Celebrating Clare’s Day: A lasting legacy of opportunity
Every year on 17 July, we celebrate Clare’s Day – an opportunity to honour the remarkable legacy of Clare Milne and the lasting difference her vision continues to make for disabled people across Devon and Cornwall.
The Clare Milne Trust was established with a clear and enduring mission: to help people of all ages living with a disability to live full, active and independent lives. For many years, the Trust has championed organisations that demonstrate genuine impact, investing in projectsA piece of work that delivers an output. that place disabled people at the heart of everything they do.
Since 2010, Cornwall Community Foundation has been proud to work alongside the Clare Milne Trust to deliver this mission across Cornwall. Over the past 15 years, our relationship has grown from a professional partnership into one built on trust, shared values and a deep understanding of Cornwall’s communities. Through careful grant making, robust assessment and a commitment to supporting the organisations making the greatest difference, we have helped ensure that funding reaches those who need it most.
A Partnership That Continues to Grow
In 2025, that partnership reached an exciting new milestone.
With confidence in Cornwall Community Foundation’s knowledge of local communities and trusted network of grassroots organisationsGroups of people coming together on a local level to address an issue., the Clare Milne Trust significantly increased its investment into Cornwall. This growing commitment reflects our shared ambition: ensuring more disabled people across the county can access opportunities, build confidence, develop new skills and live fuller lives.
At Cornwall Community Foundation, one of our core roles is to attract charitable investment into Cornwall. We are incredibly proud that partnerships like this enable more funding to reach the communities that need it most.
Supporting Organisations That Put People First
This year’s grants supported 13 organisations working with disabled children, young people and adults across Cornwall, investing £59,000 into projects that improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and create opportunities.
The organisations funded through this programme are: The Hugs Foundation, Drama Express (pictured), Kernow Youth CIC, Wetwheels Southwest CIC, The Roseland Centre, AdSurf, Shallal Dance Theatre, Equally Abled, The Farming Mother CIC, Be Creative Cornwall, Beat4Autism CIC, Spokz People, NeuroHappiness CIC.
Together, these organisations support a wide range of people living with disability, from children as young as eight to adults with complex support needs. Many also work closely with families and carers, recognising that disability affects entire support networks as well as individuals.
Empowering People Through Participation
One of the strongest themes emerging from this year’s funded projects is their commitment to co-production.
Rather than designing services for disabled people, these organisations are creating them with disabled people. Young people at Kernow Youth CIC choose the activities they want to take part in. Shallal Dance Theatre develops projects around themes selected by participants and continues its journey towards becoming a fully disabled-led organisation. Spokz People has developed self-help programmes co-designed by disabled adults with lived experience.
This approach is about far more than participation. It gives people greater ownership, builds confidence, strengthens independence and ensures services genuinely reflect the needs and aspirations of those they exist to support.
Continuing Clare’s Legacy
As we mark Clare’s Day, we celebrate not only Clare Milne’s extraordinary generosity, but also the inspiring organisations that continue her legacy every day.
By investing in local charities that understand their communities, the Clare Milne Trust is helping disabled people across Cornwall access opportunities, build meaningful connections and live the full and active lives that Clare believed everyone deserves.
We are incredibly proud to continue working alongside the Clare Milne Trust and look forward to seeing this partnership create even greater impact for Cornwall’s communities in the years ahead.
