Centrepoint chief hails the Homeless Helpline Christmas Appeal as a 'landmark moment'

Landmark moment: Volunteers raised more than £5,000
NIGEL HOWARD
Matt Watts22 November 2016

The boss of Centrepoint today hailed the launch of our Christmas campaign as a “landmark moment” in the battle against youth homelessness.

It was marked last night by volunteers raising £5,300 through bucket collections during rush hour across London.

The campaign will also raise money for the countless services the charity provides to help young people out of crisis and teach them to stand on their own two feet.

Bucket shakers: Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev with Centrepoint Chief Executive Seyi Obakin (Nigel Howard)
NIGEL HOWARD

The charity’s chiefs executive Seyi Obakin was joined by Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev who were among more than 100 volunteer fundraisers at 27 stations carrying collection buckets.

Mr Obakin said: “This is the start of something significant, a landmark moment that can completely change the landscape of youth homelessness.

“The donations will change people’s lives on the ground forever. The helpline would give young people advice when the wrong turn could be devastating for their lives. So we are at a critical moment for preventing youth homelessness.

“Whatever we can do to prevent youth homelessness is much better than what is done in the future to solve it.

“It’s a very complex issue. Rough sleeping is only a small part of youth homelessness, the problem is much of it is hidden in sofas, on park benches, in garages, the kinds of places where young people hide themselves when they are homeless.

“The consequences are disrupted lives, people falling out of education, their health disimproving, the spiral is very fast.

"There is the potential of a lost generation of young people, of wasted talent. It’s important for people to understand his could happen to anybody.

Generous: Commuters gave our appeal a great start (Nigel Howard)
NIGEL HOWARD

"It just takes two or three things to go wrong in one’s life at the same time and you can get into youth homelessness.

“I would say a huge thanks to Londoners who respond to the appeal, they are saving young lives.”

Mr Lebedev said: “It was fantastic joining Centrepoint’s army of committed volunteers as they braved the rain to raise money for this great cause.

“That so many gave up their evenings attests to the urgency of the issues at stake. A brilliant start to what promises to be a genuinely transformational campaign.”

Among the volunteers was Ilyasah Ricketts, 21, from south London, who got help from Centrepoint after she was made homeless aged 15 when her relationship with her grandmother broke down.

The charity gave her support to continue her education and helped her find safe accommodation and move forward to live independently.

She got a job eight months ago working with the charity as a digital research and engagement assistant.

She said: “I remember when I first became homeless I had no support and nowhere to turn. It’s a scary feeling not knowing where you are going to sleep or how you can get help.

“The helpline is going to be vital to so many young people to help them get support and know how they can get help to get out of their situation. It’s a really important cause for Londoners to support.”

Homeless helpline: The Evening Standard launched its Christmas appeal yesterday (NIGEL HOWARD)
NIGEL HOWARD ©

Hana Chambers, 28, a civil servant from Stoke Newington, told how she had started to volunteer to raise money for Centrepoint after being concerned by how homelessness is on the rise in London.

She said: “I’m inspired by how the charity helps people get back on their feet. The helpline will be vital to help solve youth homelessness.

"There’s not a dedicated service like it. In the same way that Childline is so vital to vulnerable children I think it will revolutionise how young homeless people get help. It will change so many vulnerable young people’s lives for the better.”

The Evening Standard's Homeless Helpline appeal is raising money for the Centrepoint Helpline, a brand new support service that will save young people from ending up on the streets.

To donate please visit our Just Giving page.

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