Our History

Rochdale Social Services asked Liverpool Petrus Community to provide staff to care for 20 men who were made homeless after a private lodging house in Rochdale closed. This was the start of Petrus Community.

Accommodation was initially provided in a church hall and then in several temporary premises until newbuild accommodation was built seven years later.

Rochdale Council provided newbuild accommodation

Petrus Community was established as a separate charity from the Liverpool Petrus Community branch.

Petrus developed a number of new accommodation services including group homes. A day centre was opened for male and female homeless people.

Petrus continued to grow and develop its services to meet the growing demand, including opening Ruth House in 1991: Petrus’ first residential accommodation for women.

Petrus opened Long Street in Middleton, its first accommodation scheme outside of Rochdale

Alongside the Supporting People programme from central government, Petrus developed and expanded its services.

The Floating Support Team was established.

The rough sleeper service began.

Due to huge reductions in funding, Petrus has diversified and reconfigured its services and the way in which it is funded.

Beswicke Royd Street scheme opened, which replaced Petrus’ first house on River Street.

Petrus People Community Store opened in December to help generate income to support the work the charity does, provide volunteering opportunities for service users, and provide a service to local low-income families.

Petrus’ Green Gym renames itself to become Petrus Incredible Edible Rochdale

Petrus joined The Regenda Group.

M&Y Maintenance and Construction help to refurbish the Hub.

Petrus is awarded Investors in People (IiP) Gold standard.

Petrus gets its new branding

PIER is recognised for its work by wining three Thriving Awards at the regional North West in Bloom awards, and was recognised for its work by the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS).

Petrus joins Real Change Rochdale

Petrus becomes a part of Greater Manchester’s Housing First strategy.

PIER has a double back-to-back garden at this years' RHS Tatton Park Flower Show called Petrus' Paradise

Within the first nine weeks of the national lockdown (March-April 2020), our team made over 2,500 meals for people experiencing homelessness.

Petrus will turn 50 years old! Petrus and Regenda has hugely ambitious plans for the next few years to help to continue providing outstanding services.