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CORNWALL RURAL COMMUNITY CHARITY

ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

ForewordCRCC is 70 years old this year! Back in 1946 the renowned planner Thomas Sharp published his thoughts on the ‘Anatomy of the Village’ concerned about post war ribbon development in rural England. John Stewart Collis wrote ‘Following the Plough’ looking at the demise of the rural farming idyll following the use of the Land Armies in the war years and the Rev Awdry published his second book ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’! Well that’s nearly rural transport!

Today in 2016 the lifting of planning restrictions across much of the UK may result in massive growth of new but unaffordable properties across rural Cornwall. Will we be able to resolve the financial problems with the current small scale farming model? How are we going to manage our rural transport where those few that pay for public transport are forced into cars due to the cost per mile of a bus ride without public funding?

Perhaps Plus ça Change? There are always challenges and it is up to CRCC and its staff to look ahead, not to shy away from change and to continually adjust its ways of working, so that it maximizes its benefit for the communities of Cornwall.

2015 has been a year of hard graft for staff at CRCC. Huge effort has been expended helping the growing numbers of carers across the Duchy. Finding the funding for communities and groups to do what they need to has become increasingly difficult, be it in support of developing a neighbourhood plan, capacity building a grass roots charity or campaigning to keep Cornwall clean! Sterling work has been delivered bringing the benefits, both economic and social, of being ‘online’ to previously excluded groups via the IT project and wider work has led to significant financial investment in the fishing industry and into Penwith, via the FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) and the successful Partnership Landscape bid respectively.

So what is over the horizon and coming our way? We will need to continue delivering the majority of what we have been doing last year, but in addition, I expect a further consolidation of Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise (VCSE) support. This will put more demand upon the core support services element of CRCC with our role being to enable other charities to operate more efficiently. We will need to work even more closely with community groups and town and parish councils to help them adapt to the growing void left by the withdrawal of Cornwall Council services. If we can find the resource, I would also wish to see CRCC piloting alternative affordable housing solutions from which communities can build and learn. From our experience the mental health issues stemming from debt and failed small farming businesses are likely to continue to grow and require solutions and it is expected that digital solutions will cut across all of these areas of work.

As always the challenge will be funding our work. The managers and staff will have to continue their excellent collective work and tread that careful balance of meeting the need, but matching the resource and the income to keep CRCC at the top of its game as an efficient and effective charity and the best solution enabler for rural Cornwall.

Peter Jefferson Chief Executive

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OMMUNITIES

70years

In 2016, CRCC is celebrating its 70th anniversary, which makes it one of the longest enduring charities in Cornwall.Founded immediately after the Second World War in 1946, CRCC has evolved into a medium sized Charity that offers support and guidance to the communities of Cornwall. It is part of the Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) network of 38 RCCs and its turnover for 2014/15 was £1.4m.

Its work reaches people across the county and where funding sources allow, extends to the Isles of Scilly. Two trips were made to the Isles of Scilly in 2015 and there are two already planned for 2016, to give advice on energy saving, fuel poverty, winter wellbeing and beginner IT sessions.

CRCC maximises its coverage of the county by having close working relationships with similar and complementary organisations such as Penwith Community Development Trust (PCDT), Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF), Age UK Cornwall, Disability Cornwall, Volunteer Cornwall, Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Citizens Advice. Collectively, awareness is raised for various funding opportunities and support to individuals and groups is offered to the county as a whole.

C R CC i n b r i e f CRCC is recognised as a specialist in rural work with community planning and support to community buildings exemplars in this field.

CRCC offers support to help run community based organisations and businesses and also delivers two services that support individuals; one is delivered in partnership and offers free support for unpaid, informal carers and the other delivers support and gives a voice to people who have experienced emotional and mental health issues.

CRCC currently employs 62 staff, 21 full-time and 41 part-time. In the last few years, a conscious effort has been made to, when appropriate, provide employment opportunities to young people, apprentices and undergraduates; this has proved to be a positive, beneficial and rewarding move for both the employees and the Charity.

