Charities Supported
Since Open Gardens started in 2007, over £63,000 has been distributed to charities nominated by the garden owners, including Voluntary Service Overseas, Emmaus UK, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, Home Start (Cambridge and District), Histon and Impington Feast, Diabetes UK, Camsight, The Cogwheel Trust, HI Friends, Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital, Trussell Trust, Explorer Scouts, Abbey Fields, Cavendish School garden, Arthur Rank Hospice, Opportunity Playgroup and WaterAid. Our 4 charities for 2026 are as follows:
Cambridge Acorn Project
Cambridge Acorn Project is a small but mighty local charity standing beside children and families who have experienced complex trauma, abuse, and poverty across Cambridgeshire. They work with some of the county’s most vulnerable families. Many have been shaped by deep intergenerational trauma that, without support, can lead to poor mental health, reduced life chances, and chronic health issues. “We believe that every child should have the freedom to thrive”. They help children play, learn, grow, and heal. Through compassion, connection, and long-term support, they tackle the inequalities trauma leaves behind. From therapy, enrichment activities and educational support to wellbeing hubs and family casework, they provide tailored care that builds safety, trust, and hope.
Histon and Impington Feast
The Feast puts on a fantastic array of Community Events. Some events raise money, other are put on for the benefit of the Community. Money is also raised through sales of the Feast programme. Funds are distributed to village groups and charities. Recently the Feast has distributed about £5,000 each year to a wide range of village groups. Details are on the Feast website. The funds raised by Open Gardens will help to make those charity donations possible.
Breast Friends
Breast Friends CIC is a peer support community for people affected by breast cancer across the UK. Founded by Caroline and Janine following their own breast cancer diagnoses, Breast Friends was created to ensure no one has to face breast cancer alone. What began as two women supporting each other has grown into a thriving, compassionate community built on shared understanding and lived experience. They connect people through an online Members Hub, local meet ups, creative workshops and virtual support sessions, creating safe spaces where people can speak openly with others who truly understand. They also provide complimentary Surgery and Menopause Kits to individuals navigating treatment and its long-term impact. These practical, thoughtfully curated kits offer comfort, reassurance and a reminder that someone is thinking of them. Their work is community led, volunteer supported and rooted in kindness, connection and real-life experience.
Deaf Reach
Deaf Reach is a small UK-based non-profit organisation working to transform the lives of deaf and deafblind children and young people across Sub-Saharan Africa. They engage in small, sustainable projects supporting partners in the field. In Rwanda, they are working to support Dr Kaitesi, a Rwandan ENT surgeon and audiologist in her project to screen all school children in Gasabo, a district of Kigali, identifying any hearing losses. This project is aiming to support with the provision of a conductive hearing aid developed by Dr Tamsin Brown, a Paediatrician at Addenbrookes Hospital, https://www.hearglueear.co.uk/home to meet the needs of the appropriately identified children. This Aid is produced at cost by Raspberry Pi and is very successful in a classroom situation aiding the hearing of pupils with middle ear disfunction, e.g. Glue ear. Each Aid costs £50.