What JIMMY'S CAMBRIDGE does

Jimmy's Cambridge is a community-based charity founded in 1995 (originally as Jimmy's Nightshelter) that provides housing and personalised support to people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, UK. The organisation operates 81 bed spaces across a complete care pathway: a 25-bed Assessment Centre at 1 East Road (Cambridge's only such facility), a 9-bed Multiple Needs Service at 451 Newmarket Road delivering long-term (up to two years) intensive support for individuals with dual diagnosis of mental ill-health and addiction, 22 modular self-contained homes launched in 2020 in partnership with Cambridge City Council and Hill Group, and a portfolio of move-on accommodation for residents transitioning to independent living. Services are free at the point of use and include 24/7 qualified professional support, harm reduction (including Naloxone training in partnership with Change Grow Live), mental health support, life skills training, and a co-production model that embeds resident voice in service design and recruitment.

The business model is a non-profit charity (Registered Charity No: 1058737, Registered Company No: 3259904) relying on a diversified revenue base across individual donations (via Enthuse and JustGiving), corporate partnerships and Charity of the Year programmes, trust and foundation grants, statutory/government funding, in-kind donations (food from Morrisons Cambourne, Amazon Wish List items), and a calendar of fundraising events including the annual Gala Dinner (£150/ticket, £1,400/table), the Cambridge Half Marathon (Jimmy's Joggers), and the Christmas Carol Concert. The 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner (2025) exceeded a £30,000 fundraising target. The organisation is led by CEO Natasha Davies (appointed c. mid-2024, previously of RNLI and NHS England) and a board of trustees chaired by Fiona Blake, with 11-50 employees and a wider volunteer and community supporter ecosystem.

There is no proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability; operations are supported by standard third-party tools (JustGiving, Enthuse, Tickettailor, Amazon Wish List, StreetLink). Strategic positioning emphasises the only complex dual diagnosis accommodation service in Cambridge (a 2-3 year waiting list), the only modular homes programme of its kind in the city in partnership with Hill Group's Foundation 200, and a co-production approach recognised by the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (2023). The current strategic focus is the search for a new headquarters site to replace the East Road tenancy, with a stated aim to set the gold standard in homelessness accommodation and support.

Name

JIMMY'S CAMBRIDGE

Legal name

Jimmy's Cambridge

Website

https://jimmyscambridge.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jimmy's Cambridge is a community-based charity providing 81 bed spaces of housing and personalised support to people experiencing homelessness across Cambridge, UK, including the city's only complex dual diagnosis service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness and Supported Housing Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Homelessness accommodation
• Rough sleeper support
• Dual diagnosis services
• Supported housing charity
• Community fundraising programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting homelessness services. Donations can be made through the Enthuse platform, with funds going directly to support residents.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate giving programs including Charity of the Year partnerships, workplace fundraising, and corporate event sponsorships (e.g., Gala Dinner sponsors).
3. Trusts and Foundations: Grant funding from trusts and foundations supporting specific initiatives such as the electric van purchase and capital projects.
4. Fundraising Events: Revenue from organized events including Gala Dinners (£150 per ticket, £1,400 for table of 10), Cambridge Half Marathon charity places (£30 registration, £300 minimum fundraising), and seasonal fundraising campaigns.
5. Statutory/Government Funding: Funding from central and local government for homelessness services, accommodation provision, and support programs.
6. In-Kind Donations: Donations of goods including food (from Morrisons Cambourne), Amazon wish list items, and specific requests for residents. Community supporters provide food donations and goods that support operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Jimmy's Cambridge is a community-based charity that provides housing and personalised support for people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge. The organization operates 81 bed spaces spanning a 25-bed Assessment Centre, a 9-bed Multiple Needs Service for dual-diagnosis residents, 22 modular homes, and move-on accommodation, delivering 24/7 professional support, harm reduction services, and pathways to independent living free of charge to beneficiaries.

