Duke of Cornwall Donates £70,000 to YMCA Cornwall Housing Project

Ambitious project begins with support from The Duke of Cornwall

YMCA Cornwall has received a £70,000 donation from The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation to kick off a new project creating vital accommodation for vulnerable young people in Cornwall.

The Penzance-based charity, which currently supports 50 young people at risk of homelessness, plans to build four new self-contained flats on its existing site. The works are set to begin this autumn.

£250,000 Needed to Complete the Build

The funding marks the start of a wider campaign, Your Help, Their Future, aimed at raising the full £250,000 needed to deliver the project. Pat Woodfield, CEO of YMCA Cornwall, said:

“This is an ambitious project and the start of our future growth plans. Our initial plan is expected to cost around £250,000 to deliver so the donation really does kickstart our programme of works. We have a long way to go to be able to complete the project so we have launched a campaign to ask for support to make this happen.”

Helen Wilson-Prowse, Head of Operations, added:

“Without the donation from The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation we would not have been able to start the project.
We are hugely grateful for the support and honoured that our work with young people resonates with the Prince of Wales. The demand for supported housing for vulnerable young people is ever growing, and in response to this need, planning permission was sought to convert existing space into three self-contained homes. With 46 young people, half of whom are under 18, an increased provision is vital to support those in need.”

Call for Support: Labour, Supplies, Sponsorship

To get the build completed, YMCA Cornwall is calling on individuals, businesses and organisations to help by donating money, materials or time. The charity is particularly in need of volunteer tradespeople, building supplies, corporate sponsorship and partners.

Pat said:

“There are many ways people can get involved, whether it’s making a donation, supplying materials or volunteering time to help us with the build.
We are keen to hear from anyone that would like to support our plans and partner in a project supported by The Duke of Cornwall’s Charitable Foundation.”

Anyone interested in helping can email partnerships@ymcacornwall.org or call 01736 334820. Donations can be made directly via www.ymcacornwall.org.

Why It Matters

YMCA Cornwall currently has a waiting list of 30 to 40 young people, half of whom are under 18. The new flats will provide a safe place to live and access to tailored support for those in need.

Based in Penzance but serving the whole county, YMCA Cornwall is part of the wider YMCA movement and focuses on helping young people through housing, education and personal development.