Duchy Health Charity Limited

Duchy Health Charity Limited, established in 1976 from the proceeds of Cornwall's first private hospital sale, is a Cornwall-based grantmaker dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing for residents of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. With over £9 million distributed since inception, its mission evolves from direct healthcare to acting as an agile catalyst for change—prioritising prevention, collaborative innovation, and measurable impacts on health inequalities through grants, seminars, research dissemination, and networking. Volunteer-led by trustees, it emphasises empowerment, partnership, and best-practice sharing across voluntary, NHS, and statutory sectors.

The charity funds health-focused projects targeting mental health, social prescribing, isolation, dementia, parent support, and integrated wellbeing—such as school-based centres and community initiatives—for all ages, especially disadvantaged or vulnerable groups. Supported activities include service enhancements, project delivery, capacity building, partnerships, research uptake, and awareness-raising, favouring innovative, sustainable solutions with local impact.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, community groups, and social enterprises operating exclusively in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with a preference for small to medium-sized organisations demonstrating strong governance and safeguarding; no strict income limits apply, and unsolicited applications are welcomed.

Grants typically range from £5,000 to £30,000. Submit via online form: up to £5,000 anytime for monthly review (decisions within two weeks post-month-end); over £5,000 at least one month before quarterly meetings (decisions within two weeks after). Exclusions cover core costs (rarely new project salaries), capital items, non-health activities, or projects outside the geography. Distinctive for its deep local roots, adaptability to emerging needs, and system-level influence via conferences, it champions collaborative, pragmatic health improvements in Cornwall's voluntary sector.