By Claire Racine

Cambridge House celebrated 120 years of community work in Southwark at the House of Lords yesterday.

The voluntary organisation works to alleviate the local effects of poverty and to support social change.

A new report, From settlement to community anchor: the enduring value of Cambridge House, was also launched at the reception hosted by Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, chair of the Office of the Third Sector's advisory body.

The report, by the Institute for Voluntary Action, focuses on the government’s recognition of multi-purpose community organisations as being key drivers for community building and the idea that Cambridge House’s core strength lies in its complexity and multi-purpose nature.

“We are delighted that we have been able to evidence many of the benefits of multi-purpose voluntary organisations,” said, Clare Gilhooly, Cambridge House’s chief executive.

“The IVAR research clearly shows the value of these types of organisations to be gateways for the government to meet its statutory ‘duty to involve’ local communities in the design and delivery of services.”