Cornwall Emergency Appeal passes £1 million milestone

The Cornwall Emergency Appeal, launched the Foundation on 19 March, has passed the £1 million mark with great momentum and is now on the way to its £2 million target. The Appeal is raising funds to support people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly whose lives have taken a catastrophic hit from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. 150 grants have already been awarded to community projectsA piece of work that delivers an output. to provide a lifeline for those in desperate need during the pandemic.

Jane Hartley, Chairman of the Foundation, says, “The generosity and response of our community to this crisis has been extraordinary. This remarkable milestone is the clearest example yet of what our community is able to do when we come together. It also shows how the Cornish community extends way beyond the Tamar with more than 60% of private donations coming from people who live outside the county.”

In addition to private donations from people who want to support Cornwall, the £1.3 million raised so far also includes £388,000 from the National Emergencies Trust, the national disaster charity running a nationwide Coronavirus appeal, and £100,000 each from The Duke of Cornwall’s Benevolent FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. and Cornwall Council.

Tamas Haydu, Cornwall Community Foundation’s Chief Executive, comments, “While reaching this milestone is very good news, there are still thousands of people in Cornwall really struggling with their day to day living. Research we have undertaken showed that 70% of frontline community groups expect to be delivering services directly related to the Coronavirus crisis for 12 months or more.”

Alongside continuing to help vulnerable people meet day to day needs, we will also be focusing grant-making on helping people and communities build back better for the future.

Tamas continues, “People feel isolated, lonely and uncertain. The journey back to normality will be a challenge for many and will take longer than we think. We have set a £2 million fundraising target for the Cornwall Emergency Appeal as that will enable us to continue to meet basic crisis needs related to hunger, shelter and immediate welfare but also support people back on their feet over the next twelve months and beyond.”

It’s not just about helping community groups and networks back to where they were before the crisis, important though that is. CCF’s research shows that frontline community groups are expecting increases in costs to run alongside reductions in income. Many charitable support providers have had to develop new ways of working in the face of lockdown and social distancing. The best of these new arrangements will continue once the crisis is over. The Foundation is keen to encourage community groups to develop new ways of working and build back better than before.

Jane Hartley comments, “I am certain this £1 million milestone will inspire those of us who love Cornwall, whether living inside or outside the county, to continue donating so we can keep on helping community groups and charities both meet immediate needs and develop for the new future. Thank you one and all.”