The Children’s Alliance charity is looking to fund community projects in Cornwall to create better starts and brighter futures for children.

It has £60,000 available in grants to support community initiatives related to water and swimming.

The charity welcomes applications from a range of establishments, including swimming groups, long-running sports clubs, schools, special needs organisations, or anything that improves children's lives and lets them benefit from being in the water.

Founded in 2019 by Steve Franks, CEO of the world's largest baby and toddler swimming school, Water Babies, the Children’s Alliance has recently secured vital charitable status.

This was hailed as a major milestone in Water Babies' history, allowing the group to continue the campaigns and projects they’ve been working on.

The charity, although newly designated with charitable status, has been lobbying in parliament and acting in the community since its inception.

It has successfully helped 477 children across the UK through a variety of initiatives including provision for SEN swimming lessons, surf therapy, special swimwear, and repair work carried out to sensory pool facilities.

Notably, collaborations include providing swimwear via the Leigh Trust for five inner-city schools in Birmingham for Muslim children, and supporting 50 young mental health patients in North Yorkshire through surf therapy with The Wave Project.

Falmouth Packet: It has £60,000 available in grants to support community initiatives related to water and swimming

In the pursuit of better early years experiences, it aims to counter the statistic that one in six children in the UK struggle with social, emotional, or mental health issues.

Its aim is to instigate change in the first five years, which it believes will have a lasting positive impact on children's lives.

The founder of Water Babies and chair of trustees at the Children’s Alliance, Paul Thompson said: "We’re thrilled to have gained charity status for Children’s Alliance and have already started working with communities to support children and young people accessing water and experiencing the benefits water can bring.

"Children are at the heart of Water Babies, and Children’s Alliance formalises our charitable work and provides an action plan of how to give back to families and communities, helping to provide better starts and brighter futures for children."