Centrepoint launches new education initiatives

Dame Kelly Holmes and Mrs. Sarah Brown meet Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin and Alex Bonnick, a young person receiving support from Centrepoint.

London, January 27th 2009 – Centrepoint today launched its ambitious new initiatives for education and training, at a reception of supporters and leaders in business, education and government. The event was hosted by Mrs Sarah Brown as part of the charity’s ‘Changes their lives forever’ 40th anniversary campaign.

Centrepoint is the national charity that supports and campaigns for homeless young people aged 16-25 years. Over the last 40 years it has helped over 70,000 young people challenged by homelessness and the problems associated with it.

Guests at the Downing Street event heard from young people about how Centrepoint has supported them in learning and skills development. They were also introduced to Lord David Triesman, Chairman of the Football Association and former education minister, Centrepoint’s new ambassador in support of its plans for a national learning programme.

Mrs Sarah Brown spoke warmly of Centrepoint and its work, recalling how earlier in her career she worked in offices around the corner from Centrepoint services, near the site where the charity was founded 40 years ago.

Michael O’Higgins, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Centrepoint said: “We are extremely grateful to Sarah Brown for hosting our first event of the 2009 anniversary campaign. At Centrepoint we focus our work on the person not the problem and the transitions they must make to turn things around. Learning is an important part of our ‘offer’ to homeless young people. We want to improve that offer, responsive to their needs. This includes the refurbishment of hostels and services through our Foundations for Life programme, raising funds for bursaries to enable young people to get back into training and work, and an expansion of our apprenticing programme.

Artan, a resident of Centrepoint for the last two years, told guests about the support Centrepoint had provided, having become homeless as a refugee. He spoke of how Centrepoint had given him the home environment and support that enabled him to complete a football coaching award and to start studying at university.

Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive of Centrepoint said: “As a key part of our 40th anniversary year, we will develop plans for a national scheme of education and training for homeless young people, not bound by an academic year or institution. Centrepoint will be working with other homelessness charities, education partners, local authorities and employers, to help design a College Without Walls.  From the outset, we will work with homeless young people to shape the offer and help bring about real change.”

See more photographs from the event here