About Us

Our aim is support voluntary and community groups in Penwith and Kerrier. This means supporting them in terms of gaining access to funding, training and information.

Community networks are seen by the Government as essential in order to are sure the voluntary and community sector is fully involved in making policy and in particular to help Local Authorities define their Community Strategies.

Part of our role involves running conferences, events and training for the Community and Voluntary Sector as a first step in developing their active involvement in the Local Strategic Partnership and in order to become fully involved in neighbourhood renewal and regeneration, including the working of the different funds.

WCCN also provides two-way communication between the Community and Voluntary Sectors, public bodies and the business sector.

West Cornwall Community Network helps Community and Voluntary Organisations to improve the way that they work and to help them to have a say in the way that the statutory services are delivered locally.

WCCN does this by:

	Improving communications between voluntary and community (V&C) groups through Inter-Link meetings and newsletters
	Improving communications between V&C groups, support organisations and funders. We do this through Inter-Link events, meetings and newsletters and WCCN Conferences
	Improving the way that groups and individuals work by providing training and awareness events
	Encouraging and coordinating partnership working with statutory organisations and also the business sector throughout West Cornwall
	Giving advice and guidance through our Inter-Link workers
	Helping with setting up groups by advising on the type of organisation and constitution that they might require, as well as how to establish good practice in terms of accounting, record keeping, chairing meetings and minute taking
	Support community consultation by encouraging V&C groups to take part in public sector consultation activities and encouraging the public sector to engage fully with the V&C sector
	Support small funding applications through our inter-link workers
	Managing small grants funds for the V&C sector on behalf of funders
	Conducting surveys and research in order to demonstrate the value added by the V&C sector to statutory organisations
	Coordinating the voluntary and community sector effort within the West Cornwall Together Local Strategic Partnership (WCCN effectively 'owns' the five seats on behalf of the V&C sector). This includes supporting representatives from the voluntary sector to influence the decisions made in West Cornwall
	Looking at ways in which the Voluntary Sector can deliver services on behalf of statutory organisations
	Supporting the Area Forums in West Cornwall, such as the Market and Coastal Town Initiatives and other Area Forums

WCCN is an independent organisation and to ensure it stays this way, a Consortium made up of organisations in the voluntary sector steers the work of WCCN. WCCN is managed by Penwith Community Development trust.

Contact Details

Address:
West Cornwall Community Network
Crow-an-Bal
Berlewen Building
Trevenson Rd
Trevenson / Pool
Camborne
Cornwall
TR15 3PL
Phone: 01209-614909
Fax: 01209-612027

Tom Jane, WCCN Co-ordinator	tom@wccn.org.uk
Douglas Polman, Kerrier Inter-Link Officer	douglas@wccn.org.uk
Andrew Climo, ILCM Model Advisor	andrew@wccn.org.uk
Beccy Trahair, Penwith Inter-Link Officer	beccy@wccn.org.uk
David Scoffin, Technical Support Officer	david@wccn.org.uk
Adam Strowger, Administration Assistant	admin@wccn.org.uk