HOMELESS CHARITY OPENS UP HOMELESS HUB IN BISHOP
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CORNERSTONE Supported Housing and Counselling , the homeless charity, founded by Steve Vasey
14 years ago, has opened a homeless hub in Bishop Auckland.
Cornerstone is an independent charity dedicated to fostering positive change in people’s lives by
creating safe housing opportunities, building communities, providing practical experience and
teaching life skills
It is a homeless organisation and training centre. The charity provides emergency housing and
semi-supported housing in County Durham. It runs a joinery workshop that builds a strong
community resource where service users and the public can improve skills, employment prospects
and self confidence while working towards a positive community relationship.
It has a ‘Rough sleeper Assertive Outreach’ team who support those who are sleeping rough and
homeless into safe housing as well as carrying out street sweeps during the day, at nighttime and
early in the mornings. They have emergency beds to utilise and have expertise in aiding those with
alcohol and drug addicition and misuse as well as those who have suffered domestic violence and
those who are suffering mental health problems.
One of the Trustees of the charity is Weardale County Councillor, Anita Savory, who has aided the
charity since 2013 and works hard to help them achieve their aims.
There is also a huge charity shop in Bishop Auckland too and a Community hub and retail outlet in
Hartlepool town centre, which opened in 2022. The hub has quickly delivered a central access point
for many local public support service workers from areas of financial advice, debt management,
domestic violence, drug, alcohol, and substance rehabilitation, physical wellness, mental health, and
works in collaboration with other local charities on all these issues being particularly active on food
poverty
This year 725 people attended the hub, 558 supported with food, 281 supported by agencies
(START, Cornerstone, HBC, Advice at Hart, Positive solutions, Re-loved clothing, UCQ).
A typical story of those aided by Cornerstone is a female aged 45 with nowhere to go after
property closure, unable to get housed anywhere. Stayed in the charity’s first steps scheme for 14
nights before moving on to a step forward property for a further few weeks. After hard work from
the charity’s support staff and re engaging with other services during its drop ins, she secured her
own long-term tenancy. She has been housed for almost 1 year.
And now it has opened a new homeless hub in Bishop Auckland too.
A statement from the charity said: ‘The need for support in the area is greater than ever, with no
other daily provisions in place but our team is already working hard, supplying essential daily support
in Bishop Auckland. At Cornerstone, we pride ourselves on being a transparent charity and love the
opportunity to connect with the community, showing them firsthand the support we provide to those
facing homelessness.’
But they can’t do all of the work required without the help of volunteers who are urgently needed.
Are YOU able to help with: Collections & deliveries, Handling food & essential donations, Cleaning
tasks, Meet and greet and much more
If you want to be part of Bishop Auckland’s first Homeless Hub and help support those in need,
email us today at
Let’s end homelessness together
