Homeless charity 'still here' despite closure

A homeless charity, which has closed its day centre's doors after more than 50 years in a city, has said staff are "still passionate" about helping people and it will continue its outreach work.

The Foxton Centre has run shelters for rough sleepers and vulnerable women and young people in Preston since 1969.

Chief Executive Cath Coffey said shutting its homeless day centre on Fox Street on Friday was "a really difficult day", but she wanted to reassure people the charity was "still here" and would now offer help out on the streets.

Preston City Council has taken over running homeless day centres in the city and it is due to open one at Oakham Court next Monday.

The closure of the charity's day centre followed a review of homelessness services in Preston and the opening of a night shelter in 2025.

The proposal to close the Foxton Centre was previously described as "an absolute tragedy", and the city's MP, Sir Mark Hendrick, called it "a disgrace".

But Coffey told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Just because that building has closed, it doesn't mean our services will stop.

"We are still passionate about supporting homeless people, our vulnerable women and the hidden homeless women and the young people."

She added: "We are still here - we are not going anywhere.

"Our services will now be delivered out on the street, back to outreach which is what we used to do anyway.

"It allows us flexibility to meet people wherever they are at in different places throughout the city.

"We are still supporting rough sleepers, vulnerable women and the homeless, but just in a different way."

Preston City Council is due to open its own council-run homelessness day centre at Oakham Court next week.

The new hub is scheduled to begin phased services starting from Monday - offering essential casework, assessments, meals, and laundry and shower services.

In the interim, this week, breakfast sessions for rough sleepers in Preston are being offered from The Bridge To Home on Market Place.

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