WESTBURY charity, Crosspoint, has been nominated for a Wiltshire Voluntary and Community Sector award.
The charity, which was started in 2010, provides a volunteer-manned Welcome Centre in Westbury Market Place, which has been providing help, support and advice to local people since September.
Founded on Christian values, Crosspoint aims to promote the wellbeing of local residents and make a positive impact in the community.The volunteers offer friendly help and advice to any person in need, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, disability or religion.
Crosspoint has been shortlisted in the category of ‘best community initiative nominated by an area board’. Initiatives in this category are nominated for displaying a ‘positive local outcome, partnership working, and community involvement’.
Rev Jonathan Burke of Crosspoint said, “The area board nominated the project – I think they thought of us as an innovative new project, meeting and filling a gap no-one else has. We opened the Welcome Centre last September and have seen over 300 people in that time, who have come into the drop-in sessions.
“We open three sessions a week. We help people with internet access, using computers to look for jobs, deal with benefits, help with form filling, signposting people to organisations, we’re also an outlet for the foodbank, so there’s practical help as well as information. It’s all run by volunteers. Other agencies also use the premises for meetings, so that’s another service we’ve been able to offer to Westbury”.
The awards are given to winners from a selection of nominees in six categories. A judging panel made up of representatives from the community and partner organisations will select a winner in each category.
The process culminates in an awards ceremony at the Corn Exchange in Devizes, on Tuesday 2nd October, with representation from shortlisted charities and organisations.
