Centrepoint in brief

Centrepoint is the leading national charity working to improve the lives of homeless young people.

Centrepoint works to give homeless young people a future. To realise this future we work directly with more than 800 young people aged 16-25 each day, advise local groups and partners across the country, and research and influence Government policy which affects young people.

Our vision

To end youth homelessness.

Our mission

Everyday, we give homeless young people a future.

Supporting young people

At any one time Centrepoint supports around 800 young people.
Since 1969, Centrepoint has helped more than 70,000 young people.
Centrepoint works with young people with a diverse range of needs and personal histories. Around fifty percent have slept rough on the streets; seventeen percent have been in care at some point during their lives; around thirty percent are refugees; some may be misusing alcohol or drugs; all of them are going through early adulthood and need guidance as they change and grow.
Centrepoint provides a range of accommodation-based services, including short stay services for seven nights, to long-term services for up to two years. Centrepoint offers specialist services for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats and outreach support. These accommodation services provide the foundations from which young people can start tackling the issues that lead to them becoming homeless.

More than just housing

Centrepoint believes that dealing with the social exclusion of young people requires an integrated response starting with a safe home and building on this to create firm foundations for the future.
To this end, Centrepoint provides more than just accommodation for homeless young people. Our award winning support and development approach helps young people expand their social and life skills and gain education and training to help them move on to living independent of us, with the practical skills they need for a positive future.

Tackling the causes of youth homelessness

Through policy and research work, Centrepoint works to increase public understanding of the causes and effects of youth homelessness, and pushes for practical changes in policies which would reduce homelessness and enhance the life chances of the young people who use our services.

Partnering other organisations

Centrepoint Partnering enables smaller organisations across the country to share Centrepoint’s knowledge, experience and resources to build their capacity and improve their outcomes.