Donation provides Christmas lunch for homeless young people

The generous £5,000 donation was made up of a donation of £5 from each member of staff who attended the Grant Thornton Christmas party this year. This festive generosity will provide homeless young people with a hot meal this Christmas.

Seyi Obakin, Centrepoint’s Acting Chief Executive said: “Young people do not choose to be homeless. Many of the young people we support have experienced domestic abuse, family breakdown, poverty, and increasingly, the harsh reality of a knife and gun culture. Christmas for these homeless young people inevitably can be one of the loneliest and most isolating times of the year. We are grateful for this generous donation which will make such a positive difference to the Christmas that young people will have now they are in a Centrepoint service this year”.

Ian Smart, Managing Partner London at Grant Thornton, said “It has been wonderful for staff at Grant Thornton to be able to contribute to the valuable work that Centrepoint does. In the current economic climate and over the Christmas period we realise how important it is to continue showing support for homeless young people. That is why our senior staff ‘slept out’ as part of Centrepoint’s Sleep-Out event and why we chose to donate money through our Christmas party so that all of our staff could be involved in helping benefit Centrepoint’s work”.

Centrepoint’s Countdown to Christmas appeal is on until Christmas day. Centrepoint must raise £266,437 in 40 days to support homeless young people in Centrepoint services over the Christmas period. Just £24 can provide a bed for a homeless young person on Christmas day, £70 could pay for accommodation over the Christmas week for a homeless young person. With your help, we can give a homeless young person a happy Christmas – and a better future.