In 2025 we launched our pilot Community Small Grants for Cornwall based community organisations. We invited them to submit ideas for projects focussing on health determinants. These are the factors that have a significant influence on health. They include things like housing, work, education, and access to services. Please read our blog on health determinants to learn more. After a first round of grants were awarded in 2025, we opened again to applicants in spring 2026.
For both rounds of funding we asked applicants to consider what they would like to research about the things that can affect the health of people in their communities. Community groups could apply for grants up to £5000 to help them achieve their research goals.
An overwhelming number of high-quality applications were received for both rounds of applications! Our panel had quite the challenge to select the successful projects. We are pleased to announce the successful organisations and projects below.
Community Small Grants round 2 - Summer 2026
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our Community Small Grants for summer 2026. Below are brief summaries of the projects. If you'd like more detail please click the button.
More information on Summer 2026 community small grant recipients
Cornwall Partners in Policy Making
A Lifetime of Caring
Exploring the long-term experiences of parent carers supporting neurodivergent adults and adults with learning disabilities in Cornwall.
Equally Abled
Bridging Futures
Improving Transitions from Education to Employment for SEND Young People in Cornwall.
Gwealan Tops Adventure Playground
Playing and Wellbeing: Paying Attention to Children’s Play
Gwealan Tops want to explore, develop and apply a range of methodologies and approaches to reflective practice. This will gather evidence and evaluate how well they co-produce the conditions for children to play.
Imagine If Partnership Ltd
Evaluating the Implementation and Impact of a Pain Café Within Recovery Services
Imagine If will research how participation in a piloted pain café influences the:
pain management strategies
wellbeing,
and recovery engagement
of individuals accessing recovery services.
Inspiring Active Pathways CIC
Falling Through the Gaps
Understanding barriers to falls prevention services in Cornwall. Examining the role of housing, transport, digital access and local health determinants.
Kernow Minds CIC
Understanding attitudes and awareness of neurodivergence across Cornwall
A community-wide mixed-methods survey. Kernow Minds want to research what are the current levels of awareness, understanding, and attitudes towards neurodivergence across sectors in Cornwall.
National Trust, North & South Coast Team
Coastal Connections: Inclusive access for Health and Wellbeing
The National Trust North & South Coast Team want to understand what barriers prevent people, from accessing remote coastal sites in Cornwall. They also wish to understand what practical, inclusive solutions could improve access.
NextEd Cornwall CIC
Exploring sensory-informed community provision
Exploring how sensory-informed community provision
improves wellbeing
reduces barriers
and supports social engagement
for neurodivergent children in Cornwall.
Redruth Former Library CIC aka The Ladder
The Telling effect
Researching whether traditional oral storytelling can:
reduce isolation
and build belonging
for men at risk in post-industrial Redruth.
Safer Stronger Communities
Health, wellbeing and justice
Understanding how trauma-Informed, whole-family support improves outcomes for families involved with the criminal justice system in Cornwall.
Sensory Trust
Creative Spaces - nature-based support for people with dementia
Sensory Trust want to understand more about the barriers people with dementia and their carers experience when attending nature-based activities.
Trelya
Chat and chop
Exploring how community cooking and conversation improve mental health and social connection for families in Penzance East.
Veterans Regroup CIC
Understanding Veteran engagement and access to support services in Cornwall
Veterans Regroup want to understand what helps and prevents veterans across Cornwall from:
accessing
and continuing to engage
with Armed Forces Hubs and wider support services.
WILD
Piloting WILD safer sleep
WILD want to research how to reduce the risk of SIDS for babies of young parents.
Community Small Grants round 1 - Summer 2025
Below are brief summaries of the organisations and projects support by our Community Small Grants in summer 2025. If you would like more details on the project please click the button below.
More information on summer 2025 community small grant recipientsBabygro
Beginning Well: Evaluating Babygro’s impact on early parenting and mental health
Babygro offers free sessions for new parents. These are around sleep and feeding as well as an 8-week Brain Development Course. This project will assess their impact on:
parental confidence
well-being
and early relational health.
Bodmin Way
Connected for Health: A research study into the role of human connection in health outcomes
Bodmin Way aim to understand how much human connection is a determinant of health. They also wish to understand the factors which support successful connection.
Citizen Checkers
Understanding employment and wellbeing for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in Cornwall using the 7 keys to citizenship
Citizen Checkers will host a peer-led research project using focus groups across Cornwall. They wish to explore how employment affects the wellbeing of:
people with learning disabilities
autistic people.
Simon Duffy's "7 Keys to Citizenship" framework will help frame the questions and make sense of the data.
Cornwall Refuge Trust
Capturing the voices of children living in refuge through creativity
This project aims to explore the experiences and emotional responses of children and young people on arrival at a refuge. The Trust aim to identify the support they need to better adjust to their new environment.
Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC)
Young people co-designing inclusive futures in Cornwall
Exploring the social determinants of health affecting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes those with learning disabilities and neurodivergences.
Inspiring Women Network
Starting well in Cornwall: co-led research into health barriers for diverse women
Exploring how
housing
education
healthcare
and navigating local services
affect the physical and mental health of culturally diverse women in Cornwall.
intoBodmin
Connecting Bodmin: A pilot study into barriers, impact, and access routes to cultural participation
Investigating how cultural participation in Bodmin affects social connection and wellbeing. They will also identify barriers preventing under-represented groups accessing cultural and creative activities.
Lighthouse Community Centre CIC
Barriers to healthy living in Liskeard
Lighthouse Community Centre want to understand how
housing conditions
transport access
affordability of healthy food
impact the health and wellbeing of people in Liskeard’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
RJ Working
An impact evaluation of an intensive “Green Ripple Effect” programme using Restorative Practice
A pilot programme delivering a restorative, nature-connected intervention for 60 Year 5 pupils. They will work in partnership with Rosemellin Primary School, Camborne.
Rooted
Woodland wellbeing research
Exploring how
volunteering in woodlands
learning traditional woodland skills
can positively impact mental health.
She’s Worth It CIC
Her wealth, her health: Women’s peer-led research on poverty and health inequality in Newquay and St Austell
Exploring the impact of financial challenges on women’s health. This will be particularly for those living in deprived, rural and coastal communities.
We are planning to open our community small grants fund again for applications in the future. We will announce when this happens here on our website. You can also join our mailing list to ensure you receive information.