Key Information On Cornerstone House Building Closure And Service Status During Latest COVID-19 Level 4 Restrictions

Visitors and users of Cornerstone House are asked to take note that the building will be closed until further notice given Scottish Government’s latest announcement that mainland Scotland will remain under strict Level 4 coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions at present.

This means that the popular facility will not reopen until North Lanarkshire returns to Level 3 coronavirus restrictions. As such, its earliest possible opening will be Monday 26 April 2021, although it is still possible that closure will be required for a longer period.

The health and safety of those who normally visit the building continue to be of paramount concern to Cornerstone House Centre during the pandemic. Hence, the below information is provided by Cornerstone House Centre following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s statement of Tuesday 23 March 2021 regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) protection levels in Scotland.

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IMPORTANT STATEMENT FOR VISITORS TO CORNERSTONE HOUSE DURING JANUARY 2021

Cornerstone House Centre’s building at 1 Esk Walk (Town Centre, Cumbernauld, G67 1BZ) will be closed until at least Monday 26 April 2021, with the exception of essential service provision.

Therefore, visitors or service users of any organisation operating from the building are instructed to not to visit the venue during this period. Those who access essential services provided by Bethlehem House of Bread Food Bank and Partners In Play are asked to read the below information before assessing whether and when they should visit.

It is intended that the building will reopen as soon as North Lanarkshire is reduced from Level 4 restrictions by Scottish Government. This is subject to change in response to Scottish Government announcements over the coming period.

The team at Cornerstone House Centre thanks everyone for their ongoing patience and understanding in relation to this matter and apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused.

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CURRENT OPERATIONAL STATUS OF KEY SERVICES NORMALLY PROVIDED AT CORNERSTONE HOUSE

Bethlehem House of Bread Food Bank

Bethlehem House of Bread Food Bank continues to operate each Thursday from 5.00pm-6.30pm during the period of the building closure. Please note individuals are permitted to attend the Food Bank by referral only.

Food Banks are permitted to remain open at the present time as they deliver an essential service for people experiencing food poverty. However, there are some important restrictions on who is able to enter the Cornerstone House building at the time the Food Bank is open.

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of being unwell, including those with a cough, runny nose, fever, a high temperature or difficulty breathing, MUST NOT visit Cornerstone House under any circumstances.

Older people and those with underlying health conditions that are not showing symptoms are also asked not to visit the building unless approved in advance by the Food Bank.

For those attending the facility during Food Bank opening hours, please be assured that extra measures are being taken at this time to ensure standards of building cleanliness are maximised. People visiting the Food Bank are asked to be extra vigilant in washing their hands and with personal hygiene when they do attend.

If you require assistance, the Food Bank can be contacted via Facebook or on 07737 999104.

Partners In Play

The Cumbernauld Hub of Partners In Play, which operates from Cornerstone House, is exempt from Level 4 coronavirus restrictions as it provides an essential service. However, the same restrictions highlighted above for visitors of Bethlehem House of Bread Food Bank also apply to visitors of Partners In Play.

Opening times and information in relation to the organisation’s current service provision can be obtained by contacting Tracy Smith on 07908 029462 or emailing tracy@partnersinplay.org.uk.

Cornerstone House Centre

The Cumbernauld CHaT (Community Help and Talk) Service, which was launched in 2020 by Cornerstone House Centre to provide a range of free practical supports, interventions, advice giving and chat options for Cumbernauld citizens during the pandemic, is still fully operational at this time.

A telephone helpline, open from 9.00am-9.00pm every day, and email support service can be accessed free of charge through Cumbernauld CHaT. Independent of statutory agencies, the service aims to act as a first stop shop for advice, guidance, signposting, social contact and practical assistance for local people in need of help at this challenging time.

Cornerstone House Centre also continues to coordinate Cumbernauld Family Hub, Cumbernauld Community Health Information Hub, Cumbernauld CAN (Community Anchor Network) and other key services remotely during the period of the building closure.

Cornerstone House Centre’s Community Space facility, located at Unit 14 of Antonine Shopping Centre, has only been opened for specific events since the onset of the pandemic. This facility will be fully closed until Level 4 restrictions are eased.

The best way to contact the organisation at this time is through telephoning 07940 569527 or emailing admin@cornerstone-house.org.uk. Latest updates can also be obtained by visiting the organisation’s website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Cornerstone Cafe

Cornerstone Cafe, which has been opening every Tuesday-Saturday in recent months, is included in the building closure and is now closed until at least Monday 26 April 2021. Latest updates can be accessed by visiting the Cafe’s Facebook page.

Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Services

Weekly Sunday worship services provided by Cornerstone Christian Fellowship have not been taking place since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

However, a worship service is currently being streamed online every Sunday at 11.00am through the church’s Facebook page, with an open invitation extended to all. Further updates can be obtained by visiting the organisation’s website.

Other Services Operating from the Building

Weekly activities organised by ACH Dance Company and Musical Theatre, VMJ Acting Academy, Phoenix Futures, Extravadance Academy, Slimming World, Abronhill Credit Union, C.EMM Dance, Caroline Jane Dance Academy, Cumbernauld Traditional Taekwondo Association, GTF Cumbernauld Taekwondo, XS Taekwondo Cumbernauld, Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir, Rhythm Time Cumbernauld, Safe Space Counselling and Cancer Research UK will not take place in the Cornerstone House building during the lockdown period.

Service users are asked to contact these organisations directly for further information and updates regarding their service provision and contingency plans.

Unfortunately, all scheduled room hires planned for during the closure period require to be postponed given Scottish Government’s statement. To reschedule, please contact Cornerstone House Centre on 07940 569527 or email admin@cornerstone-house.org.uk.

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LEVEL 4 RESTRICTIONS: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR CUMBERNAULD CITIZENS?

In November 2020, Scottish Government set out a new structure of COVID-19 protection levels (sometimes known as tiers or the tier system) for local authority areas across the country. There are five different levels, with 0 being the lowest level and 4 being the highest level.

All of mainland Scotland is current at the highest level of protection, Level 4, and will remain in this state of lockdown until at least Monday 26 April 2021.

To understand what this means for Cumbernauld citizens in terms of meeting others indoors, meeting others outdoors, socialising, shopping, travel, transport, public buildings and schools, download Scottish Government’s Level 4 Measures Information Sheet.  

During 2020, to assist people in the Cumbernauld area during lockdown, Cornerstone House Centre published The Cumbernauld Coronavirus 101 Directory. This details 101 organisations, services, supports and resources across the public, voluntary and private sectors which may be of benefit to Cumbernauld citizens during the coronavirus pandemic, consisting of a mixture of local, regional and national provisions.