Spring 2026 Newsletter
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Welcome to the Spring 2026 Kairos Housing Newsletter! As we step into this new season, we are reflecting on both the incredible milestones we have reached together and the growing need for our services.
You may have seen sobering news from the recent BBC report highlighting a five-fold increase in the number of refugee households in the UK who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness over the last four years. Against this challenging national backdrop, the welcome we offer here in Blackburn with Darwen is more vital than ever. We aren’t just providing a roof; we are providing the stability required for people to heal and rebuild. This January, we hit a milestone that we didn't want to just pass by: Kairos Housing officially turned 5 years old! |
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It has been an incredible journey. Since 2021, your support has allowed us to grow from a small, volunteer-led initiative from local churches into an established professional charity. Over these five years, we have had the privilege of supporting 40 individuals across our 5 homes, providing over 16,000 nights of safe accommodation.
As one of our guests recently shared: "The support from Kairos has been exceptional. Their attitude towards me, by providing accommodation, safety and access to services is truly beyond words." In a climate where media and politics can often feel driven by fear, it is a privilege to offer a space of true hope and belonging. |
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CelebratingTo properly mark our 5th anniversary, we recently gathered our trustees, staff, and guests, both past and present, for a joint anniversary and belated Christmas party. It was the perfect way to celebrate half a decade of connection, joy and shared humanity.
The heart of the celebration was a spectacular feast provided by the amazing Tastes of Home. We enjoyed incredible culinary highlights from across the globe, including Middle Eastern hummus and salads, Libyan Mubataan and an amazing chicken biryani. (If you are looking for local catering, we highly recommend contacting them via the Blackburn with Darwen Food Alliance!) A huge, heartfelt thank you goes to the Lancaster Foundation, whose generous funding made this celebration possible. We had such a wonderful time sharing food and stories |
Smashing our Big Give Target!
We are still speechless! In December 2025, we ran our Big Give campaign with the goal of raising £12,000. Because of YOU, we raised a staggering £14,596!
Every single penny raised helps us provide essential short-term shared accommodation and vital community connections. You are helping sanctuary seekers reclaim their dignity and build a stable foundation right here in our community. Thank you for being part of making Blackburn with Darwen a place of true welcome. |
Caring for the Carers
The wellbeing of our staff and volunteers is vital. Recently, we headed to Bacup to host a special Wellbeing Day for the incredible people across Blackburn with Darwen who dedicate their time to supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
We were thrilled to be joined by caseworkers and team members from our partners at ARC, DARE and Community Harmony. It was a much-needed day to pause, connect, and recharge together. We enjoyed a stunning Lebanese feast at The Circle Bacup and spent time finding peace and inspiration in nature at Stubbylee Greenhouses. A huge thank you goes out to Focus and Fly for organising the event and to our wonderful hosts, Fouad and Souta!
We were thrilled to be joined by caseworkers and team members from our partners at ARC, DARE and Community Harmony. It was a much-needed day to pause, connect, and recharge together. We enjoyed a stunning Lebanese feast at The Circle Bacup and spent time finding peace and inspiration in nature at Stubbylee Greenhouses. A huge thank you goes out to Focus and Fly for organising the event and to our wonderful hosts, Fouad and Souta!
Stories of Hope
In his home country, Ahmad (not his real name) led a successful life working alongside British forces, but when the government collapsed, he lost everything and was forced to flee for his life. Arriving in the UK alone, he found the isolation crushing, describing himself as a "fish out of water" as he struggled through deep loneliness and the daily stress of just trying to get by in survival mode.
Kairos provided the secure base he needed to start again—a place he now calls "freedom without anxiety" where he found the "power and energy" to move towards his dreams. Today, he is a vital part of the local community, volunteering regularly as an interpreter to help others and studying hard with a clear goal to become a nurse and give back to the NHS. In his own words:
Kairos provided the secure base he needed to start again—a place he now calls "freedom without anxiety" where he found the "power and energy" to move towards his dreams. Today, he is a vital part of the local community, volunteering regularly as an interpreter to help others and studying hard with a clear goal to become a nurse and give back to the NHS. In his own words:
"Without Kairos I would be lost... I would not be able to see my bright future. Kairos is a blessing from God for me."
Pioneering New Paths
We have now called Church House, within the beautiful grounds of Blackburn Cathedral, our office base for just over a year! This central location provides a more secure, professional and visible base for our team. Over the last 6 months we have extended our footprint there to include a dedicated Wellbeing Hub. Thanks to recent funding, we are about to completely transform the space into a fully equipped welcoming non-clinical environment. We can't wait to get started on this renovation project!
Over the last six months, we have partnered with Steve McCluskie from Focus & Fly CIC to lead our vital Wellbeing and Independent Living work. Steve leads workshops that blend practical housing skills, including budgeting and tenancy rights alongside nature trips and creative workshops. This programme is also successfully supporting guests into volunteering roles, helping them build community connections and truly thrive!
Over the last six months, we have partnered with Steve McCluskie from Focus & Fly CIC to lead our vital Wellbeing and Independent Living work. Steve leads workshops that blend practical housing skills, including budgeting and tenancy rights alongside nature trips and creative workshops. This programme is also successfully supporting guests into volunteering roles, helping them build community connections and truly thrive!
"My family are not with me, but Kairos has been like a family.
When I felt bad there was always someone at Kairos to talk to."
When I felt bad there was always someone at Kairos to talk to."
"I am proud of my progress. I now go forward and grow in hope.
Kairos gave me hope to make my next steps in life."
Kairos gave me hope to make my next steps in life."
We are also incredibly excited to be pioneering work into trauma recovery and self-esteem restoration as part of this partnership. Moving beyond basic survival to focus on true restoration, our guests will be working through dedicated modules designed to help them understand the impact of trauma, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and rebuild their sense of self-worth. By exploring their personal identities and inherent strengths, we hope they will find the space to heal and move forward with hope.
To continue our vital mission of providing sanctuary for asylum seekers and refugees, we need your help. Our goal is to double our capacity to 20 bed spaces over the next three years, but we cannot get there alone.
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