The Foyle Foundation, as it prepares to close after 25 years of grant-making, has announced a final £2.2 million in funding for community foundations across the UK and Northern Ireland, including a £200,000 grant for Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF).
CCF will use this funding to support people and projects under the greatest pressures, from families struggling with rising living costs to isolated older residents and young people in need of safe spaces and opportunities. The grant is expected to have a meaningful impact across communities in Cornwall.
Cornwall Community Foundation supports a wide range of organisations addressing diverse issues affecting the county. St Austell Community Kitchen (STAK) provides a safe and welcoming environment for vulnerable, needy, and homeless individuals, offering 4,000 affordable meals annually, courses, clubs, signposting, and friendship, thanks to previous CCF support. Penhaligon’s Friends offers bereavement support to children, young people, and families, with CCF funding enabling additional monthly sessions across Cornwall. Black Voices Cornwall, another recipient, uses education, advocacy, and cultural events to combat isolation, prejudice, and discrimination, promoting an actively anti-racist community.
Tamas Haydu, CEO of CCF, expressed gratitude to the Foyle Foundation, noting that the funding will help grassroots organisations and charities strengthen communities and reduce poverty and isolation.
Over its 25-year history, the Foyle Foundation has distributed more than £185 million, including nearly £16 million in small community grants, which have often provided vital lifelines for local charities in the absence of larger funders. This final grant reflects the Foundation’s commitment to moving from national philanthropy to local action, directly supporting organisations best placed to make a tangible difference. For Cornwall, this translates to enhanced support for the charities and community groups that form the backbone of daily life in the county.
