Our legal team recently experienced a bittersweet victory: through years of hard work they managed to reclaim a huge backlog of benefits payments owed to a young person using Centrepoint’s services. A huge and monumental success, yes -but it certainly wasn’t an easy win.
Earlier this year, Ben Harris, 22, attempted to kayak solo the length of Lake Tanganika, the longest lake in the world. Despite some snags along the way, Ben managed to complete his mission and raised a whopping £12,000 for Centrepoint. Here, we speak to him about his incredible journey.
Most people know Jade Johnson as an Olympic track and field athlete; many may recognise her from her high-scoring Foxtrot on Strictly Come Dancing. But before Jade made it big, she spent a brief period as a homeless young person at 17. Here she tells us about her experience – and how it’s made her a stronger person.
Centrepoint’s goal is to help vulnerable young people become independent enough to live a good life that they can thrive in. And we are open to all homeless young people, regardless of their geographical circumstances. Whether they’ve been kicked out of their family home in London or have travelled to the UK as an unaccompanied minor, we’re here to help.
As our former engagement team begin to reintroduce events and outings that aim to inspire and empower as the HOMES Activities Team, we caught up with them after a residential outing to Staffordshire, which brought together homeless young people from services all over the country for some daring outdoor activities. Here, the team tell us what these trips mean to young people, and just how it helps them prepare for independence.
Our research estimates nearly 122,000 young people asked for help from their local council in 2020-21 because they were homeless or at risk. Dan Poursaeedi, Centrepoint's Senior Policy, Research and Databank Officer, explains the findings of the recent Youth Homelessness Databank report for 2020-2021.
Eurydice Belezika, Peer Research Coordinator and former Centrepoint resident in London, talks about her experience of conducting research and campaigning to support disadvantaged young people.
Our partnership with The Co-Operative Bank has been a long and fruitful one. And this month we have a lot to celebrate, as they prepare to hit a huge milestone in their fundraising efforts for Centrepoint. Read here more about our partnership and all the fantastic ways they have supported us to reach such an incredible fundraising achievement.
A recent UK parliament report has found that inflation could reach its highest level recorded since 1992. With wages not growing nearly as fast, the chasm between earnings and the cost of living is growing at a seismic rate, leaving thousands to increasingly cut costs to keep themselves afloat. This is a nationwide crisis: it affects us all, but certainly touches some more than others. So, how can you help the homeless if you don’t have the resources to donate your own money?
Centrepoint has updated and published our Universal Credit guides for young people and those supporting them. They include information on the up-to-date benefit rates, rules, and regulations within Universal Credit. Our Policy and Research Assistant, Franki Taylor, talks you through it.
