The donation will help young people taking part in Centrepoint’s Youth Educator Programme - an inspirational group of young people who help shape Centrepoint’s staff training and encourage positivity in other young homeless people.

The Youth Educator Programme enables homeless young people to become qualified and experienced trainers with a nationally recognised qualification. After two pilot schemes, the programme has been running since February and has already seen seven young people successfully complete the course. One young person who is currently benefitting greatly is 18 year old Emilyn.

Emilyn first experienced homelessness when she was 14. She had been subjected to abuse since the age of six. Battling with depression and struggling to keep on top of things at school, she left home. Emilyn slept in bus shelters and on night buses, sofa surfed between friends and after two days sleeping rough she tried to smooth things over with her family but had to leave home for good at the age of 16.

Since coming to Centrepoint Emilyn has grown in confidence.  She has returned to college. She has enjoyed being part of the Youth Educators Programme.  Emilyn has gained much from being part of the Programme:

“The project is going really well. It has helped me really come out of my shell. The whole group gets along and we encourage each other. Sharing insight into homelessness and being able to influence training for workers is really important”

Centrepoint Learning Manager Sadie Odeogberin was presented with the cheque for £16,000 by Roy Mcleod of the Jack Petchey Foundation at Centrepoint’s service based in Camberwell, where a number of the youth educators live.

On being presented with the cheque, Sadie Odeogberin said:

“I am delighted to be able to receive this kind gift on behalf of the dedicated team of young people and Centrepoint staff involved in the Youth Educator Project. These young people have the knowledge and experience to help others and bring about real change by influencing the decisions that affect them. This donation will make an enormous difference to the work we do”.

Roy McLeod, from the Jack Petchey Foundation said:

“We are extremely pleased to be able to support Centrepoint, whose excellent work is very much in line with our key interests. In particular we are delighted to be able to assist the youth educators in continuing their fantastic efforts to help other young people who have become homeless.”