Wintercomfort was established by Henry Rothschild and a group of local volunteers in response to the increasing number of homeless people in Cambridge.
In 1990, the volunteers began distributing warm clothing, sleeping bags and food from what was known within the community as ‘the blue bus’. In 1991, Wintercomfort became a registered charity and in 1994, moved into Overstream House on Victoria Avenue which has remained our home ever since.
Today, the charity is the only day-time service in the city, providing year-round advice and support for homeless or vulnerably housed people. Over the past three decades Wintercomfort has continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the homeless community.
Sadly today, our services are in greater demand than ever, and we face continued challenges within the cost of living crisis. Nevertheless, we are proud of our place at the forefront of homelessness support in Cambridge and look forward with hope to the future.
Meet our team
Wintercomfort is governed by a Board of Trustees, who give their time and expertise for free.
Sarah Halls
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Halls
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah joined Wintercomfort as CEO in October 2011. Before joining Wintercomfort Sarah worked as a Senior Manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for over 22 years. Sarah is responsible for the organisation’s strategic direction and to ensure its financial stability, governance and legal compliance. She is an Associate of the CIPD and MIoF (cert).
“It is a privilege to lead an organisation which is so instrumental in helping people to achieve their full potential and that does so much to break down the stereotypes surrounding homelessness.”
Chris Goldsmith
Finance and Business Manager
Chris Goldsmith
Finance and Business Manager
Chris joined Wintercomfort in March of 2020 after a long career in the private sector. He has lived in the local area for over 20 years and is really enjoying the change of sector and being part of a Team that does such vital work for the homeless in Cambridge.
Agnieszka Gada
Services Manager
Agnieszka Gada
Services Manager
Agnieszka has been a member of the Wintercomfort team since 2015 when she began working as a weekend volunteer. With a degree in Sociology she has a wealth of experience in supporting people with substance misuse, criminal justice, housing and homelessness.
“I love working for an organisation that helps people to move on with their lives and brings positive change to those with the least in our community.”
Melody Brooker
Fundraising & Communications Manager
Melody Brooker
Fundraising & Communications Manager
Melody joined Wintercomfort in 2020 having previously run a business within the corporate events sector. She has lived in Cambridge for over 20 years and is passionate about working to support those living with disadvantage in the city. She is always keen to partner with local businesses, community groups and residents who would like to support Wintercomfort’s work and is always available to engage with the local community to further understanding of the local homelessness situation in Cambridge.
“It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to be part of a team who do such vital work in the local community. Do get in touch with me if you’d like to get involved.”
Our Trustees
Jane Dominey
Chair
Joanne Crellen
Secretary
Ian Barker
Treasurer
Anne Pollintine
Matthew McKeague
Rod Cantrill
Annual reports
Grant and Trust support
We are supported by a wide range of grant and trust funders. A full list of our funders can be seen in our Annual Report and Accounts.
Moving Forward Evaluation Report
