CCF Business Club awards grants to ten community projects
Members of the Business Club, the business arm of CCF, each pay an annual membership contribution to create an amalgamated fund to award grants to community groups. The Business Club Grants Panel meets twice per year and at its most recent meeting, ten community projects across Cornwall, from Bude to St Ives were awarded grants totalling £21,000.
The grants awarded are being used to improve community spaces, provide activities that bring communities together, support charitable organisations helping children and young people and assist people struggling with poverty.
Groups awarded funding included the 2nd Bude (Jacobstow) Scout Group who received a grant of £3,000 towards the costs of building a new scout hut in St Gennys parish, North Cornwall. The Group have operated from their existing hut for fifty years and have been donated land on which to build a new facility. The group serves a rural area drawing youngsters from Jacobstow, St Gennys, Warbstow, North Petherwin, Poundstock and Week St Mary parishes.
Cornwall Deaf Centre, based in Camborne, received £3,000 to establish a specialist job club for deaf and heard of hearing people. 40% of deaf people are unemployed, a significantly higher percentage than within the non-deaf community. Carleen Collins, a volunteer at Cornwall Deaf Centre, said, “Getting deaf people into paid employment will improve economic well-being and self-esteem. Poor mental health is a significant problem amongst the deaf community too, and discrimination within the workplace is a contributing factor.”
Other projects awarded grants by the Grant Panel were Helston Rugby Club, Saint Goran Rowing Club, Devon & Cornwall Furniture Reuse Project, Carnon Downs Methodist Hall, St Austell Sea Cadets, Ladock Children’s Playing Field Committee, City Life Church – Truro and Porthtowan Surf Life-Saving Club.
Jeremy Ward, CCF Development Director, commented, “The Business Club Grant Panel were able to award grants to some amazing projects who are really making a difference in their communities. This is only possible because our Business Club members have generously committed to continue their support during these challenging times. Indeed some members have increased their contributions to reflect the difficulties many communities are facing.”