensure our support reaches those who need it most across the region.
Headway Suffolk and the 2nd Newmarket Scout Group provide vital services in very different but equally important ways, making a real difference to local communities. To date in 2025, we have distributed almost £90,000 through the Grassroots Endowed Fund, with many more charitable initiatives planned for the year ahead.
As we mark our bicentenary, we remain committed to supporting future generations and look forward to building on our 20-year partnership with the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.”
The Cheffins Grassroots Endowed Fund accepts applications from charities and community groups in Cambridge City, Ely, Newmarket, Saffron Walden and Haverhill.
The next round of applications will open on 2nd February 2026, with a deadline of 1st May 2026. To find out more about and apply, please click here