CRCC stands out from the crowd with its evolving projects portfolio and the ability to let the needs of the community drive its work, which keeps CRCC relevant in these rapidly changing times.

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Making Change Happen CRCC produced a short film in March, showing some examples of the projects that have been supported by CRCC’s involvement within Cornwall Development Company’s Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) project, such as support for developing infrastructure for the fishermen in Cadgwith Cove and also how to engage the next generation with fishing and seafood via the Net to Plate project, run by Seafood Cornwall Training. This project was established in 2011 and has enabled fishing communities to create, develop and deliver over 100 projects across Cornwall & IOS accessing over £1.8m worth of European Fisheries Funds (EFF). This FLAG also produced two of the twelve exemplar projects used by Europe to promote the work of FLAGs across Europe.

Big Lottery Event CRCC invited local groups thinking about or in the process of submitting an application to the ‘Big Lottery Reaching Communities, Buildings’ fund event. It brought together community groups face to face with planners, funders and architects, as well as like-minded organisations. It was held at the Exchange, Wadebridge, with 40 people in attendance.

A year in the life of CRCC

2015Here are some examples of CRCC’s work and achievements during the year…

March

May

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Neighbourhood Plans A consultation event was held at Port Isaac Village Hall, for the community to give their views and suggestions on plans for the village and surrounding area. The event brought together the Parish Council, Village Hall and Playing Field Committees. With the help of CRCC they secured a small lottery grant to help source the funds needed to improve the hall. CRCC has led consultation and planning work, as well as providing project support to approx 15 parishes.

June

Carers Week Cornwall Carers Service (CCS) went to the Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge during Carers Week and spoke to lots of people about building carer friendly communities. This was part of a national campaign to increase public awareness of those who care and the invaluable contribution that they make to society. CCS has Carer Support Workers based across the County, a helpline and website available.

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C l e a n C o r n wa l l We e kTo launch Clean Cornwall week, Clean Cornwall and Rodda’s conducted an experiment in Truro and Falmouth to find out how many people would pick up litter on their local high street and they released a video to show the surprising results. Clean Cornwall is hosted by CRCC and is a partnership of local businesses, community groups, voluntary and public sector organisations which are dedicated to reducing the presence of litter, protecting the landscape and promoting the importance of keeping the county clean and tidy. Late in 2015 Cornwall Council funded a specific campaign via Clean Cornwall.

Vi l lage SOS Village SOS is a £1.4m initiative by the Big Lottery Fund, which is being led by ACRE, to inspire people to start community businesses that will breathe new life into rural areas. CRCC is the local delivery partner for this two-year learning, outreach and engagement campaign that helps communities to start their own social enterprises, from setting up a shop or saving a pub, to opening a café or cinema. So far nine community projects are receiving support. A useful Village SOS app has been launched to help with project planning.

Sept

July

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Pub is the Hub CRCC is proud to have enabled Pub is the Hub to provide more pub based services than in any other part of the UK, despite the initiative being based in Yorkshire. HRH the Prince of Wales delighted crowds at Ladock when he popped into the Falmouth Arms to pull a pint and borrow a library book at the pub’s new micro-library.

Restoring St John’s Hall CRCC produced a short film with Cornwall Council to inform the community in the Penzance area on the restoration and use of this key building within the town. CRCC hosted an information point at the farmers market with an update on the project and is continuing to help with the consultation process.

Mid Cornwall Halls Networking Event CRCC successfully secured a grant from Awards for All to develop training specifically for hall volunteers. It had been identified that there was no support network available in the mid Cornwall area. An event was held in Penwithick, which gave an opportunity for approx 30 volunteers from the surrounding areas to meet with others managing village halls, community centres and community buildings. There were presentations on funding, engaging with their community, understanding evaluation/monitoring and a chance to discuss common issues.

