Running a foodbank, food pantry and community coffee bar alongside work at St James Church, Carlisle’s Andy Blake’s passion for helping the vulnerable in our area knows no bounds.

Like many, however, the past six months have been difficult for both Mr Blake and Cornerstone, the community hub he manages.

Alongside 40 other volunteers, prior to Covid-19, Cornerstone ran coffee mornings for those live on their own to come and meet with friends.

Andy said: “Loneliness and isolation is a big issue at the moment. Before Covid we had a coffee bar where we had things such as a ‘Chatter and Natter table’ where members of the community could sit down at a table and people would join them. We found through that that a lot of people were lonely and were looking for people to chat with.”

Following lockdown, however, this crucial work put on by Andy and his team has had to adapt and from this week, the coffee mornings essential to so many will now take place digitally.

“We are trying to get around this is by, alongside our phone number being made available, running a coffee morning from this coming Thursday via Zoom where people can link up with us for a lighthearted chat and quiz,” he explains.

“Many of our volunteers help out as they are on their own often so the lockdown has also affected our volunteers alongside a lot of the people we usually help.”

Since lockdown, the running of Cornerstone has become a much harder proposition, with volunteers unable to help and demand increasing.

“After the lockdown we’ve lost about 20 volunteers who’ve had to stay away which obviously puts more strain on the running of the foodbank and the coffee shop so it essentially has been myself, my deputy and a volunteer.

“This week particularly we’ve seen a big increase in demand at the foodbank. I’ve had four parcels already which are due for collection today.”

Despite the challenges Cornerstone, their volunteers and those they help have had recently, Andy remains focused and dedicated to helping his community.

“Lots of people had a routine of coming to our coffee mornings. We’re hoping that we can help them to have contact still.”