Homeless project forced to close after church sold

A community project which has been forced to close has been a "lifeline for many" homeless people and those struggling with addiction, its founder has said.

It's Time4Change has held a breakfast club twice a week in a church in Bury, Greater Manchester, where it also gives people advice on housing, benefits and support.

That church has been sold and the group is appealing for help to find a new free or affordable venue in the town.

Michael Priestley, who set up the breakfast club after being homeless himself, said "you can't put a price" on the help given over the past 14 years.

He said some of the people who had been supported had "gone on to university, or got their families back".

Some of the volunteers working at the breakfast club previously used it themselves.

'Not alone'

Carl, who started coming when he was homeless, said he was "absolutely gutted" it was struggling to find a venue and without it he would still be on the streets.

David, who has struggled with addiction, said: "Coming here is a lifeline, for people to come and have something to eat."

He said it would be "a struggle" now it had been forced to close, adding that the social aspect had helped him too.

"You know you're not alone in the world, you can come here and people have the same problems."

Mr Priestly said people often did not know what help was available to them, and It's Time4Change provided that "little shove in the right direction".

He said he planned to continue to try find a venue in Bury as he worried people "have nowhere to go now".

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