Sanya became homeless at 18 after a bereavement triggered a family breakdown. She lived with relatives for a short period before presenting as homeless to her local council and eventually being referred to Centrepoint where she has received holistic support in a number of areas. Three years later, she is in her own home and recently graduated with a first class honours.
In this episode, our senior stories officer Tamsin talks to Cassie, a former resident, about her journey through Centrepoint to fulfilling her dream of qualifying to be an art teacher.
Young people deserve to reach their full potential and be excited about their future in work. But right now, outdated benefit rules are holding them back. The Government is so close to changing this in the upcoming Budget, let’s make sure they don’t forget.
Nationwide, Coventry Building Society and The Co-operative Bank have today joined our campaign warning that homeless young people are being forced into unemployment by outdated benefit rules.
Ceiran, 19, was referred to Centrepoint after leaving care at age 18. He has been supported by our Centrepoint Works team with interview practice and through the Centrepoint Bursary so that he could complete the application process to become a Police Community and Support Officer with the London MET Police.
When Tara (20) was 18, she fell pregnant with her first child and had to leave home and was referred into one of Centrepoint’s services for young parents. Despite financial struggles and adjusting to the big changes of becoming a mother, two years on, Tara and her son are doing well and living independently.
Dee was supported over a number of weeks by the Centrepoint Helpline who advocated on her behalf. A few months later, Dee is living in temporary accommodation in a studio flat, has been assessed as priority need and can start bidding on properties. This means that she is able to start “rebuilding her life.”
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.
Some of the UK’s biggest financial institutions and companies have written to the Chancellor backing Centrepoint’s Make Work Pay campaign to fix a ‘cruel quirk’ in the benefits system that’s forcing young people into unemployment.
