Centrepoint
Our charity partner Centrepoint gives homeless young people a safe room they can call their own and the support they need to move on from homelessness.
Helping young people rebuild their lives
Every four minutes, a young person aged 16 - 24 faces homelessness in the UK because they have been let down by the people and the systems that are supposed to care for them.
Centrepoint delivers a range of tailored, long-term support programmes to young people facing homelessness. These include initiatives to prevent young people becoming homeless in the first place and help for those in crisis.
Andrew shares his story in this video.
If you would like to learn more, visit the Centrepoint website (opens in a new window).
Show transcript
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Before I was at Centrepoint’s
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Independent Living Programme
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I was in supported housing,
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where I had a lease, and that was ending.
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I had to find other accommodation.
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My housing benefit entitlement wasn’t enough
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to help me pay the rent.
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It was a tough time because
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it was either my apprenticeship,
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or cancelling it and basically being on Universal Credit.
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It even affected my standard of living,
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I wasn’t eating as much,
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Because 70%, 80% of my wages was rent.
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Because me working and doing my apprenticeship,
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I was in a worse position than
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my peers that were doing nothing.
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And it’s like, you’re trapped.
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My key worker found Centrepoint,
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and I went through a series of questions…
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About my apprenticeship, about myself.
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And yeah, a couple of weeks later
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I found myself at Reuben House.
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It did feel like a relief because it really helped me.
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Rent at Centrepoint’s Independent Living
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was capped at one third of my wages,
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so that I was actually able to do stuff
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that some of my peers were doing already.
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It also made me know that my work wasn’t going in vain.
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I was actually working and enjoying the fruits of my labour,
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whilst also knowing that I was going to get a career
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out of my apprenticeship.
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There’s a community here
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where you’re around other young people.
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All similar stories, but you’re unique in your own way.
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And you just make friends amongst
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your differences but similarities,
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and I think that was special.
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One of my biggest accountability partners is my late father.
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Everything I do in life is to try and make him proud.
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I am now in my own property,
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where I’m safe, secure and grateful.
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I don’t know what the future holds,
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But the future’s looking bright.
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 income, so they can afford to make ends meet and save for the future, to break the cycle of homelessness.
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.
- The 'Style my space initiative’ which gives young people the funds to personalise their space and make their home their own.
Making renting work
Making renting work funds deposits 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.
Action for Children - helping families living in poverty
30% of children in the UK are living in poverty.
Action for Children helps families through crisis, and fights for an end to child poverty and hardship.
Dementia UK - helping those with dementia
1 in 2 people will be affected by dementia in their lifetime.
Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity. Its specialist nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide free, tailored advice and support to help families care for their loved one and ensure no one faces dementia alone.