Community Awareness Programme

Making a difference for the disadvantaged in Wakefield

FAQs

Q1. Who are CAP?

A. CAP was formed in September 1997 from a desire by Ernest & Elisabeth Hibbert to try and meet some of the needs of the community, i.e. the residents of Wakefield Metropolitan District and to raise the awareness of the general public not least of all those attending the local churches, as to the problems in society today.

The Project is funded and resourced by public and private donations. The Programme is headed by 8 trustees and a working committee and manned by a team of over 40 dedicated volunteers.

 

TRUSTEES

Elisabeth Hibbert

Joanna Carroll

Sheila Hornby-Mould

Jonathan Gledhill

Jeoff Cannings

Julie Hemsworth

Kay Cox

 

Honorary Members

Joy Phillips

Noreen Denison

John McGuire

 

A clear purpose and a set of core Christian values underpin all the Trust’s services and aims.

 

Q2. How was CAP formed?

A. On a Saturday evening in February early 90’s whilst on a weekend away in London we visited firstly St Pauls Cathedral, it was evensong and the awesomeness and grandeur of the occasion left us both speechless. Continuing our sightseeing we walked until we had arrived at St Martin in the Fields. We went into the crypt and saw the soup kitchen, we went into the church and in the dimness could see men and women huddled on the radiators for warmth, asleep and oblivious to our intrusion. We crept out feeling we should not be disturbing them but the affect on both of us was profound. We walked away and back to our hotel in silence. Who had got it right? That evening still lives with us and it was from that night that CAP was birthed.

We felt the need and obligation to make the Church aware of what was happening in our ‘community’ and also to let the ‘community’ know that there was a God who cared.

CAP was formed in September 1997 from a desire by Ernest & Elisabeth Hibbert to try and meet some of the needs of the community, i.e. the residents of Wakefield Metropolitan District and to raise the awareness of the general public not least of all those attending the local churches, as to the problems in society today.

The Project is funded and resourced by public and private donations. The Programme is headed by 6 trustees and a working committee and manned by a team of 40 dedicated volunteers.

A clear purpose and a set of core Christian values underpin all the Trust’s services and aims.

 

Q3. What is CAP’s timeline?

A.

1997

Opened early September at New Life Christian Centre, providing food parcels and clothing

1998

Provided food parcels and clothing.

164 client visits

1999

Provided food parcels and clothing

276 client visits

Obtained charitable status

2000

Provided food parcels, clothing & toiletries

370 client visits

2001

Provided food parcels, clothing & toiletries

Started to provide starter packs and warm snacks.

3 complete home starts

362 client visits

2002

Provided food parcels, clothing, toiletries, starter packs and warm snacks.

4 complete home starts

1078 client visits

Met with WMDC scrutiny committee with a view to building a working partnership

Started to look for our own premises

2003

Provided food parcels, clothing, toiletries, starter packs and warm snacks.

1020 referrals

983 meals

Received sizable grants from various trusts including promise of 1 years rent from Lloyds TSB

Secured lease on no 7 Wood Street

2004

Provided food parcels, clothing, toiletries, starter packs and warm snacks.

Gained 3 year core funding from Lottery for project manager & cleaner

Extensive media coverage (Newspaper & TV)

Officially opened no 7 Wood Street in November

2005

Client visits increased by 247%.

Important links made with Turning Point, Clear Springs, WMDC, West Yorkshire Police.

Partnership with Green Pastures – Housing Managers.

2007

Green Pastures – Southport based Charity bought 2 houses for clients, housing 6 of our clients.

238 new clients. We also:

                                     •Served 8523 meals

                                     •Clients had 475 showers

                                     •871 issues of clothing

                                     •703 issues of toiletries

                                     •103 were referred to other agencies

                                     •Provided 17 home starts

                                     •Others helped: 68

2008

Successful 5 year core funding Big Lottery bid

Ernest & Elisabeth receive Yorkshire Community Hero award for founding and running CAP

A 3 year lease on a warehouse at Thornes Wharf

Big Lottery purchased van

2009

Received Wakefield Express Community Award

2010

First 16 School Marathon "If the CAP fits Wear it"

Awarded Cooperative Grant

2011

Awarded Lloyds TSB funding for Deputy Project Manager - Nigel Miller, appointed November 

2012

Awarded Supporting Change and Impact funding from Big Lottery Fund for one year

Second 16 School Marathon "If the CAP fits Wear it"

2013

Project Manager & Co founder Ernest Hibbert retires and becomes a Trustee

Kevin Dobson takes up the post as Project Manager

Employed Anthony Cox as Warehouse Facilitator.

2014

Move to 2 Market Street after extensive refurbishment

Successful BLF bid giving corefunding for 4 years

Employed Susan Knowles as Client Support Worker.

2015

Enjoyed settling in to our new building!

2016

Property was purchased for our use by Green Pastures.

2017

IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY 20 YEARS!

Successful Persimmon bid to refurbish the toilet/ shower area

2020 

Sadly Ernest Hibbert the co founder of Cap passed away  in November.  He had worked tirelessly since 1997 for those who were vulnerable and in need of Cap’s help.

2022

A new Citroen van was bought by Wakefield Council to replace the one used for the last 14 years.

5th September – CAP’s 25th birthday.

 

Q4. How is CAP funded?

Received £450,000 from Big Lottery Fund March 2008. This is core funding and spread over 5 years. Over and above the Big Lottery fund CAP requires 20k per year to maintain the status quo!

In December 2011 received monies to pay for salary of Deputy Manager for 2 years from Lloyds TSB

Monies also received from public donation and 100 club members.

Received £139,254 from lottery Community Fund May 2004

Also received money from Scarman Trust, Yorkshire Building Soc; Redcats, New Life Christian Centre. St Austins RC Church; Kings Church; Leeds & Holbeck Building Soc; Awards for ALL, Lloyds TSB; various anon.

Since 2018 CAP has been totally self-funded and totally reliant on the donations and good will of friends and the general public.

 

 

If you have any more questions, please use the Contact Us page.

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