At Centrepoint, we know that we can’t end youth homelessness on our own – we need to work in partnership with organisations that share the same vision and passion for improving young people’s lives.
We’ve been a proud partner of Coventry Building Society since 2023, and in that time they’ve raised over £2 million, helping us to support more young people via our Helpline, improve prospects for hundreds of young people through Centrepoint Works, and launch our prevention work with schools. Last year also saw us join forces with St Basils and the Society to open a one-stop youth hub for young people facing homelessness in Coventry.
On top of all of this, Coventry Building Society have announced a further commitment of £2 million as part of their recent acquisition of The Co-operative Bank – another long-term partner of Centrepoint who have provided vital support to homeless young people at our Manchester Hub and across the UK through our Helpline.
The £2 million donation will be split evenly between Centrepoint and St Basils and will go towards creating genuinely affordable homes in Coventry and Manchester for young people escaping homelessness.
At Centrepoint, we're focused on building genuinely affordable homes because we know that one in five young people we support are ready to move into independence but can’t do so because access to genuinely affordable housing is almost non-existent, especially in the private rented sector.
With Coventry Building Society and The Co-operative Bank’s support though, we can change this and help young people take the next step towards living independently. £1 million will go to our Independent Living Programme, enabling the development of 30-plus homes in Southeast Manchester for young people aged 18-25 with experience of homelessness who are in work or completing an apprenticeship.
The remaining £1 million will support St Basils’ Live and Work Model, which combines high-quality, low-cost housing with employment support for 18-to-25-year-olds facing homelessness. The initiative empowers young people by providing a secure home alongside career opportunities, breaking the cycle of homelessness.
Reflecting on the donation, Lucy Becque, Group Chief People Officer at Coventry Building Society, said:
Every young person deserves a safe place to call home and the chance to reach their full potential. By supporting Centrepoint and St Basils, we are investing in practical, long-term solutions that empower young people to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
The Society and the Bank have already donated over £4.5m to Centrepoint and this additional £2m donation demonstrates our shared commitment to tackling youth homelessness head-on.