On the 26th March 2008 a group of homeless young people from Sunderland will walk down the red carpet to launch “Choices”, a video they have produced to tell other local young homeless people how to apply as homeless in the city.

Choices has been designed, filmed and edited by MAD4U (Make a Difference For You), a group of approximately 20 homeless young people between the ages of 16 and 25, who use their first hand experience of homelessness to educate others on the consequences which come from leaving home early

The video has been developed with the help of Centrepoint, the leading national youth homelessness charity and Sunderland YMCA (a local supported accommodation/education provider). It comes at the end of a year in which Centrepoint and YMCA have been working with the government to deliver the National Youth Homelessness Scheme; a national initiative promoting best practice amongst local authorities on how to prevent and support youth homelessness.

Johnny Gray, 19 and star of the video said:

“Applying as homeless is a scary prospect for lots of young people who have nowhere to stay and no idea where to go for help. The video explains what young people can expect when they apply as homeless; it aims to put people at ease and make sure they speak to the right people as early as possible.”

MAD4U have developed a preventative education pack; ‘Where You At’, which along with the DVD, is being sent to local youth clubs and schools. The education pack has already been offered to students at Thornhill Comprehensive School as a part of their Personal Health and Social Education (PHSE) curriculum where it will be rolled out from April.

Rebecca Riley, 17 who has been working with MAD4U in Thornhill Comprehensive School said:

“The stuff in schools is designed to make sure people don’t make the same mistakes we did. It’s a wake up call designed to show that living on your own, without support isn’t that easy

Chris Cornell, Centrepoint’s Development Manager for Sunderland said

“The video has been the idea of the young people all the way through; they came up with the idea, wrote the script, did the filming and designed everything down to what’s on the front cover. The way the young people that they’ve seen the video all the way through reflects how willing they are to help other young people avoid the problems they have experienced.

The video launch takes place on the 26th March 2008, 6:30-8:00 at the Prospect Building, University of Sunderland (St Peter’s Campus). Press welcome

For more information please contact Leesa Lee on 0191 567 6160 or via email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

For more information about Centrepoint, or for pictures and interviews please contact Alex Bolton at Centrepoint on Tel: 020 7423 6887 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

For more information on Sunderland YMCA, or for pictures and interviews please contact Leesa Lee on Tel: 0191 567 6160 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Notes to editors

About Centrepoint

• Centrepoint is the national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded homeless young people.  It provides a range of accommodation based services, including emergency night shelters and short stay hostels, specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats and floating support services. These accommodation services provide the foundations from which young people can start tackling the issues that lead to them becoming homeless, and developing the skills they need for a sustainable future
• Centrepoint is a leading national charity that successfully prevents and tackles youth homelessness
• HRH Prince William became Centrepoint’s patron in 2005
• Since 1969 Centrepoint has helped more than 70,000 young people
• At any one time Centrepoint works with approximately 700 young people. 650 in direct services and at least 50 others

About YMCA

• Sunderland YMCA is a 24 bed foyer providing accommodation, support and training to young people aged 16-25.  It provides a range of recreational and educational opportunities including media training (through Sunderland’s Media Foyer), sports activities, accredited life skills and E2E training courses. Sunderland YMCA also operate FareShare North East, working with local food business to minimise food waste by distributing it to a network of local community organisations working with disadvantaged people.
• MA4D4U was set up in 2004. It aims to raise awareness’ of youth homelessness, help make improvements to services provided for homeless young people and deliver training to help other young people gain a successful leaving home experience. The group has previously directly lobbied parliament on a range of issues inc housing benefit reform and in 2007 received funding from Sunderland City Councils Youth Development Group to establish a healthy living café for their residents and other local homeless young people the participation of young people in politics.
• Sunderland YMCA was first opened in 1998. It received its full Foyer status in early 2003
• In 2007 Sunderland City Council saw 781 individuals present as homeless, accepting 546 people as homeless and thus eligible for local authority support