A charity dedicated to supporting homeless people has been given a permanent home thanks to a housing association.

Together Housing Group has opened the doors of a community hub in Nelson to charity, Curry on the Street.

Curry on the Street is a local charity which helps people living in East Lancashire. Since forming in 2019, the team of volunteers has worked to provide meals and support to people who are homeless.

Founder of the charity, James Foy, and his team, have been searching for a permanent base where they can expand their services and support. Earlier this year, James reached out to David Motley, neighbourhood manager for Together Housing Group (THG) to see if the organisation could help with their mission.

The social housing organisation looks after thousands of properties across Lancashire including a handful of community spaces. Some of the hubs in the area have not been used by community groups since the Covid-19 pandemic, including the Railway Street Community Hub in Nelson.

After hearing James’ ambitions to set up a more permanent base, David and his fellow Together Housing colleagues agreed Curry on the Street could put the community hub to good use once again.

James and his team spent the last couple of months decorating and getting the space ready to use and in October, the doors were officially opened.

Now, the hub acts as a permanent base for Curry on the Street to deliver their much-needed services to residents in the local and wider area.

David said: “Our community hubs are great spaces for local groups to use but sadly, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the buildings aren’t being used to their full potential.

"When we heard James needed a good-sized space for his charity, local enough for him to continue to do what he does best but also central enough to branch out, we knew Railway Street Community Hub would be the perfect spot.

“To see the hub being used as a base to provide essential services for people who need it the most is incredible. A charity like Curry on the Street is a lifeline to so many, especially during cold winter months.

"We are looking forward to working with James and the charity in the future and seeing all the incredible things they will no doubt achieve from this new base.”

James said: “We’ve been looking for a suitable building for Curry on the Street for four years. It’s been a dream of mine and one that I have never given up on so that we can help our most vulnerable in our communities and to have our very own HQ.

“With the help of Together Housing this has become a reality. Already Curry on the Street at the Railway Street Community Hub is helping people in many ways, from providing food, advice, a safe warm space, furniture, help and even getting people into supported recovery.

“We would like to thank Together Housing, and all involved in helping Curry on the Street secure the building. It's a lifeline to many people.”