Nationwide and Centrepoint

Celebrating Centrepoint's largest ever corporate partnership with Nationwide Building Society.

Our partnership is part of Nationwide Fairer Futures, their social impact strategy which supports those who have been dealt an unfair hand across generations. 

Nationwide see youth homelessness as one of the biggest issues in society today

Nationwide is partnering with Centrepoint because, as a building society, they know how important it is to have a place to call home and the difference it can make to people’s lives. In 2024, they embarked on a new social impact straegy, Nationwide Fairer Futures, designed to make a difference across generations.

They join Centrepoint in the belief that by working together, we can end youth homelessness for the next generation. 

Nationwide Fairer Futures. Helping those who have been dealt an unfair hand.

In partnership, 3,500 homeless young people will be supported to take steps towards independence and a home of their own. 

We aim to enable young people to have a home where they feel safe, where they belong and where they can rebuild their lives. 
 

How we're working together

Centrepoint accommodation recently refurbished with new sofas, lighting and stylish wallpaper through Nationwide More Than a Roof

More Than a Roof

‘More Than a Roof’ is about refurbishing homes and creating safe spaces for homeless young people so they can be themselves and rebuild their lives. It does this in three different ways:   

  • Refurbishing homes owned by Centrepoint.
  • A grant programme empowering Centrepoint's national network of smaller youth homelessness charities to upgrade their spaces.
  • 'Style Your Space' which gives young people the funds to personalise their space and make their home their own. 
A young person at a Centrepoint service

Stepping Stone Homes

‘Stepping Stone Homes’ is a ground-breaking independent living programme to fund truly affordable new homes for young people who have faced homelessness. This ambitious scheme sees Centrepoint build homes for young people to live in independently for 3-5 years. Residents pay rent capped at a third of their salary, so they can afford to make ends meet and save for the future, to break the cycle of homelessness. Nationwide is supporting three developments over the course of our partnership.

A young person puts laundry in the washing machine in their rented home

Making Renting Work

‘Making Renting Work’ funds deposits and rent for homeless young people who are ready to leave supported homes and move into the private rental sector. It helps them find the right accommodation, so they can overcome the barriers to living independently and secure a space to call home. 

Partipants wrapped up in warm clothing hold up a banner during their Nationwide Sleep Out

Sleep Out

Sleep Out is not about replicating homelessness – it’s a chance to take a moment to experience the difficult realities young people face when sleeping in cold, uncomfortable and noisy conditions for just one night. And to think about how much worse that would be for somebody who is vulnerable, isolated, and facing endless days and nights like that. Nationwide is sponsoring Sleep Out to help raise funds and awareness, and so we can put an end to youth homelessness.

Our impact so far

During our first year of partnership, we have supported 1,627 young people with a safe space to rebuild their lives. A few highlights include:

  • Three Centrepoint services were refurbished, creating a physically and psychologically safe place for young people to recover from homelessness
  • 397 young people at Centrepoint services received a £125 voucher to purchase items for their rooms to style them in their own taste and create a more homely feel
  • 27 of our partnering organisations received grants, totalling £200,000, to enable the young people they support to buy items for their rooms and to upgrade their spaces
  • 165 Nationwide colleagues across the country got involved in Sleep Outs at their offices and branches, raising over £40k
  • Colleagues have completed various challenge events for us, generously donated their time to support Centrepoint and shared their expertise and insights with our colleagues
I just thought ‘moving on is going to be so hard. I'm on my own, I have to do everything by myself’. So to know that they've helped me out a bit, so when I do move on to getting my permanent [home], I'm not just stuck with nothing, I've got a few things to start with, it makes me more motivated to want to do more….Now I know that I've got stuff with me that is mine, it's making me happier. I feel like it makes me happier in general."

What's next?

During year 2 of our partnership, we are continuing to build on the incredible successes so far and rolling out the programmes to support more young people. Nationwide will also provide support for our Moneywise programme - which supports young people to learn money management skills and build financial resilience. 

We are working with colleagues in Nationwide’s customer vulnerability team to share insights and unlock the barriers that homeless young people face accessing bank accounts, as well as developing opportunities with the Early Careers team.

Young person with two high rise buildings in background