Penzance Council Awards Over £14,000 to Boost Festive Cheer and Community Projects

In the lead-up to Christmas, Penzance Council has awarded more than £14,000 in grant funding to support local community organisations. The funding will contribute to festive events such as Christmas lights displays and the celebrated Montol Festival, alongside ongoing community projects.

This latest round of grants brings the council’s total funding for the financial year to over £60,000, backing 20 community organisations and initiatives across the parish. Past funding has supported events like St Piran’s Day celebrations and provided hot meals for those in need.

Who Benefits from the Latest Funding?

Six organisations received funding in the latest allocation:

• Montol Festival: Penzance’s annual midwinter solstice celebration, held on 21 December, has been granted £5,000. The funding will ensure the event is safe and accessible for the community. Aaron Broadhurst from the organising committee shared: “A huge thank you to Penzance Council for awarding Montol grant funding again. In a world of spiralling costs, the money will ensure that this year’s festival shines as brightly as ever: bigger, more inclusive and safer than before.”
• Newlyn Harbour Lights: The Christmas lights switch-on event on 6 December will receive £6,000. This year’s event will feature a hybrid fireworks display combining traditional and quieter fireworks. Judith Goodwin from Newlyn Harbour Lights said: “The very generous grant will enable us to fund the spectacular hybrid fireworks display that marks the official start of Christmas in Newlyn – a much-anticipated event by the whole community and beyond!”
• Treneere Team Spirit: A £1,500 grant will help mark the 10th anniversary of the Treneere Christmas lights display. Chair Trudi Lobb said: “With the wonderful support from Penzance Council and others, this year’s celebration is set to be the best one yet!”
• Heamoor Community Interest Organisation: Heamoor CIO has been granted £500 to replace older Christmas lights, ensuring their festive displays continue to brighten up the village.
• PZ Studios: Local artists at PZ Studios received £998 to create the Wharfside Art Hub, a new pop-up gallery space in the Wharfside Shopping Centre. Mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds commented: “This new gallery has the potential to raise the profile of hundreds of artists over the next two years by offering an affordable space to showcase their work, whilst at the same time bringing footfall back into an empty retail unit.”
• Quiet Connections: A grant of £254 will support weekly meet-ups for socially anxious individuals, held at The Lescudjack Centre. Hayley Stanton, founder of Quiet Connections CIC, said: “These Meet Ups are invaluable, offering not only social connections but also a sense of belonging that is often hard to find elsewhere.”

How to Apply for Future Funding

Penzance Council encourages local community groups and charities to apply for funding. With the current grant funding budget now fully allocated, new applications can be submitted from April 2025, ahead of the 2025/26 financial year.

To learn more about the grants or how to apply, visit Penzance Council’s website or contact their offices by phone on 01736 363405 or email at info@penzance-tc.gov.uk.

This funding round demonstrates the council’s ongoing commitment to supporting festive celebrations and meaningful community projects across Penzance.