Cornwall Charity Gets Game-Changing Funding: What It Means for Local Disabled Teens

A Cornish charity working with young disabled people in Cornwall and Devon has received a major boost after being selected for national funding from Global’s Make Some Noise, the official charity of Global, the Media & Entertainment group.

Lifeline for Isolated Young People

Active8, a small but impactful charity based in Cornwall, has been awarded funding to support its Acceler8 programme – a two-year initiative for disabled teenagers aged 14–18. The programme offers empowering activities and vital peer connections for young people who often experience isolation, especially in rural areas where services can be limited.

Active8 works with young people aged 14–30 living with a disability, helping them gain confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. Through tailored support, the charity opens up opportunities for its members to travel, volunteer, explore employment, and form meaningful friendships.

Clare Stanley, Fundraising Coordinator at Active8, said:

“We are immensely thrilled and thankful to receive this incredible grant towards our essential Acceler8 programme. We cannot thank Global’s Make Some Noise and all their listeners enough for their generosity and for recognising the importance of our youth disability work.
This grant will not only fund our transformative initiatives, but it will also fuel hope, inclusion, and ambition – sending a powerful message to our most vulnerable young people: You are seen. You are valued. You are capable of extraordinary things.”

📷Active8 Acceler8 member, Rita, Surfing in Bude

Backed by a National Campaign

The award is part of a £2.9 million pot distributed by Global’s Make Some Noise to 46 small charities across the UK. The selected organisations support a range of causes including mental health, domestic abuse, bereavement, food poverty, and loneliness.

Suzanne Ryder-Richardson, Director of Global Goodness at Global, said:

“This year, we’ve seen a record number of applications for our project grants, highlighting the increasing need for support for these crucial initiatives that serve as a lifeline to so many.
We are incredibly grateful that, thanks to public donations and the generous support of our partners, we can provide this funding to the small, local charities delivering these vital services at the heart of communities across the UK.
We remain committed to raising funds and awareness so that we can support even more life-changing projects across the UK in the future.”

National Reach, Local Impact

Since launching in 2014, Global’s Make Some Noise has supported 527 community projects, reaching over 227,000 people across the UK. The organisation uses its vast radio network – including stations like Capital, Heart, Classic FM, Smooth, LBC, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold Radio – to raise awareness of the work being done by small charities like Active8.

You can find out more about Global’s Make Some Noise here.

📷Active8 member surfing - ability not disability

📷Active8 rockclimbing - ability not disability

📷Active8 wheelchair basketball - ability not disability

📷Active8 Acceler8 group canoeing in Bude - ability not disability

📷Active8 Acceler8 group members learning essential life skills