Summer has rolled in with lots of lovely sunny weather that we hope will continue! And this summer has a lot in store, from the G7, to the hope of progress around the pandemic and more. And while the world keeps changing and growing, we at Transformation Cornwall look to help the people around us grow with it. Whether that means equipping people to set up new projects to support their communities, or providing them with the tools to set up a school uniform recycling centre.
In this month’s newsletter you will find updates on Meet the Funders, changes to our Board of Trustees and more. We hope you enjoy it!
Blessings,
The Transformation Cornwall Team
What do we do at Transformation Cornwall?
At Transformation Cornwall, we work to strengthen faith based social action by providing capacity building support. Our vision is to see faith in action at the heart of flourishing communities.
We work in three main ways:
Providing conferences and workshops giving networking, support and information through our 'Meet the Funders' programme.
Supporting individual groups and organisations through our 1:1 work to inspire, inform, and signpost.
Strengthening links between faith based and mainstream organisations.
Meet the Funders is a year-long programme that strengthens community work in Cornwall. Transformation Cornwall and the Diocese of Truro and run the programme in partnership. It starts with our big spring event and continues with a series of smaller community workshops. The aim? To support people and projects that are working to address poverty, exclusion, isolation, and rurality.
2021 spring event
The programme was kicked off with our big spring event at the end of May. The event was hosted online from St Petroc's Church and was a huge success. We had plenty of delegates and trustees come along and share with us their advice, questions and general enthusiasm for community projects.
We are now even more excited for the upcoming workshops coming up!
2021 Workshop 1 - Vision Setting and Project Planning
Our first workshop is already coming up! Join us on Monday 14 June 11am-12noon as we explore the importance of project vision and planning. Plus, we will have an Expert Through Experience joining us to share with us their journey of going through these initial and crucial stages of a project.
This event is, once again, online. You can book to join us here.
New Chair and Vice Chair
We are absolutely thrilled to let you know that the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Revd Hugh Nelson has taken the role of Chair at Transformation Cornwall.
Our former Chair, Reverend Steven Wild has now taken on the Vice Chair role. We cannot wait to see what this new team has in store for us!
Donna joins Transformation Cornwall
Donna is a Journalist, Broadcaster and the Vice Chair of Churches Together in Cornwall.
We are now excited to announce that she is joining us on the board of Trustees at Transformation Cornwall as well!
Welcome Donna.
Faith and Mental Health Network
The second Faith and Mental Health Network meeting takes place on 7th July
The Faith and Mental Health Network meets about once every two months and welcomes pastoral visitors, clergy, chaplains, mental health practitioners, community volunteers, in fact, anyone who is supporting people who are struggling with mental health issues.
The network is a mutually supportive group of people that offers a safe space to explore issues and share information, resources and best practice. They relate faith to mental health and offer insights that help us help those we are standing alongside.
If you are interested in joining the Faith & Mental Health Network please contact Reverend Andrew Yates on srotruro@btinternet.com
Transformation Cornwall support to the Cornish Foodbanks
Telephone Signposting Information List
We are continuing our work to support the wonderful Cornish Foodbanks and are working with local and national partners to get examples of good practice, policies, procedures, community links and information in to them.
Late last month we were delighted to distribute hard copies of our Telephone Signposting Information List out to each of the foodbanks so that they could add them to their customer food parcels.
The printing and distribution of the list to the Foodbanks was made possible through the generous funding of Diocese of Truro. The Telephone Signposting Information List is also available online here.
Cash First
Transformation Cornwall are also working with Citizens Advice Cornwall, the Trussell Trust, the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) and Cornwall Council, to develop some Financial Capability Coaching to go alongside the recently created ‘Cornwall: Worrying About Money?’ leaflets.
We’ll keep you posted as things develop, but in the meantime you can download and view the Cornwall: Worrying About Money? Leaflets by clicking on the ‘Cornwall’ link here.
As a reminder, ‘Cash First’ is just about helping people access any existing financial entitlements through advice and support as an alternative to emergency food aid and/or advance payments & loans from welfare support.
G7 in Cornwall
The G7 Summit takes place this weekend in Carbis Bay.
The event puts the spotlight on Cornwall, and reminds us of the importance of looking after each other in the face of the pandemic and the climate crisis.
Please be praying for the leaders as they meet to make decision that will effect our world. Pray for those who are campaigning throughout this time to make a difference to the world. And pray for this earth in the face of climate crisis.
As a part of Meet the Funders spring event, we released a toolbox that included A Creation Care leaflet that you can access here. Click to find prayers and upcoming dates.
Weekly Cornish Foodbank Update
Our weekly update on Cornish food banks (linked below) lists details for the 19 major Cornish food banks, including opening times and procedures for getting food. In the midst of the third national lockdown, dedicated Foodbank volunteers and staff across Cornwall are ensuring that those most affected by Covid-19 continue to have access to food.
Owing to extra complications brought on by Covid-19, many food banks would also appreciate financial donations instead of or in addition to food donations. You can find details for making financial donations in the update linked below. For most food banks you can either make a single donation or donate regularly by Direct Debit or Standing Order.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this information please send them the link. Our Weekly Foodbank Update automatically updates to the latest version each week. This means that the web link will always click through to the most recent edition (uploaded each Friday at 6pm).
Weekly updated grants lists for groups and individuals in Cornwall
Every week Transformation Cornwall continue to compile and update two grants lists which detail the latest available grants currently open to applications. Our current lists detail well over 100 grants.
Our first grants list details possible funders that might support the work of Foodbanks, grass-root groups, and faith based social action projects in Cornwall.
Our second list details hardship grants for individuals in need. This has a huge range of grants for those who have worked in certain professions (including retail, construction, fishing, farming etc), support for disabled people, grants for education and retraining, young people, and so much more.
As with our foodbank update, the URL for the grants list stays the same. You can find the latest version at the same URL link every Friday at around 6 pm.
Now, maybe more than ever, we know that people like to talk with organisations who offer advice and support.
We have recently released our updated Telephone Signposting Information List and a new A3 Poster. These resources are for people, Foodbanks, and grassroot organisations in Cornwall.
The list contains the telephone numbers for a range of support groups, locally and nationally, that will offer help to people in Cornwall. We have tried to make it as useful as possible and covered key topics that you and your customers might need help with.
Creator God, giver of life, you sustain the earth and direct the nations. In this time of climate crisis, grant us clarity to hear the groaning of creation and the cries of the poor.
Challenge us to change our lifestyles.
Guide our leaders to take courageous action.
Enable your church to be a beacon of hope.
And foster within us a renewed vision of your purposes for your world.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by and for whom all things were made.
