Turkey and all the trimmings served to homeless in Blackburn

Turkey and all the trimmings served to homeless this Christmas thanks to The Salvation Army 

A church and charity ensured that people who are homeless enjoyed a hot dinner in a warm and safe space this festive season. 

Phoenix Hub in Blackburn, run by The Salvation Army, hosted a festive, three course Christmas lunch from 12:00 pm on Wednesday, December 18, for the homeless community of Blackburn and people in times of crisis. 

Located on Clayton Street, Phoenix Hub, which operates as a drop-in so no booking is required, served a three-course meal featuring turkey and all the trimmings to clients - with staff rolling up their sleeves to serve the festive feast.

Sandra Skellern, specialist support worker for The Salvation Army in Blackburn said: “During what should be one of the happiest times of the year, many of our clients are in times of crisis. For people who are street homeless, they will spend the festive season exposed to the elements and dependent on the generosity and warmth of others. Our doors will be open, and we will serve a hot meal to let them know they are loved, that we care and that they are included.

“For many people who will come through our doors, this could be their first Christmas where they have been forced to sleep rough, or insecurely housed, and many will feel alone with nowhere to turn. For others it could be another bump in their road or a difficult stage in their life so it is important for us to give them a sense of normality and enable them to escape their worries, even if just for a few hours.”

Acting as a one-stop shop for every service that people experiencing homelessness may need, The Pheonix Hub brings together an optician, Hepatitis C nurse, housing needs team from the local council and a substance misuse team - all under one easy-to-access roof. The hub also supports local people in times of crisis, with people able to access a clothing bank, washing machine and drier, showering facilities, emergency food parcels and a warm and safe space.

The homeless health and wellbeing hub is open five days a week, Monday – Friday from 9:00am – 3:00pm with breakfast served every day until 11:00am.

Run by The Salvation Army and supported by volunteers, the church and charity has worked together with the local council and Lancashire-based health organisations to create the health and wellbeing service for the town’s most vulnerable people, including rough sleepers, sofa surfers and people in temporary accommodation.

The Salvation Army has a Just Giving page, dedicated specifically to its work at Phoenix Hub which can be found at www.justgiving.com/page/phoenix-hub-the-salvation-army and while donations of all sizes are welcome, people are encouraged to donate only what they can afford.