Real stories

Mustafa, 22, came to the UK under humanitarian protection in 2021 and was moved into care. When he turned 18, he had to leave his home and struggled to find accommodation through the council. He reached out to the Centrepoint Helpline, explained his situation and after a few months was moved into a Centrepoint supported home. Since then, he has been attending college and is beginning to look for jobs to support him as he begins to move into a home of this own.

Emma, 17, came to Centrepoint after experiencing a breakdown in the relationship with her mum, which meant she had to leave the family home. She began sofa surfing, moving between family and friends, and occasionally spending nights on buses. Her social worker became aware of her living situation and made a referral to Centrepoint and soon she was moved into her own flat within a supported home. Despite only being at the home for a few weeks, Emma has settled in well to her new space is already taking strides towards finding a job and becoming independent in the future.

Miguel, 20, first arrived in the UK during 2020 at the age of 15 as an unaccompanied minor and was placed into care, where he stayed until he was 18. At 18 he moved into a Centrepoint supported home where he has been working closely with the psychotherapist and jobs and education team to get the right support he needs to live independently. He's now getting ready to move into his new home in the coming weeks and is looking forward to having a space of his own.

Nora, 23, came to Centrepoint with her young son after leaving her home due to a family breakdown. The council moved her into unsuitable housing and she was referred to Centrepoint's mother and baby home where she has been staying since. Her and her son have been taking this time, whilst she is on maternity leave, to bond and develop their relationship before Nora returns to work in the NHS.

Shane, 25, has been supported by Centrepoint's Housing First team for three years after he was referred when he moved into a home of his own. Together they have been taking steps for Shane to live completely independently, supporting him with budgeting skills, emotional and mental health care and helping him find a role what works for him.

Daniella, 21, came to Centrepoint after she had to leave her previous supported accommodation. After 5 months and working closely with her support team, she's now moved into her own flat with her partner and is studying for a career in childcare.

Edward, 23, came to the UK in 2019 as a refugee from Ethiopia and was supported by his local authority until he was ready to move into a semi-independent supported home with Centrepoint. He's now working closely with the jobs and education team and is excited to find a role that keeps him interested and engaged for the future

Mubarak, 21, arrived in the UK in 2021 under humanitarian protection after fleeing Sudan as an unaccompanied minor. After living in care for a few years, he was moved to a Centrepoint semi-independent home when he was at risk of homelessness. He's been working closely with the jobs and education team to help him get the necessary qualifications he needs to achieve his dream of being a barber.

Zaid, 21, reached out to the Centrepoint Helpline after a family breakdown meant he had no where to stay. He reached out to the council, but due to ongoing issues with his settled status, they were unable to help him and referred him to Centrepoint for support. After working closely with the jobs and education team in Manchester, he is now renting is own space and is thriving as an IT analyst.

Hash, 22, came to the UK 5 years ago after moving from Pakistan. He was finding it hard to balance his university fees and paying for accommodation which left him at risk of homelessness. After speaking to a friend, he spoke to social services who referred him to Centrepoint. He is now living in his own home, where he loves cooking, working full-time and thinking about long-term career goals.

Seyfu, 24, came to Centrepoint three years ago after leaving Ethiopia as an asylum seeker. When he arrived in the UK, he was struck by how many people he saw running, and as a way to meet new people and create a sense of community, he decided to join his local club. After years of consistent training and competing nationally and internationally, Seyfu is currently preparing for the 2028 Olympics, where he will be representing Team GB in the marathon.

Holly, 20, came to Centrepoint almost a year ago with her three-year-old son following a breakdown in the relationship with her mum. She was moved into a mother and baby supported home where she has built a strong sense of community and has gotten involved with a range of different creative activities. She's now finishing her level 2 qualifications and will soon start a new role as a carer, before pursuing her dream career of being a prison officer.