An initiative by the charities ZI Foundation and Little Bulgaria UK (Cambridge) brings together historical remembrance and a vision for a new partnership between the two cities. More than 500 signatures are needed for the proposal to be considered by Cambridge City Council.
Cambridge, 29 October 2026
Exactly 150 years ago, the people of Cambridge organised a charitable campaign to support Bulgarians who had suffered following the brutal suppression of the April Uprising of 1876. Representatives of the local authorities, the University of Cambridge and the wider community joined forces in this effort. Today, this historic act of solidarity inspires us to take the next step — the official twinning of Cambridge and Karlovo.
We are working towards this goal alongside our partners at the charity ZI Foundation. The initiative is already receiving strong community support: on 25 October, 98 Bulgarians and friends of Bulgaria signed in support of the initiative in Cambridge. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who took part!
Cambridge's Historic Act of Solidarity in 1876
Reports of the atrocities committed during the suppression of the April Uprising sparked a powerful reaction across Britain. Among the most prominent advocates for the Bulgarian cause was William Ewart Gladstone. In his pamphlet Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East, published in September 1876, he condemned the violence and called upon British society, including local authorities, to help those affected.
Cambridge responded with concrete action. In 1876, a public meeting was held in the Council Chamber of the then Guildhall, marking the beginning of an organised campaign to provide relief to the Bulgarian population. A charitable fund, the Turkish Atrocities Relief Fund, was established.
The history of this initiative is documented by Alessandro Falcetta in his biography of James Rendel Harris, The Daily Discoveries of a Bible Scholar and Manuscript Hunter (2018, p. 33). Among the individuals associated with organising the relief effort were the scholar James Rendel Harris, the Mayor of Cambridge Frederic Barlow, the Bishop of Ely James Russell Woodford, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge Edward Atkinson. The names of the city's and university's leaders at the time are also recorded in the historical register of Cambridge mayors and the University of Cambridge's official records.
Lady Strangford and British Humanitarian Aid to Karlovo
During the same period, Britain also became the starting point for another remarkable humanitarian campaign. Lady Emily Anne Strangford established the Bulgarian Peasant Relief Fund and personally took part in organising humanitarian assistance in the Bulgarian lands.
With her support, six hospitals were equipped in Batak, Radilovo, Perushtitsa, Panagyurishte, Karlovo and the village of Petrich. These hospitals provided medical care and food to those affected by the violence. The hospital in Karlovo is documented both in a historical account published by Bulgarian National Radio and in a publication by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), which features a rare historical lithograph.
Lady Emily Anne Strangford and one of her hospitals in Bulgaria. Bulgarian National Radio archives.
Among the contributors to Lady Strangford's fund was Charles Darwin, an alumnus of the University of Cambridge. According to John van Wyhe's research, Charles Darwin: Justice of the Peace, Darwin donated £15 to the Bulgarian humanitarian cause in 1876 — equivalent to approximately £2,246.66 in 2026.
These acts of humanity and solidarity left a lasting mark on the history of British-Bulgarian relations. Today, 150 years later, they inspire us to build a new bridge of friendship between Cambridge and Karlovo.
Support for the Initiative
We are delighted that the initiative already has the support of the Mayor of Karlovo, Dr Emil Kabaivanov; the Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Maria Cleminson, who was our guest at the Cambridge Sings and Dances! festival in 2026; and the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, who attended our festival in 2025 and has personally visited Karlovo. The participation of local government representatives in our festival has also been documented in reports by the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in 2025 and 2026.
The initiative is being jointly led by Cllr Ivelina Banyalieva, a Peterborough City Councillor and representative of the charity ZI Foundation, and Little Bulgaria UK, the Cambridge-based charity, with the active involvement of the teams and volunteers of both organisations. The project, From Karlovo to Cambridge, has also been featured in the Bulgarian newspaper BG BEN.
For us at Little Bulgaria UK, this cause is a natural extension of our mission — to preserve and promote Bulgarian culture and traditions, bring Bulgarian and British communities closer together, and create lasting connections between them. Our Cambridge Sings and Dances! festival already brings together thousands of people from different nationalities. A future twinning partnership could transform these encounters into lasting cooperation between the two cities.
Why Cambridge and Karlovo?
Cambridge is a world-renowned centre of science and education, while Karlovo is a town with thousands of years of history, the birthplace of Vasil Levski and the distinguished Bulgarian philanthropists Evlogi Georgiev and Hristo Georgiev.
The philanthropic work of the Georgiev brothers played an enormously important role in the development of Bulgarian education. As highlighted by the Regional History Museum – Sofia and Sofia Municipality, Evlogi Georgiev bequeathed six million gold leva to a fund intended to support the establishment of a university in Sofia.
The proposed twinning would also symbolically continue the legacy of the Georgiev brothers, who dedicated a substantial part of their wealth to education and Bulgaria's future.
Cambridge already maintains longstanding twinning partnerships with Heidelberg, Germany (since 1957), and Szeged, Hungary (since 1987). According to Cambridge City Council's official information, these partnerships promote international understanding, the exchange of knowledge and cultural cooperation.
We believe that a partnership with Karlovo could create new opportunities for exchanges between schools and universities, cultural festivals, scientific and historical projects, tourism, business cooperation and joint initiatives for younger generations.
More Than 500 Signatures — How Can You Help?
For the twinning proposal to be considered by Cambridge City Council, we need to collect more than 500 valid signatures. Under the official Cambridge City Council petition scheme, anyone who lives, works or studies in Cambridge is eligible to sign, regardless of nationality. All that is required is your name, address and signature.
This is the first practical step towards bringing the initiative before Cambridge City Councillors — and every signature brings us closer to achieving that goal.
Support the Initiative!
Sunday, 1 November 2026, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Trumpington Pavilion, Paget Road, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9JF
During the second round of the Bulgarian presidential elections, our representatives will be collecting signatures near the Bulgarian polling station. The signature collection is a separate civic initiative and is not part of the electoral process.
Can't make it? Get in touch with us at
Tell your family and friends about the initiative, and share it with your British neighbours. You don't have to be Bulgarian to be part of this story.
150 years ago, the people of Cambridge extended a helping hand to Bulgaria. Today, it is our turn to build a bridge of friendship between our two cities for generations to come.
Be part of the history we are writing together!