Product overview

Jimmy's Cambridge is a community-based homelessness charity providing a comprehensive portfolio of accommodation, support, and community engagement services. The core offering centres on a 25-bed Assessment Centre at East Road (Cambridge's only such facility), complemented by the Multiple Needs Service at 451 Newmarket Road offering long-term dual-diagnosis support for up to 9 residents, and 22 modular homes providing self-contained accommodation. The charity extends beyond housing through harm reduction services, a co-production programme embedding resident voice in decision-making, and diverse fundraising initiatives including the annual Gala Dinner, Christmas Carol Concert, Big Give campaigns, and the Jimmy's Joggers running team. Corporate and community partnerships, trusts and foundations funding, and volunteering opportunities round out the support ecosystem. The organisation does not operate a technology product but delivers services directly to people experiencing homelessness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• East Road Assessment Centre Cambridge's only assessment centre providing 25 bed spaces for immediate support and assessment of individuals rough sleeping, offering a roof over their heads, meals, and pathways into further services.
• Multiple Needs Service Long-term accommodation (up to two years) with intensive, bespoke support for up to 9 people with multiple needs including dual diagnosis (mental-ill health and addiction). Cambridge's only complex dual diagnosis accommodation service.
• Modular Homes Programme 22 modular homes providing self-contained accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, operated in partnership with Cambridge City Council and the Hill Group. Residents have their own front door, kitchen and bathroom.
• Move-On Accommodation Range of move-on accommodation options providing longer-term suitable housing with wrap-around 24-hour support for those who need it most, helping residents transition to independent living.
• Harm Reduction Services Overdose prevention through Naloxone training and access, in partnership with Change Grow Live (CGL) Cambridge, providing compassionate, holistic support for substance use challenges.
• Co-Production Programme Embedding resident voice across homelessness services through a dedicated Co-Production Co-ordinator, involving residents in organisational decisions, recruitment, and creating resident-led communications.
• Jimmy's Joggers Running Team Charity running team participating in the Cambridge Half Marathon, with runners committing to raise minimum funds for Jimmy's services.
• Gala Dinner Annual black-tie fundraising dinner held at prestigious Cambridge venues (King's College, University Arms) celebrating Jimmy's work and raising significant funds for services.
• Christmas Carol Concert Annual Christmas carol concert at Great St Mary's Church, bringing together choirs, residents, and community to raise funds during winter months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81 bed spaces provided across all services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Cambridge BIDsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 September 2025Cambridge Business Improvement District sponsored Jimmy's roundtable event on homelessness and rough sleeping, demonstrating local business community support for the charity's mission.
• Ancient ShepherdssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2025Restaurant with rooms in Fen Ditton that supports Jimmy's through ongoing fundraising efforts including £5 'invisible dish' donations, menu donations to auctions, and joint charity lunches with Centre 33.
• Gala Dinner Sponsors (Sustainable Tech 4 Good, OpenArch, Cambridge Building Society, Cambridge Investment Partnership)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate sponsors for Jimmy's 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner at University Arms, contributing to the event's success in exceeding the £30,000 fundraising target.
• Cambridge Building SocietysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Chose Jimmy's as their Charity of the Year for 2023, with employees supporting through fundraising activities and workplace giving programs.
• Mayor of CambridgesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 August 2022The Mayor of Cambridge officially opened Jimmy's new Multiple Needs Service, demonstrating civic support and recognition for the charity's expanded services.
• Hill GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Housebuilder that established Foundation 200, a £15 million pledge to design, manufacture and donate 200 modular units over five years to local authorities and charities working in homelessness. Partnered with Jimmy's on modular homes project.
• Change Grow Live (CGL) Cambridge - Street Outreach TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGL's Street Outreach Team works directly with Jimmy's to identify and refer rough sleepers. The team meets with people sleeping rough and passes details to Jimmy's when beds become available. Jimmy's also collaborates on street counts and joint outreach activities.
• Cambridge City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership for local homelessness strategy, coordination on rough sleeping initiatives, and collaboration on modular homes project. Council teams participate in Jimmy's roundtable events on homelessness.
• Wintercomfort for the HomelesssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal homelessness charity partner participating in joint roundtable discussions and collaborative approaches to addressing rough sleeping in Cambridge.
• Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner that conducted studies on Jimmy's modular homes, exploring impact and outcomes of using modular homes to temporarily house people experiencing rough sleeping.
• Hot Numbers (Cambridge)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Cambridge business and community staple since 2011 that has formed a partnership with Jimmy's, providing ongoing support to the charity.
• Morrisons CambournesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular community supporter donating food that ensures residents at East Road are well fed, freeing up funding for other critical support services.
• Y-Foundation (Finland)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish non-profit housing provider owning over 20,000 homes. Jimmy's CEO and team visited to learn from Finland's Housing First model success in almost ending rough sleeping.
• Pat St JohnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWellness practitioner who delivered breathwork and mindfulness sessions (Pranayama) for Jimmy's staff and residents, providing therapeutic support activities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Crisis UK: National membership charity working to end homelessness through housing, education, and advocacy. Comparable mission and supported housing approach, with substantially greater national reach and policy influence.
• Centrepoint: UK's leading youth homelessness charity operating supported housing, helpline, and employment services. Comparable as a larger, established homelessness charity with similar service mix (accommodation, support, move-on) but at significantly greater scale.
• St Mungo's: Major UK homelessness charity providing accommodation, recovery, and support services for rough sleepers including those with complex needs. Comparable operating model — multi-site supported housing with dual-diagnosis specialism — though at much larger London-centric scale.
• Shelter: UK-wide housing and homelessness charity providing advice, legal services, and supported housing. Comparable end beneficiary focus (people experiencing or at risk of homelessness) but at much larger national scale with a more policy- and advice-driven model.
• Riverside Housing Association: Large UK housing association providing supported housing and homelessness services. Comparable as a supported-housing provider with move-on accommodation experience, though operating as a much larger landlord-housing organisation rather than a specialist homelessness charity.

Direct peers

• Emmaus UK: National homelessness charity supporting people out of homelessness through accommodation, training, and work in residential communities. Directly comparable model combining supported housing with wrap-around services similar to Jimmy's multiple needs approach.
• Depaul UK: UK charity supporting young people and adults experiencing homelessness through accommodation and outreach services. Directly comparable supported-housing operating model, particularly in night-shelter and move-on accommodation, at a moderate national scale.
• Wintercomfort for the Homeless: Cambridge-based homelessness charity providing day services, support, and advice for rough sleepers. Directly comparable as a same-city, same-mission peer also participating in Jimmy's local partnership network and referral pathway.

Regional players

• YMCA Cambridgeshire & Peterborough: Regional YMCA providing supported housing, homelessness services, and community programmes across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Comparable as a same-region supported-housing provider with overlapping client base and referral relationships.
• Cyrenians (Cambridge): Cambridge-based homelessness and vulnerable-adults charity providing accommodation, resettlement, and support services. Comparable as a same-city peer addressing rough sleeping and complex needs, with overlapping staff alumni and local partnership relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9NMGUu0rskzPOMEGfKPZyg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Jimmys-Cambridge-438626532900656
• Instagraminstagram.com/jimmyscambridge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jimmyscambridge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JIMMY'S CAMBRIDGE