A merger has been announced between the two main bodies distributing funds for community projects in West Cornwall.  By creating this 'one-stop shop' the organisations involved are leading the way in meeting the government aim of simplifying funding.

The West Cornwall Funding Group has been formed by combining Engage West Cornwall with the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund group for Penwith and Kerrier.  It will be part of West Cornwall Together - the local strategic partnership that is helping organisations in the two districts to co-operate more effectively for the whole community's benefit.

"We have been working very closely for some time now," says Anne Nicholls of Engage.  "In fact, a number of the projects now under way are being jointly funded by both bodies. and each has been keen to point applicants in the other's direction whenever the work planned is more appropriate to that one's criteria for awarding grants."

"Now, if someone has a good idea for a project, he or she can make an application for funding and get all the necessary advice and support from one place," adds James Hardy of NRF.  "Cutting out duplication of effort for everyone involved in dealing with the applications will save time and resources - which means we can support more projects, more efficiently."

"By joining our forces, we will be able to achieve much more than the partners could have done individually," says West Cornwall Together Co-ordinator Dr Sandra Rothwell, who will oversee the restructuring.  "We will be gathering all of the funding expertise developed over recent years into one place.  As well as allowing us to use the existing funds to best effect, this will put us in a stronger position to obtain further funding for the area in the future."

Engage has been responsible for allocation of Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funding from the South West Regional Development Agency.  NRF funding has come from the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister), through Government Office South West. 

The aims of Engage and NRF are very similar and involve improving people's lives in the most deprived neighbourhoods.  In addition to Penwith and Kerrier, Engage also covers the Penwerris Ward of Falmouth which will be incorporated within the new group's remit.

A good example of an NRF-funded project can be seen at Tuckingmill Valley Park, in the Camborne/Pool/Redruth area, where the local community has been helped to transform a previously derelict industrial site into a useful area equipped with facilities for recreation, sports, arts and education.

Recent Engage-funded projects have included an innovative minibus sharing scheme which allows bus-owning community groups to make better use of their resources and gives new opportunities to other groups that could not normally afford to hire them.

Among the jointly funded projects has been The Kerrier & The Fal Credit Union.  This is a 'community bank', owned and run as a co-operative by those who choose to join.  Their savings are kept in the area and used to give low-interest loans to local people.

For more information on the West Cornwall Funding Group and the funding available, contact Dr Sandra Rothwell, West Cornwall Together Co-ordinator, or James Hardy, Neighbourhood Renewal Funding Officer, at Cowlin's Mill, Penhallick, Carn Brea, Redruth, TR15 3YR.  Call 01209 614019.  Email engage@kerrier.gov.uk .