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Urgent: Cornwall's Housing Action Appeal
Cornwall’s Vital Signs Report

Understanding social need across the county

Understanding social need across the county

A comprehensive snapshot of life in Cornwall – from our environment and economy to housing, health, and community wellbeing.

An image collage od vdifferent groups from across Cornwall, along with a team photo of the CCF Team
The front cover of the CCF Vital Signs Report booklet.

Behind the beauty:
Cornwall’s real challenges

Cornwall is a place of deep contrasts. Our communities are resilient and creative, yet many people face rising inequality, housing shortages, health pressures and educational challenges.

Vital Signs 2025 is our latest research report, written in collaboration with University of Exeter. It brings together comprehensive local data, community surveys and voices from across the county to give a snapshot of life in Cornwall today. The report highlights the issues shaping our communities and the opportunities to make a difference.

Read the report

Vital Signs:
The 8 core themes

The report is structured around eight core themes, or social determinants of health, that interconnect to reflect the complexity of local challenges, while also recognising the overarching influence of rurality.

A middle age man talking to someone in a group setting, smiling and laughing.

Local Economy and Employment

Cornwall struggles with persistently low wages and insecure employment opportunities. Many residents cannot secure stable, year-round work that pays a living wage.
Image of local residents with a banner, trying to save local flats for coast guards in St Ives

Housing and Homelessness

Housing costs far exceed local incomes, creating an affordability crisis. Homelessness has reached unprecedented levels with insufficient social housing available.
An icon of man and a heart by his hand

Fairness and Strong Communities

Child poverty and deprivation affect significant portions of Cornwall's population. Rural isolation limits access to essential services and opportunities.
An icon of a human head with a cog in it.

Healthy Living

Mental health services face severe capacity issues with extremely long waiting times. Access to healthcare, particularly dental care, remains critically limited across the county.
An icon of handcuffs

Safety

Cornwall remains relatively safe but residents report growing concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour. Perceptions of safety, particularly at night, have declined in recent years.
An icon of a briefcase and a mortar board

Education and Learning

Educational outcomes for disadvantaged students lag significantly behind national averages. Schools face funding challenges and difficulty recruiting teachers to rural areas.
An icon of a theatre stage

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Cornwall has a vibrant creative sector but many residents struggle to access cultural opportunities. Transport difficulties and rising costs create barriers to participation in arts and heritage activities.
an icon of a sewage pipe pouring into the sea

Environment

Cornwall faces accelerating environmental challenges from climate change and biodiversity loss. Despite progress in renewable energy, pollution and waste management issues persist.

A glimpse of the findings

Vital Signs 2025 combines local data and community voices. 
Here are just a few highlights from our survey:

Across Cornwall in 2024 1 in 5 employees (20.1% of the population) earned less than the real living wage (£12.60 per hour),
compared to 15.7% across the U.K.

One in three children in Cornwall are living in poverty after housing costs.

In 2024 23% of all pupils in Cornwall were eligible for free school meals, a record number in the past nine years.

Food banks in Cornwall distributed over 35,500 emergency food parcels between April 2024 and March 2025, with more than 12,500 of these parcels provided for children under the age of 16.

The suicide rate in Cornwall, 15.6 deaths per 100,000 people, is much higher than the rate for England and Wales at 10.7.

In August 2024 there were 21,120 households on Cornwall Homechoice social and affordable housing register. This has increased by 131% over the last 5 years.

An image of a young woman speaking on stage at an event representing Black Voices Cornwall.

Behind the numbers are real stories of support: 

Black Voices Cornwall

Black Voices Cornwall is committed to an anti-racist Cornwall and inclusion across the county.
Thanks to grants from CCF’s Cornwall Club and Business Club, they’ve been able to run cultural events that bring people together, raise awareness, and celebrate different backgrounds. These events have created welcoming spaces where people feel seen, heard and valued, with powerful feedback showing the difference they make.

Read more stories

“No charity runs on good faith alone and it is at times when we require the support of our local stakeholders that CCF proudly steps forward to make our work possible.”

Abi Tahela -Black Voices Cornwall
An inside spread of the CCF Vital Signs Report booklet.

Vital Signs 2025:
Read the full report online

Vital Signs 2025 brings together voices, statistics and stories to help us understand where support is most needed.
Read the full report to see the bigger picture, or make a donation today to help fund our work.

Read report online
Make a donation

Other ways to create impact:

Start or transfer a fund

Are you thinking about making a larger donation or establishing a charitable foundation yourself? We can work with you to set up a charitable fund in your name. This is a cost-effective, long-term alternative to setting up an independent charitable trust. You can choose from various fund options to determine how involved you are, or transfer an existing fund to us. We can handle the financial, administrative and charity reporting requirements on your behalf.
Set up a named fund

Leave a gift in your will

Create a lasting legacy by leaving a gift in your will to Cornwall Community Foundation. We can oversee your legacy, so it makes a difference to communities, projects and issues that mean the most to you. Choose the type of gift that suits you from a range of options. We will support you to take the next steps.
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Explore personal memberships

Join one of our memberships for individuals or families and start making a difference to our communities today. As a member, you’ll help us provide essential support to projects and people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who are most in need.
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