Who are we?

Founded 10 years ago, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change evolved from a direct response to the needs of residents from estates in West Cornwall.  CN4C were aware of a need to involve residents in the regeneration of their neighbourhood, which could in turn form part of the economic improvement of Cornwall.  They also wanted to ensure that areas of social housing were included in the development of a strategic response for tackling inequality and persistent poverty; poverty which residents were living in day in, day out and from generation to generation.

So with the help of many partners, CN4C was incorporated, with those involved unaware of what it could achieve and how many lives it would help to change.

CN4C works with communities to achieve the change that they want to see. We work in many different areas, on many different themes. These range from play days and creating community gardens, to ‘good practice’ trips to Cumbria to see what others have done. We also support the community to learn the broadcasting skills they need to report on community activities in Cornwall.

So far we’ve helped more than 2,000 people into employment and a further 2,500 to gain a qualification. We have also worked with 106 residents groups on community development projects. Over the last 10 years we have employed more than 250 people, over half of whom have come from our target client groups of long term unemployed or active volunteers on estates.

In January 2011 we relocated to the Elms, a brand new community resource situated in the old Labour Exchange on Green Lane, Redruth. We are very proud of The Elms and hope that it will become a model for investment in some of Cornwall’s other disadvantaged neighbourhoods. We firmly believe that a genuine way to help people is to provide high quality and accessible services right in the heart of the community by helping people to break free from the bonds of poverty and empowering them to ‘do it for themselves’.

Our Strategy and Influence:

We work at a strategic level to raise awareness of issues facing residents of social housing. Our target neighbourhoods are caught in a spiral of disadvantage; individuals will move out of social housing as and when they can, but the needs-based system of allocation and housing shortage means that vacant properties are occupied by those suffering the greatest disadvantage.

We work with policy makers and service providers to ensure that in accordance with national policy on social inclusion and neighbourhood renewal, resources in Cornwall are targeted to those communities most in need. We work with residents and service providers to build bridges and ensure that coherent and co-ordinated neighbourhood improvement plans are implemented.

Our key partners are:

● Cornwall Council
● Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
● Skills Funding Agency (SFA)
● Cornwall and Isle of Scilly Primary Care Trust (CIOSPCT)
● A range of social housing providers and local voluntary and private sector service providers

Our services are based on intensive and customised personal support and guidance. We can provide access to a back to work fund and also host an innovative and varied programme of community based training events. From literacy and numeracy to assertiveness, gardening or cooking. These even extend to degree level courses in power, democracy and Governance.

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Our Values:

Participation

● We work with individuals and communities to address their needs, desires and wants.

● We seek to create the highest degree of tenant and community participation in our activities.

● Empowerment and a community development approach ensure that all voices are heard.

Partnership

● Partnership is critical to our mission of making real and sustainable change.

● Residents are the key partner in neighbourhood renewal.

● We seek to work on an equal footing with all organisations strategically committed to neighbourhood renewal.

Professionalism

● We act with the highest degree of integrity and openness to promote quality and equality in delivery of our services.

● We are flexible in our approach and ensure that our skills, knowledge and experience are put at the service of the individuals and communities with whom we work.

● We set goals that are realistic and measure our achievements against them.

Communities:

As part of our communities service, we work with groups and communities who face specific disadvantages and needs. Many social housing estates in Cornwall have concentrations of young people and children living shoulder to shoulder with older and vulnerable residents. The provision of youth work and play development plays a vital part in creating resources for disadvantaged young people, children and families and improving community safety. We work with a range of grassroots community based organisations on Community Development Programmes across Cornwall.

Cornwall Residents Forum:

CN4C facilitates the Cornwall Residents Forum. Funded by the Big Lottery, this forum brings together social housing residents from across the County, allowing disadvantaged communities to provide a grass root, representative view to statutory organisations and service providers as a single, unified voice. These views are used to shape the strategic direction of CN4C.

CN4C Quality Statements:

● We listen to Communities and key stakeholders about our services and proactively seek to redress issues.

● Communities and stakeholders find working with us easy and pleasurable.

● We notice and congratulate our staff and teams when they perform well.

● We have teams and individuals who can respond quickly to changed circumstances, whatever they are.

● We invest in our staff to ensure that service delivery consistently and effectively meets the needs of communities.

● Senior management are fully and visibly engaged in service delivery

● We value our staff and welcome constructive feedback.

● Our staff enjoy the challenge of change.