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Centrepoint’s activities team empower vulnerable young people into independence

Pascale Day, Senior Editorial and Web Officer

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.

Person with long red hair wearing a blue jumper stands in front of a pink tiled wall.

Mari's story: A support network

Tamsin Clements

Mari found Centrepoint in 1997 after being thrown out of home aged just 15. Not only did Centrepoint provide Mari with a roof over her head, they also provided a support network that she relied on for many years after. Mari now has a family of her own and works as a teacher.

Young person smiling David Monteith Hodge

Aimee's story: My disability doesn't define me

Tamsin Clements

Aimee, 18, is a young rapper with cerebral palsy. She became homeless in the middle of winter following a family breakdown. She was placed in a homeless hostel before being referred to Centrepoint where she has been given a self-contained flat and supported to develop independent living skills and advocate for herself. She recently won a Centrepoint 2024 Award presented to her, by Centrepoint's Patron, Prince William.

Ready to move on: barriers to homeless young people accessing longer term accommodation

Across Centrepoint’s services, almost one in five young people were reported as being ready to move on but unable to do so, with a third of these having been ready to move on for longer than six months. This report seeks to identify the key barriers faced by young people looking to move on, in order to understand what needs to be done to help homeless young people ready to take the next step and move into stable longer term accommodation.

Escaping the trap: supporting homeless young people affected by youth violence and criminal exploitation

Billy Harding

Young people experiencing homelessness, who are among society’s most vulnerable and isolated groups, face significant risks from criminal exploitation and serious youth violence. There is overlap between many of the factors understood to drive both youth violence and youth homelessness, such as poverty and exclusion, family breakdown, experiences leaving care and other state institutions, and difficulties with mental health and trauma. Homelessness can also increase young people’s exposure to violence and exploitation, whether in hostels, sofa surfing and in insecure accommodation, or sleeping rough.