Cambridge SCA

Cambridge SCA (Cambridge Student Community Action) is a registered charity which encourages and provides community volunteering opportunities for the students of the University of Cambridge. Projects typically serve disadvantaged groups within the local community, offering students valuable learning opportunities and a chance to make a difference. Cambridge SCA runs 10 of its own 'Internal Projects', each led by student Project Leaders. These projects include 'Big Siblings', 'Parklife', ' Betty Stubbens Musical Entertainment Group', and 'Teaching English as a Second Language'. Additionally, they offer volunteering opportunities with over 60 external organizations, such as Cambridge Carbon Footprint, Headway, and the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre.

History
Cambridge SCA became a registered charity in 1972 and has been providing volunteers to the community for nearly 40 years. It is one of the longest-running student charity organizations affiliated with the University of Cambridge.

Organization
SCA is run by a student committee, a board of trustees (including three members from the student committee), and a body of representatives. Project Leaders oversee their respective projects with support from the student committee. Two staff members handle the day-to-day operations of the charity and serve as the first point of contact for volunteers, committee members, and community members seeking assistance from SCA projects.

Elections for the student committee occur at the Annual General Meeting, held at the end of Cambridge's Lent term.

Internal projects
Cambridge SCA runs 10 internal projects:


 * Children's Projects: 'Big Siblings', 'Bounce', 'Parklife', 'Craftroom'
 * Educational Projects: 'Homework Help', 'Teaching English as a Second Language'
 * Projects for the Elderly: 'Betty Stubbens Musical Entertainment Group', 'Saturday Club', 'Sunday Club'
 * Miscellaneous: 'Taskforce' provides sporadic one-off volunteering events.

External projects
SCA partners with numerous external organizations, offering a variety of volunteering opportunities for Cambridge students:


 * Arts Projects: Cambridge Music Education and Outreach Group, Libra Theatre Company
 * Children's Projects: Scouts, Girl guides
 * Educational Projects: Cambridge Hands-On Science (ChaOS ), READ International, YMCA New Deal Provision for unemployed adults.
 * Environmental Projects: Botanical Gardens Education Programme, Cambridge Carbon Footprint, Cambridge Preservation Society
 * Healthcare Projects: Arthur Rank House (local hospice), CAM-MIND, DHIVerse, Umbrella Autism
 * Projects for the Elderly: CONTACT, St Martin's Centre
 * Miscellaneous: Cambridge University Student Action For Refugees (STAR), Cambridge Women and Homelessness Group, Jimmy's Night Shelter, SOS Children's Villages