Penzance Council Grants Over £25k to Six Community Groups

Penzance Council has awarded more than £25,000 in grant funding to a range of community organisations across the town, supporting projects that span maritime heritage, arts, literature, food support and local history.

Councillors agreed to fund six grant applications during the final grant window of the 2025/2026 financial year. The grants will help support ongoing work including the refit of a historic Cornish fishing boat and the provision of healthy lunches for people experiencing homelessness.

Penzance Council offers grants to local charities and community groups working to benefit residents and the environment. The council increased its grant funding budget for 2025/2026 and introduced four funding windows to spread support throughout the financial year.

Over the past financial year, the council has awarded £70,000 in grants aimed at directly benefiting local residents.

The latest round of funding has been awarded to Mounts Bay Lugger Association, Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool, Penzance LitFest, Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Growing Links CIC and Bewnans Kernow.

Historic Cornish Lugger Refit

Mounts Bay Lugger Association received £4,128.93 to support the next phase of a major refit of Happy Return, a 121-year-old Cornish lugger.

Established in 1994, the association has seen more than 2,000 members and volunteers sail or help maintain the historic boat. It is one of only two luggers in Cornwall that are accessible for anyone to sail, giving people the chance to experience traditional maritime skills.

A marine survey in 2025 identified maintenance issues. Volunteers carried out much of the initial work, while the new funding will help pay for essential work below the waterline by specialist shipwrights.

James Walker, chairperson of the Mounts Bay Lugger Association, said:

“The Mounts Bay Lugger Association are over the moon to receive a supporting grant from Penzance Council. This grant guarantees we have the funds not only to complete the refit of our 121-year-old Cornish Lugger Happy Return, but also to ensure we will be sailing and serving the community from our home in Penzance for years to come.”

Repairs at Mousehole Rock Pool

Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool received £4,887.47 to repair storm damage to the much-loved tidal pool.

Built in 1969, the pool has been used by generations of children learning to swim. After falling into disrepair, the Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool group formed to restore it.

An extensive restoration was completed last year, but a storm soon after caused damage. The grant funded repairs to part of the western wall, a buttress and a section of path.

Trustees from the Friends of Mousehole Rock Pool said:

“We are really pleased that the Mousehole Rock Pool restoration project has recently received grant funding from Penzance Council.

“This generous award has allowed our contractors to install a concrete buttress on the western wall which will give added protection to the newly replaced & pinned pathway. The work was carried out in challenging weather conditions and was completed just before our marine licence expired.

“Without the financial support of Penzance Council this vital piece of work could not have taken place. We are all extremely grateful for their investment, encouragement and support.”

Support for Penzance LitFest

Penzance LitFest received £4,887.47 to help cover travel and hospitality costs for authors attending the annual literary festival.

Often described as “the friendliest litfest in the UK”, the festival takes place every July and brings together local and national writers for talks, workshops and outreach events. The event is run entirely by volunteers.

Richard Williams from Penzance LitFest said:

“We are grateful for the grant received from Penzance Council which will enable us to cover the core costs of travel and hospitality for authors and other contributors to the LitFest.

“This, in turn, will enable other parts of the budget to be directed towards other priorities such as the Exploding Words initiative which works with local primary schools across the Penwith area to encourage writing and general literacy skills.

“With the help of the Penzance Council funding, the Penzance LitFest will continue to increase its growth and appeal across Cornwall and nationally.”

Art Project with St Petrocs and National Portrait Gallery

Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange received £4,870.85 to begin a new long-term social engagement programme starting in May 2026.

The project will be delivered in partnership with St Petrocs, which works to end homelessness in Cornwall, and the National Portrait Gallery.

Together they will develop a community-curated exhibition at The Exchange that shares the voices and lived experiences of people who are homeless or insecurely housed in Cornwall.

Rebecca English, Programme Curator and lead on the project, said:

“Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange is delighted to have secured funding from Penzance Council to support a community-focused partnership project with St Petrocs and the National Portrait Gallery.

“Working with St Petrocs’ clients as Community Curators, the project will explore themes of identity, home, and belonging, creating space for voices rarely heard in cultural settings while supporting participants’ wellbeing, confidence, and connection through sustained creative engagement.”

Funding for Community Lunch Programme

Growing Links CIC received £4,887.47 to support its Street Food Project community lunch programme.

The organisation works to tackle food poverty in Penzance and the surrounding area through community growing spaces, workshops and wellbeing support. The Street Food Project already provides hot evening meals for people experiencing homelessness or food poverty.

The new funding will help provide healthy lunches and a welcoming space for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

Lynne Dyer, director of Growing Links CIC, said:

“Growing Links CIC has welcomed a grant from the Town Council to support its community lunch programme.

“The funding will be used to buy healthy local ingredients for the weekly lunches, which are open to everyone and help ensure that people across the community can access a hot, healthy meal. The lunches are particularly important for those who may be struggling financially or experiencing homelessness and those that feel social isolation and loneliness.

“As well as providing nutritious food, the lunches offer a welcoming space where people can meet, share conversation and feel part of the community. This grant will help ensure the programme can continue to reach those who need it most while keeping the lunches open and accessible to all.

“We thank Penzance Council for its support in helping bring people together and making sure no one in the community has to go without a warm meal.”

Preserving Penzance History

Bewnans Kernow received £1,901.10 to support exhibition costs connected to a history project called Old Knowledge Penzance.

Based in the former Penzance Library on Morrab Road, Bewnans Kernow runs Cornish Heritage in Penzance, offering heritage activities, local history talks and Cornish language classes.

The fourteen-month project, funded by £20,000 from the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme, aims to document the stories and knowledge of families who have lived in Penzance for generations.

Jane Howells, director of Bewnans Kernow, said:

“We thank Penzance Council for this grant which will help to meet the costs of running exhibitions at Cornish Heritage in Penzance using the information gained from the ‘Old Knowledge Penzance’ project.

“‘Old Knowledge Penzance’ is a project to celebrate the families who have lived in Penzance for generations and their knowledge of the town. The aim is to build up a picture of Penzance in earlier years through informal and interesting discussion.

“The ‘Old Knowledge Penzance’ project meets fortnightly, on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons.”

Next Funding Window

The first grant window for the 2026/2027 financial year closes on 16th March.

Local community groups and charities can find out more about applying for funding on the Penzance Council website, by calling 01736 363405 or by emailing [email protected].