A drop-in hub for the homeless in Blackburn has celebrated its first birthday.

The homeless health and wellbeing hub, known locally as Phoenix Hub is run by The Salvation Army and helped hundreds of people from across the town.

Located on Clayton Street, it acts as a one-stop shop  offering an optician, a Hepatitis C nurse, housing advice and a substance misuse team. 

The hub also supports local people in times of crisis with people able to access a clothing bank, washing machine and drier, a hot breakfast, showering facilities, emergency food parcels and a warm and safe space.

Sandra Skellern, is a specialist support worker for The Salvation Army and runs the Phoenix Hub five days a week. 

She said: “We’re so proud to have come this far in just a year. We’ve helped hundreds of people, possibly thousands, there have been just too many to count; from people passing through the area to people who come back to us on more than one occasion seeking support in a number of ways.

“The Phoenix Hub came about because we knew that the need was there, we could see it every day that people needed support in accessing the services that can help them in their journey through homelessness and in times of crisis. But seeing just how many people have walked through the doors and said that they need help has been somewhat alarming.

“Clients can access everything they need at Phoenix Hub from haircuts, clothing, food, benefit help and housing and employment advice, even laundry and showering facilities.

"We’re proud to be able to support people in their times of need and Phoenix Hub is definitely the place to be to get all levels of support. People come in and use our services and know that they’re one step closer to getting their lives back on track.”

The hub is open five days a week, Monday to Friday from 9am – 3pm with breakfast served every day until 11am.

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.

You can support the hub by donating on their Just Giving page here