History

In 1984, Cornerstone Christian Charity purchased the site which comprised a school building and a church hall from the Birmingham Diocese to provide community facilities. Part of the site was subsequently sold to the local church for use as a Church Hall.

Tamworth Cornerstone Housing Association (TCHA) was set up in 1989. The work of the Association takes place at the Old School House project at the corner of Woodhouse Lane and Tamworth Road, Amington.

Cornerstone gifted the site for Phase 1 and 2 of the housing project to TCHA. A lease for the Phase 3 housing units and the development of new administrative facilities for TCHA and the Learning and Skills Centre was subsequently granted by the local church. In collaboration with Touchstone Housing Association and with the support of Tamworth Borough Council the project has been successful over the three phases of development in obtaining Housing Corporation financial support.

Phase I
This part of the project was opened in November 1993, and consisted of accommodation for 7 residents. They were housed in part of the Old School House, which has been adapted to provide single bedrooms, along with lounge, kitchen, games room and laundry. Here young people can test their ability to live on their own, but still have access to the communal areas and training facilities in the Phase 1 building.

Residents in the Old School House take part in a life skills training programme to prepare them for independent living. Once this has been achieved they move into the Phase 2 flats.

Phase II
In order to respond to the growing need for housing for young homeless in Tamworth, the Management Committee, in consultation with users, and in the climate of demand for more self contained accommodation, developed Phase 2, comprising new purpose built accommodation of 10 self-contained one bedroom flats. The funding for this phase was the Housing Corporation Grant and mortgage finance. This phase of the project enabled young people to develop skills to live independently taking responsibility for the upkeep and cost of running a flat, whilst at the same time having support on site from a 24 hour staff team. During their stay in this part of the project they are assessed through our life skills programme with regard to their capacity to live independently in the community. If they are, they are recommended for 'move on' accommodation provided by local housing associations or Tamworth Borough Council. At the move on stage they are offered resettlement and floating support.

Phase III
A third phase of development was completed in February 2003. A further 8 units have been provided in the Old School House and the original 7 units have been refurbished as an "intensive support cluster unit" for young people aged 16 "leaving care". A further 6 flats have also been constructed. To provide these units the Child Care Facilities which are also located on site have been relocated and new office accommodation for TCHA has been provided to allow the original facilities to be converted into housing units. We now have accommodation for thirty young people on site.

Learning & Skills Unit
We have developed an integral Learning and Skills Unit which is designed to equip young people for independent living by supporting people in their personal development and assist by giving practical help and guidance through a programme consisting of Home Skills, Self care, Interpersonal skills, Work skills, Community skills and Leisure skills.