Grassroots Support Cornwall

Grassroots Support Cornwall is a 3-year initiative, supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, to support small, community-based voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across Cornwall.

The programme will strengthen support across a number of areas including finance, volunteering, organisational development, practical tools and resources and learning and peer support. In addition, we will introduce new specialist roles across the partnership to provide more targeted 1:1 help.

Partner Organisations

The programme will see six partner organisations come together to create a single team focused on providing high quality and timely support on a range of issues. Each organisation will bring their own expertise to support and lead a thematic approach.

Partners:

  • Cornwall Rural Community Charity

  • Cornwall VSF

  • Transformation Cornwall

  • Volunteer Cornwall

  • Cornwall Community Foundation

  • Active Cornwall

Who is this programme for?

Grassroots Support Cornwall is designed for small, community-based VCSE organisations across Cornwall, particularly those who may not have access to dedicated capacity or specialist support. You do not need to be part of a network or already connected into existing services to benefit.

As a working guide, we are focusing on organisations with a turnover of under £100,000, up to five paid members of staff, and up to 25 volunteers. If you are not sure whether this applies to you, please get in touch, we are happy to have a conversation.

What support is available?

Support is shaped around what each organisation actually needs. Through the programme, you can access help across five key areas:

  • Funding and financial sustainability — identifying opportunities, strengthening funding bids, and building a more planned approach to income.

  • Volunteering — support with recruiting, retaining, and developing meaningful volunteer roles.

  • Organisational development — including governance, leadership, and planning for the future.

  • Practical tools and resources — templates, policies, and guidance that reduce the burden of administration.

  • Learning and peer support — training, shared spaces, and opportunities to connect and learn from others.

For many organisations, the starting point is simply having a conversation to work out what would be most useful.

Get in touch

If you would like to find out more or discuss how we might help your group, please contact:

tom.skinner@cornwallrcc.org.uk

Or visit the VSF website for further information: https://cornwallvsf.org/connecting/grassroots/