A COMMUNITY cafe in Carlisle is launching a new scheme to help the community during uncertain financial times.

Cornerstone Cafe in Denton Holme will launch its pay what you can scheme on Monday, allowing people to donate however much they can for drinks and snacks.

The scheme will be trialled throughout October before a decision is taken over whether or not to extend it.

Andy Blake, manager, said ‘It’s been a tough year for everyone, so many people are struggling mentally and financially, and there is a lot of uncertainty about jobs.

“We really want to help our community get through this tough time so one way we can do that is to allow our customers to choose how much they can afford to pay for their drink and cake.

“We won’t be judging our customers on what they pay, but I do ask that people don’t abuse the system, I would love this to become the new norm for Cornerstone but that depends on how the trial goes.”

Cornerstone is more than just a place to get a good cup of coffee, it also has a food bank and hosts community get togethers.

It is open between 9am-4pm Monday to Friday.