Posted by 
“The vast majority of people give us a smile, high five us and seem to genuinely appreciate what we do”, says Dr Singh about how he and the team take food to the city’s homeless and those in need every Sunday in Preston city centre.
“But others call us Pakis or come up to us and say ‘inshallah’ because they think we are Muslims. There is still a lot of misunderstanding about Sikhs.”
In the gurdwara Sikh temple in Bow Lane a committed team of volunteers meet during Sunday afternoon to pack up two trolleys full of food and supplies.
Read more: Tents in Avenham Park as city homelessness charity calls out housing shortage
Known as ‘sewa’ the tradition broadly translates as ‘selfless service’ and for two hours every Sunday – no matter the weather – a group of city Sikhs head round a city centre route for what is many of the city’s rough sleepers only hot meal of the week.
Overseen by husband and wife team and lead volunteers Dr Singh and Dr Kaur they have been walking the city streets since 2021 to hand out lentils and rice, milkshakes, tea, coffee and clothing.
Dr Kaur said: “We have seen the number of people in need of help starting to increase.
“People have also started to learn if they come to Preston on a Sunday then we will be coming round.
“There’s many of the same faces each week who we help. We stop and talk to them, try and help point them in the right direction.”
The Langhar, a constant community kitchen at the temple, is a Sikh tradition to serve free food and the group I join are now taking this tradition mobile with their trolleys. The Guru Nanak Kitchen operates from the Bow Lane temple.
Previously it would be held under the city’s Fish Market canopy but Covid put pay to this and Dr Singh says they found some people wouldn’t come to a set location each week – so rather than stop they decided to take their kindness to people wherever they are.
Dr Singh said: “We do a loop from the railway station up to the Bus Station, back through the Market and then up to the university campus and back via the former Aldi.
“There’s people coming from Bolton, Blackpool, Blackburn, as we are the furthest North Sikh temple in England, and they don’t have this kind of support where they are.
“People really appreciate us taking them the food and they always want to stop and chat.”
Dr Kaur says the trolleys are a ‘mobile temple’ for them and they carry signs asking people to not smoke, not drink or be under the influence of drugs while partaking in the food and drink from the trolleys.
She said: “It is about taking our Sikh values with us as we go and most people are very respectful of this.
“They see us coming and they will stop smoking or put their drinks away.
“It is important for us that there is a good environment around the trolleys as we go around.”
Their walk takes about two-and-a-half hours, which they complete whether it is rain, heatwaves or snow, and they will serve around 45-50 people with food during the journey.
Dr Singh said: “When we started it was mainly food we offered but as we’ve spoken to people there’s a need for so much more.
“We now carry clothing, sanitary products, toiletries, people just cannot afford the basics.
“There’s women bleeding on the streets because they do not have access to sanitary products.”
He said the area around the former Aldi in Corporation Street had started to become a hotspot for people living in tents within the bushes and car park area.
And on their route they often met people in distress and did their best to try and signpost people to where they can receive help.
Read more: New year-round homeless shelter plans for Preston city centre
The sewa trolley is a collaboration between the three gurdwaras in Preston and any Sikh can come and play their part.
Dr Kaur said: “We’re not doing anything special; this is what every Sikh person is supposed to do—serve humanity selflessly. When we walk into the town center, we don’t seek recognition as individuals; we want to be recognized as Guru Nanak’s Sikhs.
“Above all, this is simply a human act of kindness that everyone should aspire to, regardless of their religion. It’s not about individual recognition; it’s about our collective effort to spread kindness and positivity, guided by the Sikh values we hold dear. While we wish we could do this more often, we are currently able to do it only on Sundays.”
On the afternoon I spend with the team then two students from India who are studying at the University of Central Lancashire are in attendance.
One said: “We do this service in India so it is something I am used to. We want to help people and it feels good to be able to do something.
“Preston is a nice place, I started in London and it was so busy but here people make time for you. I like it.”
The gurdwara in Bow Lane is currently undergoing a major renovation with a new main prayer hall being put in place.
It will double the size of the venue and mean up to 150 worshippers can use the space at once.
The Sikh community welcome donations to help support their community kitchen, donations can be made by visiting the GoFundMe here.
Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
