Cambridge Humanitarian Centre attracts high-profile attention

The Cambridge Humanitarian Centre has recently been the focus of high-profile visits, including from Baroness Shirley Williams and David Miliband.

The Centre, which is located on Gresham Road, functions as a networking organisation that aims to maximise Cambridge’s impact on alleviating global poverty and inequality.

The Centre houses many organizations involved in international development work, including Aptivate, which provides information computer technology consultancy for international development, Engineers Without Borders-UK, a national student led charity that focuses on removing barriers to development using engineering, and Afrinspire, which supports indigenous poverty reduction projects in many African countries.

Baroness Williams, who was Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords between 2001 and 2004, visited the Centre on April 29th, a week before the election. She was joined by Julian Huppert, the Lib Dem candidate, who was subsequently elected to represent Cambridge.

During their visit, Baroness Williams and Mr. Huppert were taken by Centre manager Ian Steed on a tour of the Humanitarian Centre and had the chance to meet representatives from various organisations housed at the Centre offices.

Speaking to representatives from these organisations, Baroness Williams and Mr. Huppert stressed the advantages of small organisations, such as the Humanitarian Centre, and the need for small scale funding to be available from government to support small start up charities.

Discussing the difficulties small development organisations face in obtaining funding, Mr. Huppert suggested that more start-up funds could be provided for such organisations by the Department for International Development (DfID). 

Such funding, if available, would allow smaller third sector organisations to implement the innovative and effective development work for which they are knowm.

Ian Steed, Humanitarian Centre manager, said, “It has been great to hear from Shirley and Julian about their views on international issues. They both seemed to really appreciate the chance to meet some of the active international development organisations working in Cambridge.”

Earlier in April, local Labour candidate Daniel Zeichner paid a visit to the Humanitarian Centre, accompanied by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Comments