INTERVIEW: Revamped Lancaster community centre set to officially reopen

Thursday, 22 September 2022 15:33

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Phil McGrath, manager of the Cornerstone in Lancaster

Beyond Radio has been to look around a refurbished Lancaster community centre ahead of its official relaunch this Saturday (September 24).

The Cornerstone on Sulyard Street, just off Dalton Square, will host an open day to show off its new facilities and its plans for the future.

Located in the 800-year-old Lancaster Methodist Church building, the community centre has been open since 2016 and offers a safe space in Lancaster for everyone.

LISTEN to Phil McGrath talking about the open day and upcoming events at the Cornerstone.

"We've had a bit of a refurb," said Phil McGrath, manager of the Cornerstone.

"We've created more rooms so people can do particular activities. We didn't have enough space, so we've tried to create more space, and we'll relaunch that on Saturday.

"What we do is all around building mental health and supporting people in the community.

"We're a safe space for everyone in the community from all walks of life.

"We're trying to open the cafe more. We did have the cafe running as a full-time cafe but unfortunately during lockdown we had to close the cafe, so we're looking at relaunching activities in the cafe, five days a week."

The Cornerstone is also used by around 30 different groups.

When we visited on Thursday morning, we met The Making Place craft group, the team from Lancaster & District CVS (Community and Voluntary Solutions), Lancashire Youth Challenge, Corina from the Craft Aid charity, and RAIS Lancaster (Refugee Advocacy, Information and Support) who all use the centre.

Pictured below are Alison Marsh, Michele Haworth and Elise Bell from The Making Place group

Corina Redmore from the Craft Aid charity, who has a regular Thursday stall at The Cornerstone selling Fairtrade and ethical goods

Yak Patel, Catherine Westwell and Jenny Reddell from Lancaster CVS.

Keith Carman and Dr Elizabeth Hare from RAIS (Refugee Advocacy, Information and Support) Lancaster

The Cornerstone will be launching a number of new initiatives in the coming weeks.

They include a dementia cafe focusing on music and local memories from the 50s, 60s and 70s, starting this Monday, September 26, and a weekly Tuesday drop-in cafe.

The centre will also host a Wellbeing Week from October 29 and will be co-ordinating an ambitious project called 'Giving Tuesday Talents' on November 29 - an attempt to recruit 500,000 people to volunteer for an hour in their communities across the globe.

Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster, will cut the ribbon to officially reopen the Cornerstone on Saturday.

Beyond Radio's own Mateo Sanderson will also be there.

Mateo will relaunch the only 'Changing Place' accessible toilet facilities for disabled people in the city centre, which are located in the Cornerstone.

The day is open to all from 10.30am until 3pm. The cafe will be open for snacks and drinks.

Phil McGrath hosts the Quick Draw Radio Show on Mondays at 6pm on Beyond Radio.

Have you got a local news story? Email us now, newsdesk@beyondradio.co.uk

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