30 January 2026

A look at what’s been going on at Church on the Street in January.

Bringing New Pathways to Preston

Homeless to Hopeful is a faith-based initiative being brought to Preston by Church on the Streets, in collaboration with Preston Council.

This new pathway is designed to support people experiencing homelessness through compassionate outreach, Faith based groups and structured steps toward long-term stability. Central to the programme is tenancy readiness, enabling individuals to build the skills, confidence, and support needed to sustain accommodation and move forward into independent living.

Rooted in Christian faith, Homeless to Hopeful seeks to bring dignity, hope, and restoration — walking alongside people as they move from crisis toward stability and renewed purpose.

This partnership represents a shared commitment to meaningful change.

Watch this space as a new pathway of hope begins in Preston.

Remembrance Cafe

In the latter half of the year, the Church on the Street community experienced a significant number of losses. Many cherished members passed away, leaving behind a profound sense of absence and a community united in grief. These losses were deeply felt by all who knew them, creating a need for space, compassion, and time to remember lives that mattered.

In response, Pendleside Hospice partnered with us to host a Remembrance Café and a Bishop Mick and Pastor Emma held a memorial service. These gatherings offered a safe and welcoming space to honour loved ones who had passed away, to pause amid busy lives, and to acknowledge grief in all its forms. Together, we shared memories, and supported one another through conversation, quiet reflection, and simple presence.

One member who attended beautifully captured the spirit of the day, saying:

“It was an opportunity to come together and to share a moment of reflection of those we had lost.”

We are deeply grateful to Pendleside Hospice for walking alongside us during this time and for helping create a moment of comfort, connection, and remembrance for our community.

Street Homeless to Detox

Church on the Street (COTS) has been working tirelessly in partnership with multiple organisations to support a young man — who we will call Michael — on his journey from alcohol dependency and sleeping on the streets to detox and rehabilitation.

Michael’s situation was complex and high-risk. To access detox alone, he would have needed to navigate eight separate organisations and appointments. At the same time, serious concerns were raised about his safety, as he was sleeping rough and at risk of death. Without consistent advocacy and support, this pathway would have been impossible to manage.

Through the leadership of our Partnerships Lead, Nicola Leverett, and Pastor Emma, COTS was able to step in and advocate on Michael’s behalf — breaking down barriers, coordinating services, and ensuring his needs were clearly understood by professionals across multiple agencies.

As part of the detox process, Michael was required to attend pre-detox groups. Given his circumstances, this would not normally have been achievable. Instead, Michael was able to attend the Genesis Group at COTS twice a week, where he could engage in meaningful support before receiving a hot lunch — offering both stability and dignity during a critical period.

We are pleased to share that Michael is now settled in his detox placement and is due to move on to rehab in the coming days.

Please continue to pray for Michael as he takes these next steps on his pathway to sobriety, healing, and long-term recovery.

CAS Appeal 2026

More than 38,000 children are living in poverty across Pendle, Burnley, Hyndburn & Blackburn, with Pendle now having the highest rate of child poverty in the whole UK. *

“We are seeing levels of child poverty off the scale in the areas served by our church. This appeal is just the little bit we can do to help, but it will make a real difference to children and families facing hardship this winter.”

Bishop Mick Fleming – Church on the Street.

Our Coats and Shoes appeal runs until the end of March, and we continue to support a growing number of families.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have already given away over 130 coats and pairs of shoes.

We are truly grateful to everyone who has contributed so far.

If you would like to support the appeal please donate here

Can You Pray Away Mental Illness?

This month, we’re sharing a powerful conversation that gently challenges us to think deeper about faith and wellbeing. Our featured video explores a thoughtful question many of us have asked at some point: Can you “pray away” mental illness?

In this thought-provoking video, “Church on Wheels” explores the complex intersection of faith and mental health. Rather than offering simple answers, Mick and Alastair invite viewers into a compassionate conversation about whether prayer alone can address mental illness — challenging misunderstandings, examining the role of belief, and highlighting the importance of both spiritual support and broader understanding in caring for those who struggle.

Watch this and more episodes on our Youtube channel

Or listen as a podcast on:
Spotify
Apple
Amazon

A Flying Visit from Nigeria

We were blessed to welcome a wonderful group of Christian women from Delta State, Nigeria. They were visiting Burnley to learn more about how communities and local government work together, with the aim of taking those insights back to support their work with local government in Delta State.

When they noticed the Bible verse on our front door, these lovely ladies responded with a beautiful song that blessed us all. You can enjoy that special moment here

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,”
Matthew 25:40