*We use models and change the names of the young people we work with to protect their identity. However, all stories are true and as told by the young person.
Sadly, we predict that 29,000 young people will be homeless or at risk of homelessness this winter alone. We know from our research that young people are forced to sleep in parks, empty properties or even public toilets because they have nowhere else to go. This Christmas, will you help give a young person safety and the long-term support they need to recover from homelessness?
COVID-19 created not just a health crisis, but a financial crisis too. As the UK’s economy attempts to get itself back on track, thousands of young people are struggling to find work, having been hit hardest by unemployment over the past 18 months.
The detrimental effects of the pandemic are far from over, and the financial uncertainty continues. As a charity, we rely on the fantastic donations from you, our supporters, to help keep our vital services open and care for those who are struggling during this particularly gruelling and unprecedented time. Any contribution, big or small, will be felt deeply and appreciated greatly.
When you help to fund our proven multi-step process, you can – and will – help young people turn their lives around, in a place that is designed around their needs.
Thanks to you, we can offer a safe place to stay and a bespoke approach to mental health and trauma recovery, to give young people the support they need as soon as they need it. Not only this, but we can give young people the life skills training they need to fill the gaps in vital knowledge areas such as cooking and budgeting – and eventually, provide career support to help unlock a better future.
Ryan became homeless at 16 and was forced to sleep rough. He was terrified and desperate. Ryan recalls: "It was scary. I saw quite a few traumatic things." As temperatures dropped and the cold streets became deadly, Ryan started to sleep on night buses just to stay warm.
Coming to Centrepoint was a turning point in Ryan’s life. Thanks to supporters like you, we gave Ryan a safe warm place to live. During the three years he was supported by us, Ryan worked incredibly hard on his education and recovering from the trauma he experienced. He truly has turned his life around.
A sexual assault in her early teens sent her spiralling – at age 15 she ran away and slept rough in the cold with a friend.
Carrie finally moved into a flat of her own at 18, but she lacked the life skills needed to live independently. She was put in touch with Centrepoint’s floating support service, which helps ensure young people’s health and education needs are being met while they are in emergency accommodation. Thanks to supporters like you, we helped her with everything from budgeting and benefits, to making sure she gets the mental health support needed to overcome the trauma of her childhood.
33% of homeless young people have slept in a park
20% have slept in a squat or empty property
7% have slept in a public toilet
If there’s anything you’d like to know about Centrepoint, our life changing work, and the various important services we offer to help homeless young people move on to brighter futures – we’d love to chat. Get in touch with us at the number below, and our Senior Individual Giving Officer, Beth Fielder, would be happy to talk to you and to answer any questions you might have.
Call Beth on 07741 834336 or email B.fielder@centrepoint.org.
*We use models and change the names of the young people we work with to protect their identity. However, all stories are true and as told by the young person.