Cornish Lithium awards grants to community groups across Cornwall

Cornish Lithium, the pioneering mineral exploration and development company that is supporting the UK’s transition to Net Zero, has awarded £17,775 to 13 local organisations through the Community Fund it has established in collaboration with the Cornwall Community Foundation.

The Cornish Lithium Community Fund supports the work of clubs, charities and activity groups who seek to make a positive difference in the Gwennap, Blackwater, Chacewater, St Day, Carharrack and China Clay areas.

Each year, Cornish Lithium encourages applications from projects that will enhance skills and education, upgrade social welfare facilities, support industrial heritage and mining history, improve environmental impacts or promote health and wellbeing.

The recipients of the 2024 Cornish Lithium Community Fund awards are:

  • The Observatory for Cornwall
  • Penhaligon’s Friends
  • St Stephen’s Community Centre
  • Sunny Days Nursery and Preschool
  • St Agnes Walking Netball Club
  • St Dennis Art Group
  • Lanner Village Hall
  • Cusgarne and Frogpool Women’s Institute
  • Treviscoe Institute and Community Centre
  • Bugle Library of Things
  • Friends of Cusgarne Primary School
  • C.E (Improving Carharrack’s Environment)
  • Roche Preschool Playgroup.

The Observatory for Cornwall, located in Chacewater, encourages younger members of the community to develop an interest in astronomy by welcoming local schools, youth groups and those with learning disabilities. It can now complete the refurbishment of the stargazing domes that were vandalised in 2020 just before it was due to open to the public.

Penhaligon’s Friends will run monthly support groups for bereaved families with young children in Blackwater, enabling them to meet others in similar situations and reduce the feeling of loneliness that often comes with grief.

St Stephen’s Community Centre will replace its doors and windows to create a warm and inviting space, whilst also reducing its heating and maintenance costs.

Sunny Days Nursery and Preschool in St Day will enhance its outdoor space with a role-playing den, climbing frame and gym to encourage the development of emotional and social skills as well as whole-body movement.

St Agnes Walking Netball Club will train two new walking netball hosts to ensure the continuity of the club and the service it provides to members.

St Dennis Art Group works with seniors with a shared interest in art, developing new skills and creating friendships. This funding will help with its running costs.

Lanner Village Hall will create an internet cafe for people who lack digital knowledge or skills. Training will be provided on laptops showing how to send an email, book a doctor’s appointment, order food shopping and use online banking.

Cusgarne and Frogpool Women’s Institute members are keen to learn more about environmental issues and visit spaces that promote health and wellbeing. This award will enable them to visit three different and thought-provoking venues: The Eden Project, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Cornish Lavender at Perranporth.

Treviscoe Institute and Community Centre will purchase laptops and install WiFi to benefit the groups that use the space for business meetings and enable caterers to accept card payments.

Bugle Library of Things supports communities with food, toiletries and the distribution of household goods. This grant will enable it to continue and to provide sessions that bring people together to alleviate social isolation and improve mental health.

Friends of Cusgarne Primary School will create a mini nature reserve to teach pupils about wildlife and how to grow vegetables.

I.C.E. (Improving Carharrack’s Environment) will enhance its Christmas Lights Switch On and Children’s Christmas Party events, which bring the community together at a time of year that some low-income households may find especially difficult.

Roche Preschool Playgroup will create a new baby room to provide more childcare spaces for the under twos in this area.

“Consulting with, listening to and involving people is key to our organisation and how we operate in Cornwall,” explains Founder and CEO of Cornish Lithium, Jeremy Wrathall. “This aligns with our proactive approach to protecting, enhancing and supporting Cornwall through social and environmental initiatives that we know will make a real difference to the diverse communities that live and work in the vicinity of our projects.”

Tamas Haydu, CEO of Cornwall Community Foundation said: “We are delighted to be able to distribute this funding on behalf of Cornish Lithium and are proud to work alongside an organisation that is passionate about making a lasting, positive impact on communities in its project areas by providing this support.”

If you are a community group looking for funding, find out more about how we can help: https://www.cornwallcommunityfoundation.com/introduction-to-grants/

Applications to the Cornish Lithium Community Fund can be made through the Cornwall Community Foundation portal and there is a summer deadline, which will be announced here: https://cornishlithium.com/. A panel will then meet in the autumn to review the applications that have been submitted so that awards can be granted at the beginning of the following year.

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