Pastor Mick Fleming met William and Kate at the Burnley charity helping with homelessness, poverty and addiction.,,,
The tireless work of a pastor who helps people suffering through poverty, homelessness and addiction has been recognised by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
William and Kate visited pastor Mick Fleming’s Church on the Street charity in Burnley after being moved by watching a BBC report on his work.
Church on the Street has been providing free food, funerals, clothes, essential care and recovery support since 2019 for residents struggling with mental health crises and addiction in one of the most deprived areas of the town.
“It’s massive for us because there’s so many people in Burnley that fall through the gaps in poverty,” pastor Mick told the couple. “The work we do supports the NHS.”
William and Kate also met volunteers, staff and people who rely on the charity to hear about their work and experiences.
Pastor Mick told the Burnley Express the visit had brought encouragement to the town.
“This couple are the future leaders of this country and to know that they care about issues like poverty and homelessness and want to do what they can to help gives us so much hope,” he said.
Before setting up the church, Mick was a violent drug user and dealer, covering up painful childhood memories, including the heart-attack death of his older sister, Anne, when she was just 20.
“Drugs were my solution, and that was my introduction,” said Mick. “The next 30 years were hell. I would use any drug, and always alcohol.”
Aged just 14, he was dealing drugs, and was soon a drug runner and debt collector, making “crazy money”. He was twice arrested for murder, three times for armed robbery and “countless” other firearms offences.
In 2009, Mick suffered a “complete breakdown” and recalls: “I was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. My new home was Burnley psychiatric unit.”
There he met pastor Tony, who used to visit. They would pray and talk, and Mick soon started helping others.
Then a chance meeting with a tutor at the University of Manchester eventually resulted in a degree in theology.
He failed his first year, because he struggled to read and write, and was diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia, yet with support from the university, he eventually achieved a 2:1 degree.
“I never drank or touched a drug again,” said Mick. “It was my path to God.”
His project has continually grown and the church now offers refuge to anyone struggling, including those with mental health problems. Funded by donations, it provides a food bank, clothing bank, hot showers, laundry, a cafe, recovery groups, addiction support and access to a qualified counsellor.
