Projects

The Polperro CIC is responsible for 2 ongoing projects in our historic
fishing village: operation and maintenance of the public toilets on the
harbour quay; and promotion of  and prizes for the annual Polperro in Bloom competitiion.

 

The CIC ran a innovative pilot for a business waste disposal scheme (including glass recycling) for many village businesses which has now been transferred to  commercial operators.

Public Toilets commercial 
Since the decision by Cornwall Council in 2015 to cease funding for all
public toilets in the county, the publics toilets on Polperro’s harbour quay
have been operated by the Polperro CIC. The annual running costs are met from a combination of the door entrance fee (currently 50p) and generous sponsorship from local
businesses and the Polperro Harbour Trust. Up to 20000 residents and visitors per
year utilise these facilities.
It is hoped that external grant funding can be secured in future to enable
conversion of one of the existing toilets into a unisex and disabled access facility, plus showers for visiting yachts.

The annual "Polperro in Bloom" competition:

We sponsor annual prizes and certificates, and award these to residents and businesses that create flower displays that contribute to the beauty of the village. 

 

Other CIC Projects:
The Polperro CIC is a formally constituted company with officially
appointed directors. It operates under a strict governance regime and is
a not-for-profit organisation. It is therefore well placed to bid into grant
making trusts and bodies and assist other village organisations who are
seeking funding for specific projects. Examples include:
a. Successfully bidding for £10000 from the National Lottery to
enable installation of a new central heating system in the
Polperro Village Hall.
b. Options are currently under consideration to install a disabled
lift access to the museum café and smugglers museum on the
north side of the harbour.

 

Community Service Award

Every year the Polperro Promotion Group CIC presents an award for Outstanding Community Service. In a village with a wonderful community spirit, it is a way of recognising those who really do go out of their way to support the community. The Award was instigated in memory of my late wife Barbara to recognise her love for the village and its people.

This year it was unanimously agreed by the CIC to award it to the staff of Couch’s Restaurant in Polperro.

Over the past 6 years Richard McGowan, the owner, and I have organised three fund raising dinners for Cornwall Air Ambulance, raising in total nearly £70,000. The latest, in March was attended by 140 people and raised just under £30,000.

These dinners are only possible, and as profitable, because of the generosity of a large number of people and companies, but, specifically the time and effort of Richard and his team in preparing and serving the wonderful food that is the centrepiece of the evenings.

All their time is voluntary, and the CIC felt that after 3 such successful dinners they truly deserved this trophy.

Richard Dodson, Finance director Polperro CIC