Centrepoint

We’re pleased to see young people at the centre of government policy in today’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announcements. Many of the young people we work with are desperate to leave homelessness behind and access work or education – but too often there is nothing there to help them. We need to give young people the tools they need to get into work, training or education. Getting this right could transform the futures of the next generation of workers, and help boost the economy too.

Huge thanks to the Howdens South East Central Team for hosting a sleep out and raising £11,889 for our work with young people experiencing homelessness! 🧡

Looking for a summer teambuilding activity with your colleagues that also supports Centrepoint's vital work? Hold your own Sleep Out to draw attention to young people experiencing homelessness across the UK! Our Sleep Out team will be on hand to support you with your organising, providing on-the-night activities, and sharing helpful tips to kickstart your fundraising. Sign up now: https://bit.ly/3W0mRNZ

A huge thank you to all the walkers, footballers and rounders players from our partner Coventry Building Society, who have raised an amazing £10,000 over the past few months to support homeless young people. This is on top of their ambitious target of raising and donating a million pounds, every year for three years, to support our vital work to end youth homelessness. 🧡 💙

Andrew is a former Centrepoint resident, and he cycled from London to Brighton to raise money to help other young people and give back after all the support he received. “I only had a month for training. It was pretty nerve wracking, but I took on the challenge. The other cyclists were amazing and I made friends with people along the route. I did a great time of 3hrs 39 minutes. I was really pleased with that because a pro-cyclist would take 2-3 hours so I feel like I did well. I was really proud of myself. About 40 miles in we had to ride up Ditchling Beacon and that was hard work. I didn’t come off but I crawled up. I had a cool guy next to me encouraging me. It took a while but I got to the top and the views were amazing. It was kind of a bit of a metaphor for my own journey. It’s been an uphill struggle, but now it feels more like I have perspective and it’s an easier ride. I really wanted to give back to Centrepoint in a way that suited me. I wanted to promote the organisation that helped me whilst also challenging myself. It was also fitting that I did it on Fathers’ Day. I’ve said before that my late father helps me strive to overcome my barriers. I just kept on going for him. I wanted to see the end. I want to do it again and beat my time!” Thank you, Andrew - you smashed it and we’re very grateful for your support! 🧡 If you’d like to support Andrew’s fundraising and help young people experiencing homelessness, please donate: https://bit.ly/3S6EURn

Are you a Nationwide Building Society member? We need your help! We’ve launched a new partnership with Nationwide Building Society as part of their Fairer Futures programme – and to celebrate, they’re donating £1 for every vote received at their Annual General Meeting, up to £500,000! The money will be shared evenly across their three new charity partners – or, if you’re eligible, you can donate your £1 just to us! You just need to tick the box next to Centrepoint when you vote. Learn more about how we’re working together to end youth homelessness: https://bit.ly/3zBG4y2

It’s always amazing to see our Patron, Prince William, shining a light on homelessness – and this exhibition and documentary are powerful ways to showcase the stories of people with lived experience, grow understanding and inspire action. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3zySwi2

 “We can’t continue letting young people down, particularly those served an especially raw deal through homelessness. The next government can shift the dial and focus on policies supporting young people into sustained employment. We’ve a huge pool of untapped resource; young people who want to make something of themselves and to thrive in sustainable careers, but we don’t have the structures in place to support them. The next administration must commit to a strategy for ending youth homelessness and put employment at the forefront of their thinking.” Alicia Lily Walker, our Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns, is breaking down our new research into young people’s employment barriers and aspirations.

1,139 people aged under 25 slept rough in London last year – a devastating figure. Charities & political leaders can only do so much when the problem is getting worse. The next Prime Minister needs to commit to a fully funded strategy to end youth homelessness.

We polled 1,000 young people across the UK and found that nearly a third of them don’t feel confident that they will achieve their employment goals, and only 66% believe they have the right skills for the jobs they want. We also surveyed more than 200 young people who have experienced homelessness, and 36% of them shared they weren’t confident they would achieve their career goals either. As well as facing barriers like a lack of experience, availability of local jobs, mental health problems and the cost of living, young people who live in supported accommodation are also held back by housing benefit rules that leave them worse off if they work more hours. Young people want to work, and we can’t continue to let young people down like this. We’re urging the next government to ensure young people receive more support and opportunities to get into employment – and help them to fulfil their potential. This includes changing the housing benefit taper rate that disincentivises young people from working, and extending the National Minimum or Living Wage to apprentices of all ages to reflect experience gained after the first year. We also want to see businesses supported to introduce innovative employment schemes and apprenticeships that are designed around young people living in supported accommodation, so they can leave homelessness behind them and achieve their dreams. Ending youth homelessness is complex, but it starts with a job and a home. Learn more about our new research: https://bit.ly/4cCryUK