30 June 2025

A look at what’s been going on at Church on the Street in June:

Free at Last

Imprisonment for Public Protection Sentences (IPP) was a scheme brought in by the Labour government in 2005 which was later scrapped in 2012 due to human rights concerns. It was intended for people who were deemed dangerous but did not require a life sentence. Although the sentence was outlawed, they were never retrospectively altered.

There are currently 2,614 prisoners on this sentence with over 700 serving more than 10 years longer than the original term. 300 of the men detained under this scheme have severe mental health problems and we have been campaigning with Clara White to have her brother released to a Mental Health facility after developing schizophrenia and psychosis.

Thomas White stole a phone in 2012 and has been in prison on an indefinite sentence since then. Whilst in prison Thomas has set himself on fire, attempted to break his legs and repeatedly smashed his face on the prison wing floor. Thomas was handed the sentence four months before the sentences were abolished with the sentence for the robbery being a minimum of two years.

There have been more than 100 suicides of IPP prisoners with more than 300 dying on the sentence due to stress-related illnesses or accidental drug-overdoses.

13 years later, Clara and her family have been tirelessly campaigning to see justice for Thomas. Bishop Mick and the church have been working tirelessly with Clara over the last few years on the IPP scandal. Finally, six years on, he has been approved by two doctors to be moved to a psychiatric facility to ensure that Thomas has the dignity and care that he so desperately requires. Clara received the phone call last Wednesday, see her reaction here.

“We’ve got one, now we go back for the 299”
Bishop Michael Fleming

Walk in my shoes written by Bishop Michael Fleming, features Clara and Thomas’s story. Watch Margaret, their mum, reveal the injustice at the book launch here.

Read more about this from the Guardian here and the Mirror here.

Life in Barnoldswick

A typical day in Barnoldswick starts peacefully with a prayer meeting in the cafe before the Charity Shop opens and the team get to work. Pastor Joanne has given us an overview of life in the cafe this month, and it’s packed with exciting news.

“The cafe has become a real community where people who have met each other by coming into the cafe now help each other outside the cafe. It’s becoming a meeting place for people building friendships.”
Pastor Joanne

Recently the team moved from two shops back down to one smaller shop which the volunteers have found much easier to manage holding everything from kids clothes and essentials to adult clothes and Bric a Brac.

Mondays are cake making days where a lady comes in to bake cakes that are sold in the cafe throughout the week. Tuesday is a popular fellowship meeting at 2pm to which all are welcome for a bible study, and Wednesday’s accidental chef, Danny, sells out most weeks with the cafe running out of food.

The cafe is registered with the Places of Welcome scheme and works closely with the NHS, Christians Against Poverty, Social Prescribers, Hope Barnoldswick Churches Together and Joanne is part of the local Barnoldswick Ministers group which meets monthly.

“The cafe cheers me up, I come in with a sad face and leave with a smile”
A gentleman in his 80s who comes daily.

Check out the Barnoldswick Facebook page for up to date information and see the latest bargain in the charity shop.

“The team are praying about setting up a chat and brew group on Thursday mornings for those seeking friendship. Please join us in praying about that and how we can seek out those in need.”
Pastor Joanne

Taking Action Against Child Poverty

Child poverty is on the rise in the UK, with Burnley being one of the highest rates in the UK at 40% of children living in poverty.

The church is working to fight against this in several ways.
Members of the church hired two tables at the Burnley Indoor Car Boot sale and sold donated goods raising almost £600.

Women of Worth are also sewing bags to fill with food vouchers to distribute to families who are suffering food poverty and the remainder of the bags will be sold to continue to raise money.

As a charity our vision is to stand in the gaps of society, we go where the need arises. Working alongside children’s services, partner organisations and families who reach out to us for support this money will go directly to families in need.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have been tirelessly working to make these things happen.

Blackburn: Outgrowing our Home

The church in Blackburn is growing so much that we need to pray for a new building. The team serve 30-40 hot meals after the service each week during a time of food and fellowship.

The new mental well being craft group is thriving with members enjoying a quiet time of peace. This has led to some conversations where people have shared deep burdens given great relief to not have to carry that pain alone any longer.

Some members at the church have been reported to have significantly improved engagement with other partner services since they began coming along to COTS in Blackburn.

Find COTS Blackburn on Facebook

From Hospital to the Streets

Imagine being told you had to leave hospital to sleep on the street just hours after coming off a ventilator and having tubes removed from your throat. That was the case for Sonya. (Name changed to protect her identity)

After facing addiction, homelessness, and severe health issues for many years, Sonya was found with difficulty breathing, admitted to hospital with a “death rattle” and placed on a ventilator. Sonya had emergency surgery to remove a polyp from her throat which had been growing and obstructing her breathing, she spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. For the first time in years, Sonya was clean and sober.

With the tubes removed and no need for a ventilator Sonya was deemed to no longer have requirements for medical intervention so It was time to be discharged and she had nowhere to go. The local homeless navigator and outreach worker manage to negotiate a few extra nights in hospital whilst they made some referrals for recovery housing.

All referrals declined her placement due to her complex health issues or required a face to face assessment that would take a few weeks to arrange. In the meantime Sonya was discharged from hospital and presented at COTS asking for a sleeping bag and a tent. It was almost certain that if left to sleep on the street Sonya would drink again and this time likely die.

As a team we decided it was appropriate to pay for accommodation for a few nights whilst pressure was placed on partners to organise somewhere for her to live. 6 nights later, no other options had been sourced and our ability to provide accommodation had ceased. By God’s grace the church pulled on its connections with a recovery home out of area and managed to find a place for Sonya to move into.

Pastor Emma drove Sarah to the home and introduced her to the girls running the setting. Sonya is happy and looking forward to her new life in sobriety with a community behind her who want the best for her.

Sonya’s story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for better post-hospital care. Thanks to our team’s efforts and church connections, Sonya finally found a supportive community.
This is an all too familiar case for the team at COTS, her experience highlights the ongoing crisis of hospital discharges leading to homelessness that we see on a daily basis. We must act now to ensure everyone gets the care and housing they deserve.

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The Gift of Food

Finally this week Oliver’s Cafe on St James’ Street in Burnley very kindly made us a lovely hot meal of vegetable curry and chicken and leek pie.

We are so grateful for this kind gesture and everyone enjoyed the food.

Find Oliver’s Cafe on Facebook