Community Hubs in Cornwall Save NHS £11.6 Million in One Year

A network of community hubs across Cornwall is helping people feel happier and healthier while saving the NHS millions, according to a new independent study.

The research, carried out by healthcare volunteering charity Helpforce, found the Community Gateway and Hub Network saved an estimated £11.6 million in just one year by reducing demand on frontline services.

How the network is supporting residents

The Community Gateway and Hub Network is a partnership between the NHS, Cornwall Council and voluntary organisations. It connects people to support earlier and closer to home.

More than 50 community hubs are now in place across the county, offering help with a wide range of issues including mental health, caring responsibilities, falls prevention, long term conditions, healthy eating, social connection and practical challenges such as money worries and housing.

Alongside the hubs, a seven day a week Community Gateway phone line helps direct people to the right health, care or voluntary support.

Between 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025:

• 339,951 attendances were recorded at community hubs
• 54,814 contacts were handled by the Gateway
• 5,274 personalised support plans were developed
• 2,287 healthcare referrals were made

Reducing pressure on NHS services

Helpforce’s evaluation suggests that without the hubs:

• 24% of people would have visited their GP
• 8% would have gone to hospital
• 6% would have called 999

This shift away from frontline services is what led to the estimated £11.6 million saving.

Aisling Crombie, Director of Nursing at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, said:

“We are seeing first hand how the Community Gateway and Hub Network supports our residents across the county, helping them to stay well and maintain their confidence and independence in managing their own health. I am heartened by individual stories of the significant impact these services have on people.

By working alongside our voluntary sector partners, we’re able to support people earlier, in a more personalised way, closer to home, which is helping to reduce demand on frontline NHS services. The financial analysis in Helpforce’s evaluation reinforces what we already know from experience, investing in community capacity delivers real system wide benefits.”

Strong improvements in wellbeing

The study also highlighted clear improvements in people’s wellbeing:

• 88% felt less isolated
• 93% reported improved mood
• 85% had improved self esteem
• Confidence in managing health rose from 59% to 88%

Amerjit Chohan, CEO of Helpforce, said:

“Cornwall’s Community Gateway and Hub Network connect people to personalised care on their doorsteps, helping individuals to ‘wait well’ while on treatment pathways, preventing avoidable admissions, and supporting safe discharge back into the community.

This is one of the clearest examples in the UK of how voluntary and community organisations can transform the way healthcare is delivered. Our independent research shows that the resources are not only improving people’s wellbeing and independence, but they are also saving the NHS an estimated £11.6 million a year in avoided costs.

Models like this must be sustained, scaled and embedded to enable the NHS to deliver its 10 Year Health Plan moving care into neighbourhoods. Cornwall’s trailblazing approach has created a blueprint that other healthcare systems must now follow.”

A real life impact in Cornwall

Among those supported is 72 year old Penzance resident Tess Patten, who turned to the Pengarth Hub after experiencing bereavement and financial difficulties.

“Suddenly I had caring people to talk to, and support was on hand if I needed it,” Tess said.

The hub helped her regain confidence, manage her finances and avoid a decline that she believes would have led to hospital admission.

“Now I constantly look forward to visiting the hub, knowing that if I need help it’s always there.”

Community effort at the heart

Rae Hall, CEO of Volunteer Cornwall, said:

“Cornwall’s communities are our greatest asset. The hubs are trusted, welcoming spaces where people feel safe to ask for help and build connections. Together with the Community Gateway, they have helped avoid more than £11 million in NHS costs in one year. Behind that extraordinary figure are thousands of individual stories of people feeling less isolated, more confident and better supported. This shows what is possible when communities are recognised as central to the health and care system.”

Tracey Roose, CEO of Age UK Cornwall, which manages the Community Gateway, added:

“Through delivery of Gateway services, we see every day how powerful it is when people can get the right support early, from someone who understands their community. This research shows what local organisations can achieve when we work together with a shared purpose.”

How to access support

People can access the Community Gateway by calling 01872 266383 or emailing [email protected]. The service runs from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including Christmas Day.

Residents can also find their nearest hub here: 👉 Find your nearest community hub

Looking ahead

The findings align with the NHS’s long term plans to strengthen neighbourhood health, prioritise prevention and move more care into local communities.

By connecting people with early, personalised support in trusted local spaces, Cornwall’s network is showing how community based services can help people stay well for longer while easing pressure on hospitals and emergency services.

📷L-R Sharon Mitchell, Pengarth day centre manager, Aisling Crombie, Director of Nursing, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, Amerjit Chohan, CEO of Helpforce