CCF’s Poverty Hurts campaign reaches £1 million in donations

The Cornwall Community Foundation’s (CCF) Poverty Hurts campaign has reached £1 million in donations, and all of those donations have now been allocated in grants to groups across the Duchy. This appeal is designed to help those struggling with the rising cost-of-living crisis by providing grants to charities and community organisations who provide a vital lifeline to communities and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

A recent report from the Office of National Statistics shows that 38% of adults in Great Britain who pay for rent or a mortgage are finding it very or somewhat difficult to afford these payments. As well as housing and utility bills increasing, there is also a stark increase in food costs with more than half of adults in Great Britain saying they were buying less food when food shopping in the past two weeks and one in 20 adults said they had run out of food in the past two weeks and been unable to afford more. 

A recent recipient of this funding was St Petrocs, a homelessness charity based in Truro. They received a grant of £5,000 which supported 35 people in 7 of their houses. St Petrocs’ supported accommodation services provide people who have experienced homelessness with the tools to find a permanent route of out homelessness. Each St Petrocs house is not just a place to stay, but a home for every person that we work with, where they can access emotional support, housing and debt advice, and our other wraparound services.

This grant means St Petrocs have not placed the financial burden of increased energy and utility costs onto their residents, which would push most of them back into homelessness. This grant support their efforts to provide these vulnerable people with a permanent route out of homelessness, without adding extra barriers or hurdles to their journey. 

Tamas Haydu, CEO of CCF, said, “We are very grateful to have reached such an incredible milestone with this appeal. We know that many families and individuals in the duchy are finding this year incredibly difficult with the rising cost-of-living pushing low-income households into deeper poverty. We thank everyone who has donated into our Poverty Hurts campaign already as these donations are making a huge difference to those in need.” 

The need in the county for funding to address these issues shows no sign of abating with new applications for support received every week. Please donate to the Poverty Hurts Appeal, to help families in Cornwall struggling through the crisis by clicking here.