Oct

Great Cornish Bake OffCRCC’s Health and Wellbeing team held the Great Cornish Bake Off, a homemade cake competition to help raise awareness of World Mental Health Day. Money collected from entries and donations went to the Mental Health Foundation.

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B i g E n e r g y S a v i n g We e k CRCC held a week of action to help take the worry out of energy bills, which are a top financial concern for households. Information was distributed on a range of energy issues, demonstrating how easy it is to check, switch and save and giving positive, practical advice, such as grants that they might be eligible for and emergency contacts. CRCC also launched the Big Energy Saving Network project in November, giving an opportunity for groups to have a presentation at their meeting and where necessary organise follow up sessions in a range of subjects.

Cornwall Charity CodeThe idea of the Cornwall Charity Code (C³) was introduced to look at how charities might protect themselves from some of the recent poor media coverage and common issues and themes that might affect charities. CRCC is continuing to support these meetings that include similar charities and grass roots organisations.

Oct

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Nov £2.7m Heritage Lottery Funding for Penwith A partnership of local organisations including CRCC, Cornwall AONB and Natural England, led by Cornwall Wildlife Trust were successful in securing £2.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its Landscape Partnership Programme. The grant will support a range of heritage activities across the Penwith peninsula, including conservation work, reconnecting local communities and creating many new jobs and training opportunities.

Successful Seafarers grant - delivering IT sessions for fishing communities CRCC were awarded a grant from Seafarers UK to fund the delivery of free IT sessions to fishing communities. The sessions are designed to help people build their confidence and knowledge when using computers, laptops and other devices. They normally run for four weeks and consist of two hours of training per week. The first sessions were in January 2016 in Newlyn.

A message of support and thanks to carers Carers were welcomed to an enchanting Carol Service at Truro Cathedral in December, organised by Cornwall Carers Service (CCS). The Carol Service was attended by more than 300 carers, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, civic guests, the Chair of Cornwall Council and many partners and supporting organisations. The service was led by Canon Alan Bashforth and children from St Hilary’s Primary School Choir sang some festive songs beautifully.

For further information and film clips mentioned in this section, please visit www.cornwallrcc.org.uk

Dec

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Our PatronColonel Edward Bolitho, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, is CRCC’s Patron and is a great support, often behind the scenes - CRCC is very fortunate and grateful for his involvement.

TrusteesAfter seven years of fantastic support as Chair of trustees, Paul Parkin has retired from this post; he will however, remain on the board and we are very grateful for his continuing support.CRCC undertook a recruitment process and are delighted to have appointed Edward Trewhella, Chief Executive of Cornwall Mobility as Chair. He has already made a positive contribution and we are looking forward to working with him in to the future.

CRCC is overseen by a board of 12 trustees, who hold eight meetings per year. Four are formal, structured meetings and the others give time to strategic planning opportunities. The trustees also have general involvement with staff and projects, which helps their understanding of work and enables them to provide appropriate support when needed.

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Financial ReviewA summary of CRCC’s finances is shown below, giving a breakdown of where funding comes from and where it is spent. CRCC reviews its budgeting and reporting systems regularly, so that each area of work is aware of its responsibility towards funding the management structure of the organisation.For more detailed information, please contact CRCC.

Charitable Projects Expenditure £1,444,251

Provision of services £41,363

Governance £6,588

Cornwall Council £841,325

Comic Relief £28,443

European Social Fund £19,410

NHS Kernow CCG £124,180

Others £67,428

Income from Charitable Activities £1,080,786

Investment Income £12,893

Other incoming resources £136,766

Voluntary Income £146,865

Expenditure £1,492,202

Income £1,377,310

Income from Charitable Activities£1,080,786

(Breakdown below)

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Registered as: Cornwall Community Development Limited Charity Registration: 1087550 Company Registration: 4144745

www.cornwallrcc.org.uk

01872 273952 info@cornwallrcc.org.uk CRCC, 2 Princes Street, Truro, TR1 2ES

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