How a cafe changed a homeless mother's life

A homeless mother has credited a cafe with turning her life around "against all odds" and ensuring she kept custody of her young son.

The mostly volunteer-led Curry on the Street in Nelson has delivered close to 60,000 hot meals and emotional support to those in need for decades - and is now being awarded a donation by Comic Relief, ahead of Red Nose Day.

Since she started volunteering for the cafe, whilst still on the street, Sionne has had a child and celebrated two years sober from drink and drugs.

She praised the centre's manager James Foy who she said took the role "home with him", whilst she is looking forward to her new life with her son, JJ, in her native Scotland.

When Sionne, now 39-years-old, fell pregnant whilst on the street, it was James who she first confided in.

After losing custody of her first two kids in Scotland because she was a drug-addict, Sionne was scared it would happen for a third time.

She said: "James said to me 'listen even if you didn't manage to succeed the first time, you don't give up - I'll be here for you, I'll support you through thick and thin'.

"He's gone over and above what anybody in any type of centre I would have imagined would have done, James was the person who believed in me."

Now she is "proud as punch" to be the mother of her one-year-old son, with the pair of them living a "fabulous" life.

"I would have never thought I'd be able to have [JJ] in my care - I would have been one of those people who you'd want to keep your child away from because of the risk I imposed."

Sionne volunteers at the centre everyday, she said, whilst her son JJ rings "Uncle James" every morning before they leave.

Sionne said she now wants to carry on her volunteering work at the centre, to make JJ "proud" of her.

The centre is staffed by around six cooks every day, one of whom is Keeley, who has been a volunteer for two years.

The centre sells food to the local community, but the homeless and kids eat free.

Keeley was a beneficiary of the centre's help when she dropped off a bag of her husband's clothes as a donation, whilst out of work on sick leave.

She said: "They help anybody who needs it - whether that's addiction or mental health.

"We do emotional support, essentials bags, food parcels and outreach in Burnley providing sleeping bags," she said.

Founded in 2019, Curry on the Street hopes to improve the lives of those who come through its doors - giving out hot meals and clothing in a "stigma-free" environment.

Its manager Foy said the space allows its customers, usually the homeless and vulnerable, to "sit, have a chat, a brew or a meal".

Whilst the Comic Relief donation will be spent on new furniture and food, Foy said.

"We have all types of people, from different backgrounds, it doesn't matter who you are, or what you are, it doesn't matter - we accept everyone coming through the door," he said.

Comic Relief, the BBC's annual charity fundraiser, starts today.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.