Cornwall Rural Community Charity

Speaker: Katherine Nissen, CEO of Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) pictured with father-in-law, Rotarian Karsten Nissen, along with Club President Jon Symons. 

Katherine spoke with warmth, humour, and clear dedication to her work, quickly winning the attention of everyone present. She shared personal reflections on growing up in Cornwall and how that deep connection to the county's communities has shaped her leadership style. 

Katherine's pride in Cornwall was evident as she described her daily motivation-working alongside "a passionate and dedicated team of people who make a difference every day to the lives of people in our communities." Her talk was filled with stories of projects that make tangible changes in people's lives, from supporting young people into training and work, to helping unpaid carers find the resources and respite they need. 

She spoke with special enthusiasm about Cornwall's fishing and coastal communities, where CRCC's Fishing Animateur project has been nationally recognised. The energy and conviction with which Katherine described these initiatives left a strong impression on members underlining how vital the work is in the county's wellbeing.

Cornwall Rural Community Charity - A Snapshot 

Mission & Scope 

CRCC's mission is to enable Cornish communities to be vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive. It operates across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, supporting local people, voluntary bodies, and authorities in areas such as education, training, poverty relief, environment, heritage, rural regeneration, and health and wellbeing. 

Scale & Reach 

Around 90 staff and an annual turnover of about £4 million.

In the year ending March 2024, total income was £3.92 million, with £3.45 million spent directly on charitable activities. 

Core Areas of Work;

Rural & Coastal - Including award-winning initiatives like Fishing Animateur, which helps fishing communities access funding.

Education & Training - Such as Learn Your Way, supporting 16-24-year-olds into learning and work.

Carers & Wellbeing - Delivering essential support for unpaid carers and other vulnerable groups. Founded in 1946, CRCC has grown from its post-war roots into one of Cornwall's most trusted community organisations. Recent developments include winning a contract to deliver the Carers Service in Swindon from January 2026—evidence of its growing reputation beyond the county. 

Katherine's visit gave our Rotary members a clear sense of the scale and impact of CRCC's work and the passion driving it forward. Her mix of local pride, strategic vision, and hands-on community understanding resonated deeply with the club's ethos of service above self. 

For more information about the charity and its work, please visit their website https://cornwallrcc.org.uk/