Crosspoint says farewell to influential couple

CROSSPOINT headquarters in the Market Place recently held a leaving party for Jonathan and Sandra Burke, who have been instrumental in developing the charity.

The party was a chance for volunteers, service users, and local people to say goodbye to the couple, who will soon be leaving Westbury.

Jonathan was a founder member of the Crosspoint service in 2011, and Sandra a ‘tireless’ volunteer. By way of a thank you they were presented with flowers by Crosspoint chairman Len Clift.

Len said, “Jonathan and Sandra’s leaving will be a great loss to the town and our community. Everyone I have spoken to has said good things, and that they wished they could stay!

“Crosspoint got off to a slow start, and it took a certain quality of person and determination to make it succeed – a quality and determination Jonathan has.

“He helped secure the premises from which to run the charity, and to get the word out; whenever we were looking for a way forward, he would have it. The two of them really have made a huge contribution to the community and will certainly be missed.”

Jessica Nel, the charity’s administrator said, “When people needed help they knew they could go to Jonathan. He was always on hand when you needed him, always working in the community, and he was the solid voice of reason in all our meetings.

“Sandra gave tirelessly to Crosspoint throughout her time here, especially in her capacity as one of our trained debt advisors.

“As a couple they have brought so much to the community, both in terms of practical support and community spirit. They will be sorely missed.”

Crosspoint was set up in 2011 by volunteers from the Westbury Churches Together group, who saw a number of people living in deprivation and hardship in the community.

The group, which had 273 visitors across August and October last year, operates on Christian principles but is totally non-discriminatory and open to everyone in the town. They offer advice and information, professional debt counselling, one-to-one and group personal counselling sessions, emergency food from a food bank, and help with CVs and job applications.

Revd. Jonathan Burke said, “Crosspoint has been much more successful than we expected when we began. The service has come to offer so much in recent years, and has an always expanding reach across the community, where it is becoming more and more respected.

“I am proud to have been involved with the charity and wish it all the best for the future.”

To find out more about Crosspoint or get in touch, call 01373 824330, or go to www.crosspoint-westbury.co.uk.