Testimonials

These are some of the things that clients and professionals who work with us have said about Inclusion Cornwall, and Village Works.

2023 Good News stories

Two lives moving towards a better future

*Names have been changed
Sean* now has sole custody of his 14 year old son Tim*.  Tim was suffering extreme mental abuse from his natural mother and her new ex-military partner.  He needed protection and the support of Mental Health services.  Although Sean was desperate to help him he was very aware his class A drug habit would prevent him being considered as a safe parent himself.  With the support of Addaction and Sean’s mother, Sean managed to get and stay clean (over two years).  Son Tim moved in with his sober dad 23 months ago and Sean has managed to start turning his life around.

Both Sean and Tim have ADHD with additional linguist problems which means he is part home schooled with gran’s help.    Sean WAS a high flyer in the IT world which meant working long hours and told me he used to use the drugs to ‘keep him alert and going’.  Once he became clean not only did he lose his job but he realised just how much he had spent on the habit, meaning temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness.  Having moved into his permanent home recently he carried with him large debts with a range of organisations.  Community Energy Plus have engaged to help sort fuel debt (and a gas meter reading that does not move!) and Christians Against Poverty are helping him make a fresh start working on his debts towards clearance.

Once he is totally debt free Sean intends to set up an IT company from home which would mean he was flexible and able to be around when his son needs him with schoolwork.  

Of all the issues – not having a working cooker was a huge concern – both Sean and his son needed to look after their weight and fitness but had to rely on takeaways and microwave food.  Bev Wilson from Inclusion Cornwall has been invaluable in helping Sean move further forward with his fresh start by funding a new electric cooker with fitting, to be installed this weekend.  Sean and Tim cannot thank you enough and are very grateful to the fund for supporting them.
anon
Job Centre Plus worker

IC supplying heat and warmth

Recently visited a customer with 4 young children all under 10 years old, and pregnant. House had no electricity. Was able to ring Inclusion Cornwall who arranged for one of their partners to contact me direct as immediate priority. Received a call from them within half an hour and they were able to credit money to her utilities to get the electric back on until her next benefit payment.
 
Inclusion Cornwall were also able to offer support with additional items needed. Without their support this customer and her children would have been cold, sat in the dark and with no heating or cooking facilities or hot water.
 
Thank you Inclusion Cornwall yet again. An excellent service to our community in Cornwall.
Anon
Supporting Families Employment Advisor, DWP

2022 and before

Brilliant

Brilliant thankyou so much for all your help I really do appreciate it
Client

Overwhelmed


Ohhhh my lovely, I really am overwhelmed. I truly don’t know what to say because thank you just doesn’t seem enough.
Client who received a food voucher

Helpful!

Thank you so much for your help. You are the only service I haven’t had to fight to get help from. You may it so easy and things wouldn’t be happening without your involvement
Client

Means a lot

Thank you so much, you really don’t understand how happy this has made me.
Just to know people haven’t give up on me means a lot.
Client

Client in West Cornwall, supported into housing after a difficult few years. Inclusion Cornwall helped him set up his home, including supplying household goods.

I am so so happy for [client]

Andrew has just emailed me. I’m a little emotional I have to say!
I am so so happy for [client], she’s doing what she loves! She deserves that for all of the hard work she has put in.
Made my day!
Coach working with Village Works clients

Nowhere else to turn

Thank you very much for your help and support Bev and Andrea. Without the support from Inclusion Cornwall I had nowhere else to turn for help for a cooker.
Client

Wow!

Wow, that’s fantastic, as usual: thinking outside the box!
Job Centre Plus team member

The story – a client needed a bus ticket purchasing to allow her to get to work, but couldn’t afford it, JCP were unable to help her direct, but contacted Inclusion Cornwall to pay for the ticket. The easiest way to achieve this, with online bus tickets, was for us to purchase her an ASDA voucher so she could use her own money to pay for her bus ticket.

Thank you for all your help!

Morning Bev, just to let you know that I just received the Morrisons voucher, thank you so much, we will be eating a decent meal this weekend 🙏🏻
(Later that week)
Letting you know that the airer arrived just now. I am most grateful of your help. We have food in the cupboard, washing on already and the airer will also help heat my lounge 😊 so again thank you for all your help!
Kindest regards x
Village Works client

The story – Client had a reduced income, and health conditions preventing them from working. They are awaiting a health assessment to see if they qualify for a disability benefit, and also caring for an adult sibling with health issues preventing them from earning. Inclusion Cornwall provided a voucher to buy food, and a heated clothes drier using the Local Support Grant.

A Customer’s View of Warm and Well

A huge thank you for arranging the central heating for mum, and chasing up the problem with her lounge ceiling.  The company that ended up fixing her ceiling were amazing and did a wonderful job (one even came back the week after it was completed to give her an 80th Birthday card!).  She still can’t believe she can get up in the middle of the night and be warm. It’s a luxury to her, one which she simply wouldn’t have been able to afford on her income. 
What you do really does make a difference, so thank you.
Daughter of customer

Wild ride!

I really feel like I am finally getting in touch with the right, caring people. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’m so very grateful, almost tearful right now. For the first time in a long time, I’m starting to feel empowered again, despite my injuries and low state of mind and possibly able to look forward and plan for the future again.  I’m really starting to get busy again now and my weeks are filling up with appointments already. Already wondering where this wild ride will take me.
Customer