A cafe has linked with a national charity to offer support.

Cornerstone, a community coffee bar set in the heart of Denton Holme which is linked to the St James Church, has linked with national charity, the Rees Foundation, to offer a safe social space for care experienced people to access useful information and connect with support in the vibrant atmosphere of the cafe. 

Established by Foster carer Jan Rees OBE in 2013, the Rees Foundation provides support and financial assistance to care experienced people of any age.

The charity sees massive potential in the collaboration as they have been impressed with Cornerstone’s dedication to meeting the needs of people in their local community. 

The café is already used by a wide range of community groups and provides laptops and free super-fast WIFI, alongside delicious drinks. As well as the brilliant groups and activities, Cornerstone also runs a charity shop, the proceeds of which support the costs of the café and the community work they do.

The Rees Foundation already has affiliated community cafes in other locations across the UK, but the collaboration with Cornerstone is the first of its kind in Carlisle. 

Cornerstone's manager, Andy Blake, said: "We ran a wellbeing cafe called Renew over the summer, because of that, we linked up social prescribers across the area, and the Rees Foundation wanted to link with cafes across the country where people can go and someone will be available to chat with hem or to refer them to organisations such as Rees.

"Me, the deputy manager and a volunteer who is one of the church wardens at St James Church have been put through a training course, particularly about suicide."

A Rees Guest Card is available to all care experienced people, which provides free hot drinks and discounts on food offered at the cafe.

For more information, visit www.reesfoundation.org, and https://www.cornerstonecarlisle.org/

For support accessing the Rees Guest Card, call 0330 094 5645.