Cornwall’s Social Enterprise Fund awards first grants to six community organisations

Cornwall’s Social Enterprise Fund, launched in April thanks to the support of the Harrison family, has awarded grants totaling £78,000 to six community interest companies in Cornwall. Three of the enterprises supported are in their start-up phase and three have been operating longer but seeking to build stronger businesses for the future.

Successful start-up groups who were supported include Cognition Creative Learning (CCL), based at Bude, North Cornwall. Focusing on STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) CCL provide free and sponsored opportunities for children and young people in robotics, coding, science, art and design that may otherwise not be available in their remote, coastal location. CCL is a social enterprise with potential for significant growth, having seen and taught over 1,000 children in their area in the 11 months since business was conceived. The grant award of £7,500 will purchase extensive new robotics, engineering and programming equipment, as well as development training.

One of the more established community enterprises supported with a grant of £20,000 is the Old Ship Inn at Cawsand, a community-owned social enterprise. The centre point of the village for over 200 years, the Old Ship Inn burnt down in 2013 but was bought by the community in 2018 to create an all-year pub/cafe, a heritage centre on the ground floor and four flats for rent to local people. Delayed by COVID, the grant will support the salary of a manager to lead the business trading for Easter 2022.

Peter Harrison, founder of the Fund, said, “We have been delighted to award grants to such a diverse and worthwhile range of social enterprises. They are all exciting enterprises with the potential to grow and increase employment and skill levels significantly in their communities and indeed across Cornwall. We are looking forward to seeing the progression of the supported businesses and welcoming new applications.”

In addition to their own support, the Harrison family are keen to encourage other philanthropists to donate to Cornwall’s Social Enterprise Fund and have provided matched funding on new donations up to a maximum of £100,000.

CCF Chief Executive, Tamas Haydu said, “We are very grateful to Peter Harrison and his family for making the Cornwall’s Social Enterprise Fund possible and inviting other donors with the matched funding offer. It’s a great opportunity for donors who have an interest in supporting enterprises that trade in order to make a difference in their communities. They have the added benefit of knowing that their donations will have double the impact.”

For more information and to apply for a grant, please visit the CCF website: www.cornwallcommunityfoundation.com. If you would like to donate to the fund and for details of how to double your donation, please contact Tamas on tamas.haydu@cornwallfoundation.com