Our Background

….and how we grew

MCL launch 1999 County Hall.jpg

Mid-Cornwall Lifestyles started in 1999 as a project from a concept first developed by a group of disabled people who wanted to develop their own lifestyles. They received a development grant of £5000 to enable them to do just that. Within the first year they won a lottery bid worth nearly £123,000 which enabled the project to begin - helping disabled adults live the lifestyles of their choice. Many of these founding members remain Trustees of the charity to this day …

… Mid-Cornwall Lifestyles then went from strength to strength. More adults with a long terrm health condition or disability were being supported and the dedicated team of Support Workers grew and grew.

We achieved charitable status and became financially independent in 2002 and became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2013.

Based initially in Bodmin (hence the name Mid-Cornwall), the charity now has its headquarters in Bude and serves the whole of Cornwall.

Mid-Cornwall Lifestyles achieves its income from a mix of individuals who use their Direct Payments from Adult Social Care and Community Health Trusts to fund the support we provide and from other funders and grant making trusts.

For 20 years the charity has been very successfully managed by Barry Marsh, in post from the start in 1999. It was in 2019 that Barry handed over the reigns to its new CEO, Ed Whitefield. Ed now leads the county-wide strong team of clients and Support Workers in continuing the charity’s vision, offering personalised support to individuals so that they can live life to their tune.

Mid-Cornwall Lifestyles CIO No. 1152509