For nearly four decades, Cambridge Community House has been a place where people can turn when life gets hard. Founded in 1985 by the community, for the community, it was built on the simple idea that people deserve support — whatever form that takes.
Today, that vision is very much alive. The organisation offers a wide array of services designed to meet people where they are, including general counselling, couples counselling, youth and family counselling, drug and alcohol support, financial mentoring, whānau support, and family violence services.
A team with heart
Ask anyone at Cambridge Community House what makes it special, and the answer is the same: the people.
There are no egos in this building. Everybody understands that they are here because life’s sort of bought them here. They all have a story to tell. They’re all relatable in different ways — and it’s the team that makes this place hum. Really.
That sense of warmth is something that runs right through the organisation. Staff describe a culture that’s genuinely different — a “vibe” that makes even the hardest days feel worthwhile.
There’s something in the culture here that is just such a warming kind of feeling. And so in a weird kind of way, it’s an easy job to do every day. I love it. Every day I do my monthly report and I write on the bottom: I still love this job.
The Power of Listening
For the counselling team, the work is about more than just providing a service — it’s about truly hearing people. Every client walks in with their own story, their own struggles, and their own strengths.
It’s always about meeting new people and getting to learn things from different perspectives. Hearing people’s stories, and what strengths they have that they’re already bringing to the counselling room. It can be so rewarding when people realise that they have their strengths already.
Life-changing outcomes for whānau
The impact of the work done at Cambridge Community House extends far beyond the walls of the building. For the whānau support team in particular, the outcomes can be profound.
Working with whānau, the outcomes that we achieve together can be really, really life changing for people. It’s been life saving — so it can be a really significant outcome.
Cambridge Community House continues to be a cornerstone of its community — a place built on trust, connection, and an unwavering commitment to helping people thrive.
