Community Support
Falmouth Harbour is the UK’s Atlantic Gateway as the first and last major port strategically located in western approaches, offering rapid access to or from the North Atlantic. Through statute we have been entrusted with one of the most special sensitive marine environments in the UK and an incredible asset for Cornwall. We have a duty to safely manage Falmouth Harbour; to facilitate sustainable development and long-term prosperity of the harbour to the benefit of its users and the wider community and to improve and to pass the Harbour forward to the next working generation in a better state. We protect and restore an ocean workplace and playground where everyone, people and wildlife are safe, prosperous and happy – delivering amazing wellbeing for all.
With limited resources we try and support team members with outside interests as well as community groups whose ethos aligns with our own.
In 2025 we are supporting Wild Kernow to support the return of Ospreys to the harbour by sponsoring artificial nesting platforms
In June 2024 Falmouth Town opened its free to use Skatepark. To enhance the skatepark grass, wildflowers and trees have been planted around the park. The skatepark has been designed for wheelchair access and use and is free to use. Falmouth Harbour were pleased to be able to support this project with the donation of one of the trees.
In February 2024 we were delighted to sponsor The Ravens, one of the Falmouth Community Youth Football Club teams (Falmouth Community Youth Football Club (falmouthcommunityfootball.uk) and enable them to buy their training jackets. Falmouth Community Youth Football Club ‘s ethos is ‘Every player has the opportunity to play football in a safe environment with the correct level of challenge for them to develop to the best of their ability. Football for all.’ We think that this aligns very well with our own ethos and are glad to be able to support community football in Falmouth. We wish the Ravens every success for the remainder of the season.
Over the 2023/2024 seal pup season we sponsored the Cornish Seal Sanctuary to help fund the team there who cared for 63 rescued seal pups. Given our marine credentials we were delighted to be able to support the Seal Sanctuary in the important work that they do.
Falmouth Harbour offers work experience placements for university, college and secondary school students interested in developing a career in the marine sector within an area relevant to our activities. In 2024 we welcomed 4 secondary school students (Penryn and Isles of Scilly), 2 college students , 2 University of Exeter students who completed work on nature recovery and waste, 3 business sustainability students who completed a review of circular economy opportunities for Falmouth Harbour.
A major initiative has been to create a Vessel Restriction Zone at Gyllyngvase Beach. This initiative aims to enhance safety and reduce the risk of accidents involving vessels and people near the beach by creating a dedicated area for swimmers and water users.
Falmouth Harbour also plays a key role in supporting community events. It facilitates and often sponsors important local celebrations, including regattas and maritime festivals such as Falmouth Classics Regatta and Classic Boat Parade, since it began, in 1987, Falmouth Classics has steadily grown to be one of the largest Classic sailing events in the UK, Castle to castle swim, ensuring the harbour remains at the heart of the area’s social and cultural identity. Falmouth Harbour Authority works closely with local yacht clubs to sponsor, provide personnel and vessels to improve safe, accessible water space for these events.
