Cornwall community hubs and gateway service supports local people to be happier and healthier while saving the NHS millions

The review of the Community Gateway and Hub Network, a partnership between the NHS, Cornwall Council and the voluntary sector, shows the programme is reducing demand on GP practices, emergency departments and ambulance services by connecting people to support earlier and closer to home. People also reported significant personal benefits, including feeling happier, less lonely and more confident in managing their health and wellbeing.

Aisling Crombie, Director of nursing at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, said: “We are seeing first-hand how the Community Gateway and Hub Network supports our residents across the county, helping them to stay well and maintain their confidence and independence in managing their own health.  I am heartened by individual stories of the significant impact these services have on people.

“By working alongside our voluntary sector partners, we’re able to support people earlier, in a more personalised way, closer to home, which is helping to reduce demand on frontline NHS services. The financial analysis in Helpforce’s evaluation reinforces what we already know from experience, investing in community capacity delivers real system-wide benefits.”

A network of more than 50 community hubs provide safe, local access to support for issues including mental health, caring responsibilities, falls prevention, long‑term conditions, healthy eating, social connection and practical challenges such as money worries and housing.

A 7‑day‑a‑week Community Gateway phone line complements the hubs by supporting and directing people to the right health, care or voluntary sector support.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, the hubs recorded 339,951 attendances. The Community Gateway handled 54,814 contacts, developed 5,274 personalised support plans and made 2,287 healthcare referrals.

Helpforce’s research indicates that without the hubs, 24% of attendees would have gone to their GP, 8% to hospital, and 6% would have called 999 – generating the £11.6 million estimated saving.

Amerjit Chohan, CEO of Helpforce, said: “Cornwall’s Community Gateway and Hub Network connect people to personalised care on their doorsteps, helping individuals to ‘wait well’ while on treatment pathways, preventing avoidable admissions, and supporting safe discharge back into the community.

“This is one of the clearest examples in the UK of how voluntary and community organisations can transform the way healthcare is delivered. Our independent research shows that the resources are not only improving people’s wellbeing and independence, but they are also saving the NHS an estimated £11.6 million a year in avoided costs.

“Models like this must be sustained, scaled and embedded to enable the NHS to deliver its 10-Year Health Plan moving care into neighbourhoods. Cornwall’s trailblazing approach has created a blueprint that other healthcare systems must now follow.”

Helpforce’s evaluation found strong wellbeing outcomes:

•      88% of people felt less isolated
•      93% reported improved mood
•      85% had improved self‑esteem
•      Confidence in managing health rose from 59% to 88%

Among those supported is 72‑year‑old Penzance resident Tess Patten, who was isolated and struggling after bereavement and financial difficulties before being supported by the Pengarth Hub.

“Suddenly I had caring people to talk to, and support was on hand if I needed it,” Tess said. The hub helped her regain confidence, manage finances and avoid a decline that she believes would have led to hospital admission.


“Now I constantly look forward to visiting the hub, knowing that if I need help it’s always there.”

This work aligns directly with the NHS’s national ambition to strengthen neighbourhood health, prioritise prevention and shift more care into communities as set out in the NHS 10‑Year Plan.

By connecting residents to early, personalised support in trusted local spaces, the Community Gateway and Hub Network demonstrates how neighbourhood-based services can reduce reliance on hospitals, tackle rising demand, and help people stay well for longer.

The model reflects the Plan’s commitment to expanding integrated community care, building local resilience, and ensuring that more people receive the right help at the right time, closer to home.

Cornwall Community Gateway and Hub Network partners include Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, Volunteer Cornwall, Age UK Cornwall, and Cornwall Council.

Rae Hall, CEO of Volunteer Cornwall, said: “Cornwall’s communities are our greatest asset. The hubs are trusted, welcoming spaces where people feel safe to ask for help and build connections. Together with the Community Gateway, they have helped avoid more than £11 million in NHS costs in one year. Behind that extraordinary figure are thousands of individual stories of people feeling less isolated, more confident and better supported. This shows what is possible when communities are recognised as central to the health and care system.”

Tracey Roose, CEO of Age UK Cornwall, which manages the Community Gateway, said: “Through delivery of Gateway services, we see every day how powerful it is when people can get the right support early, from someone who understands their community. This research shows what local organisations can achieve when we work together with a shared purpose.”

People can access the Community Gateway by calling 01872 266383 or emailing welcome@kernowgateway.org.uk. The service operates 8am–8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including Christmas Day.


Find your nearest community hub: https://www.volunteercornwall.org.uk/hubs