Cornerstone (charity)

Cornerstone, formerly known as Cornerstone Community Care, is a Scottish charity and social enterprise that provides support and care to children, adults and older adults living a range of long-term conditions and challenges. These include autism, learning and physical disabilities, dementia and mental health problems. It was founded in 1980 in Aberdeen and, since obtaining charitable status in 1981[1], Cornerstone has grown to become one of the largest charities in Scotland[2].

Cornerstone
Cornerstone Community Care
Not-for-profit
IndustryCharity|Third Sector
FoundedFebruary 28, 1980 (1980-02-28) in Aberdeen, Scotland.
HeadquartersAberdeen, Scotland
Offices: Aberdeen, Airdrie, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Elgin, Glasgow, Irvine, Kirkintilloch, Perth, Peterhead, Renton Stonehaven
Area served
Aberdeen; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll & Bute; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; Edinburgh; Fife; Glasgow; Midlothian; Moray; North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Perth & Kinross; Scottish Borders; South Ayrshire; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian
Key people
  • Andrew Lockhart (Chairman)
  • Edel Harris (Chief Executive)
ServicesAdult placement. Fostering and family placement. Housing support. Short breaks and respite care. Support service: care at home. Support service: day care for adults.
Number of employees
2,100
Websitewww.cornerstone.org.uk

History

Nicholas (Nick) Baxter formed Cornerstone in 1980 when he brought together a group of parents and professionals who were concerned about the lack and quality of services available to people with learning disabilities and their families. They wanted to provide community based support for people with special needs and Cornerstone's aim became 'to enable people we support to enjoy a valued life'.

Cornerstone opened its first residential service in 1982. By 2007 the charity was providing help in around 150 locations for almost 1,300 children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and other special needs.[3] The 2017/2018 annual review reports 2,400 children and adults being supported.[4]

Baxter retired as Cornerstone's Chief Executive in May 2008 and was succeeded by Edel Harris, who remains as CEO today. He died in May 2013.[5]

In 2017 the charity restructured, using some of the principles of the Dutch model Buurtzorg. It devolved decision-making and accountability to ten branches that cover most of the country. It reduced layers of management and has set out on a mission to up-skill and empower local staff to become self-organised local care and support teams (LCAST). There are now eleven branches:

  1. Aberdeen North & Aberdeenshire
  2. Aberdeen South & Aberdeenshire
  3. Argyll & Bute & West Dunbartonshire (Community Support)
  4. Argyll & Bute & West Dunbartonshire (Housing Support)
  5. Ayrshire
  6. Fife, Lothian, Edinburgh & Scottish Borders
  7. Glasgow & East Dunbartonshire
  8. Moray
  9. North Lanarkshire (Community Support)
  10. North Lanarkshire (Housing Support)
  11. Perth, Dundee & Angus

References
  1. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=4780
  2. https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/the-300-highest-income-charities/ # © Crown Copyright and database right [2019]. Contains information from the Scottish Charity Register supplied by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and licensed under the Open Government Licence v.2.0.
  3. Cornerstone website, 2007
  4. https://www.cornerstone.org.uk/assets/000/000/182/Annual_Review_2017-18_original.pdf?1541676463
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/may/05/nick-baxter-obituary

See also
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