Homeless Helpline: Prince William to help launch life-changing Centrepoint freephone

Homeless Helpline: The Duke will launch the new freephone today
JEREMY SELWYN
Chloe Chaplain13 February 2017

Today will mark the finale of the Evening Standard’s Young and Homeless Appeal as Prince William helps to launch Centrepoint’s life-changing helpline.

The Duke will assist as the first call is made to a nationwide helpline designed to support 16 to 25-year-olds who are homeless or facing homelessness.

The generous donations of Evening Standard readers have helped to raise a total of more then £3million which will provide these young people with the support to take control of their own lives.

The appeal was launched in partnership with The Independent and i newspaper after Prince William declared in November that the “scale of youth homelessness in this country is now shameful – it must not be ignored”.

Throughout the appeal, young people who have endured homelessness themselves spoke out about their experiences of having no one to turn to or nowhere to go.

They told The Standard how the helpline would provide guidance and assistance which could prevent others from ending up in similar desperate situations.

Seyi Obakin, the chief executive of Centrepoint, who admitted to being “overwhelmed” by the support of readers, said: “Today, with the launch of the Centrepoint Helpline, we take a major step towards realising our ambitious goal to end youth homelessness.

“Intervening early and decisively to ensure that young people have the right advice and support can change a young person’s future. That is what we now aim to do with the Centrepoint Helpline.”

His sentiments were echoed by Samia Meah, 27, who was helped by Centrepoint after becoming homeless aged 16.

“The helpline will be a game changer,” she said, “The first point of call for vulnerable young people facing homelessness, and an incredible resource to help people who don’t know where to turn.

“We are so grateful to everyone who donated and to The Independent for running an appeal that shone a light on the issues surrounding youth homelessness.”

Kumba Kpakima, 18, who became homeless when her life fell apart after the death of her mother when she was 15, added: “The campaign has been great.

"It has changed people’s attitudes. More people are aware of how youth homelessness can affect anyone, how it’s not about drug addicts, It’s bad things happening to people which are out of their control.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported the appeal. It’s good to know there are people out there who want to support young people like me and see us do well.”

Centrepoint Lives

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The helpline will allow young people to plug into Centrepoint’s network of contacts and partner organisations all over the UK to get local, on the ground assistance.

“It will be the difference between young people living with the threat of sleeping rough hanging over them and them getting the support they need,” said Matt Carlisle, 49, who during the campaign told of his own journey from teenage homelessness to Centrepoint regional manager.

“I know what the Helpline would have meant to me when I was younger: having access to that free, anonymous and non-judgemental advice when you’re facing impossible decisions could have changed things for me sooner.

“We’re so grateful to Evening Standard readers for their part in this campaign. It’s completely blown me away.”

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