Penwith Community Development Trust

Penwith Community Development Trust (PCDT) aims to support and enhance community activity, in particular through the development of local partnerships and networks, to encourage community regeneration. As an 'umbrella' organisation, the Trust offers advice and support to local voluntary and community organisations.

Cornwall Inter-link
Through the Cornwall Infrastructure Partnership PCDT is involved with
improving and extending the Voice of the Voluntary and Community Sector across Cornwall. PCDT leads on the work of Cornwall Inter-Link, which provides effective infrastructure at a local level to enable VCS organisations (especially smaller 'grassroots' groups) to get together on a regular basis in locality areas to network, share information, resources and good practice

Not only does Cornwall Inter-link provide the mechanism whereby the members communicate with one another, (Cornwall Inter-Link has a database of over 2,500 members which can be used to quickly get information to and from the VCS), but it also provides a link with local LSPs to ensure that the voice of the VCS is heard at a more strategic level.

Quality Assurance
Also, PCDT became accreditors of the PQASSO Quality Mark and provide "Implementing PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations) Workshops" to VCS organisations in Cornwall, and provides follow-up / support sessions in order to support them to implement PQASSO within their organisations. PCDT is also developing the 'Inter-link Capability Model (ILCM) which will enable organisations to benchmark themselves against specific criteria in order to prove their capability to deliver high quality services.

PCDT has been commissioned to co-ordinate the development of the CIP's Business Plan for the next 7 years 2008 - 2015.

At this time, PCDT Chairs the CIP.

Visit our website : www.pcdt.org