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Charity Assistance Landmark Reached
(July 27, 2020)A local charity has reached a milestone in its efforts to support local residents in need of help with a wide variety of financial and social issues that modern life brings with it.
The home of Cornerstone is the building in the central car park opened by Princess Anne in 1990, and from around 200 in their first year, an average of 15 each month, they have now recorded over 3500 ‘episodes of assistance’ taking it to the landmark average figure of 50.
“We operate under Christian values to help relieve poverty and distress, irrespective of race, religion, gender, disability, politics, et cetera” s
aid Trustees chairman Denis Tones.
“We came together as the result of a local church home group discussion.
“We saw a real need for people to have somewhere to go and seek confidential help and support - the idea of Cornerstone soon became the project.”
They opened in June 2014 after an initial seed-corn grant from the town council. A ‘barking mad dog show’ in Upton Scudamore sponsored by The RACS Group gave them the boost to register as a charity.
Interim Pandemic Service
“Cornerstone is staffed entirely by volunteers drawn from the local community who have a heart for helping others,” said Denis who is one of eight trustees in a team of twenty volunteers.
“The charity, after the one-off help from the council, is funded entirely from donations and supported by unpaid volunteers who give up their own time to help others.”
They have continued to operate a telephone and e-mail service throughout the pandemic and hope to re-open their doors during the first week in September.
Under more normal times they would also be out and about in the community helping with everything from benefit-related claims and assessments to helping the homeless.
Some claim forms are complex, 36 pages long, and need to be printed off, or can only be accessed on-line.
Cornerstone can help at their home base or by taking the technology to those with disabilities or who are isolated.
“We are a local charity who love to help people to help themselves,” summed up Denis.