Centrepoint (charity)

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Centrepoint is the leading charity in the United Kingdom supporting homeless young people aged 16–25. Its patron is HRH The Duke of Cambridge.[1]

It provides a range of accommodation and additional support in health, education and life skills. Its accommodation includes emergency nightshelters, short and long stay hostels, specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats and floating support services.

Additional support services include a designated health team and mental health team, specialist support to help young people back into education, training or employment, and the teaching of life skills, which encompasses everything from money management to cooking.

Centrepoint also has its own Centrepoint Parliament – a group of 18 young people elected by their peers to be the 'voice' of the charity. It is involved in charity-wide decision-making, lobbying and policy work, and media. Last year's Parliament was instrumental in convincing the government to retain the Education Maintenance Allowance for vulnerable young people. This was managed by Centrepoint's policy and participation team.

Centrepoint also runs successful volunteering schemes, such as mentoring, which pairs a person with a young person for 12 months. It currently works with almost 100 mentors.

The charity was founded by the Reverend Kenneth Leech and set up its first shelter in a Soho church on the 16 December 1969.[2][3] Centrepoint opened its first accommodation service outside London in Consett, County Durham on 7 October 2005.[4] The homeless individuals who took part in the Cycle of Life in 2008 are from Centrepoint projects.

Centrepoint's former patron was Diana, Princess of Wales and its current Patron is her son, HRH The Duke of Cambridge.[5]

Its ambassadors include Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox, actress Lisa Maxwell and journalist and presenter Kirsty Young.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are
  2. ↑ Gould, Mark (2004-06-16). "Community spirit". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  3. ↑ "Homeless charity's call for help". BBC Online. 2004-12-16. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  4. ↑ "MP opens homeless charity centre". The Northern Echo. 2005-10-08. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  5. ↑ "Charities and Patronages". princeofwales.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-06-01. 

External links


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