Youth grant panel awards over £115,000 to groups focusing on the wellbeing of children, as part of HeadStart Kernow

Headstart Kernow, the children and young people’s mental health partnership programme with Cornwall Council has awarded grants totalling more than £115,000 to twenty projectsA piece of work that delivers an output. as part of The Young People’s Mental Wellbeing Legacy FundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions..

Headstart Kernow has been working in partnership with Cornwall Community Foundation, to develop and administer the Fund. The members of the panelA group of people who review grant applications and decide which will receive funding. were young people, aligning with Headstart’s guiding principle.

Some of the successful applicants of this grants round included The Dreadnought Centre who were awarded £4,500 to fund their Dreadnought’s Sibs, a fun non-issue based support group for the siblings of children with additional needs and disabilities. Sib’s offers a safe space for siblings to relax, unwind and socialise in a supportive environment with those experiencing similar.

St Ives School of Painting received a grant of £5,000 to continue their Culture Camp project. The project provides a creative, cultural and educational space for young people who are unable to access mainstream education. The Culture Camp will help young people to engage positively with further learning opportunities and runs alongside the Bronze Arts Award accreditation, which all students will achieve when completing the course.

Swamp Circus Trust Limited were awarded £2,000 to run their Circo Kernow Wellbeing sessions, aimed at young teenagers who are suffering from anxiety and depression or living with other barriers that impact their mental health, progression, education and fitness. The young people will learn different performing arts including, yoga, games, acrobatics, fitness and circus skills.

Headstart Kernow’s strategic lead, Charlotte Hill said ”Not only are these grants providing much needed wellbeing promoting activities, but young people themselves are assessing and determining which applications will provide the best possible range of support for young people across Cornwall; they are an inspiring and dedicated group!”

Other groups awarded include The Chalk Climbing Effect, Treverbyn Community Trust and West Cornwall Women's Aid. All working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of young people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

HeadStart is a six-year, £67.4 million National Lottery funded programme set up by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Scott Hignett, Head of Funding for HeadStart at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It’s fantastic to see such a varied group of projects receiving this funding, which will make a huge difference to the lives of young people across Cornwall. It’s important that young people have their say and make decisions about the services that will support them, which is a key part of the HeadStart programme.”

Tamas Haydu, Chief Executive of Cornwall Community Foundation, commented, “It is truly humbling to see so many incredible projects helping young people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The total grants awarded in this round shows that there is an ever-increasing need to support young people's mental health and well-being.”