Centrepoint thanks Londoners as our Christmas appeal for the homeless breaks through £2m barrier

Christmas miracle: The homeless helpline appeal has raised £2million
NIGEL HOWARD ©
Matt Watts23 December 2016

Centrepoint today thanked Londoners for a “Christmas miracle” as our festive appeal broke through the £2million mark.

The youth homelessness charity held a special Christmas party to mark the milestone and hail the incredible generosity of Evening Standard readers

Supporter Samia Meah, 26, helped by Centrepoint when she became homeless at the age of 16, said: “No one could predict the amazing support we have had from everyone reading.

"Thank you to everyone supporting us.”

Landmark: Centrepoint staff and residents are celebrating reaching £2million in the homeless helpline appeal
NIGEL HOWARD

Gaia Marcus, who is overseeing team implementing the Young and Homeless Helpline being backed by our appeal, said: “I’m completely staggered.

"I don’t think anyone in their wildest dreams thought we would be getting this early Christmas present of £2million.

“The more we are able to raise, the more we are able to ensure the sustainability of the helpline. We want to provide it for ever or until there is no more need.”

Homeless appeal: Centrepoint today celebrated the 'Christmas miracle' (NIGEL HOWARD)
NIGEL HOWARD ©

The Appeal was launched less than five weeks ago with a call by Prince William, Centrepoint’s patron, for people to help “save young lives”.

The helpline will let young people aged between 16 and 25 who face homelessness or are already sleeping rough gain the help they need when they need it.

At present some 150,000 seek help for homelessness from local authorities each year – but up to a third are turned away with no help or advice.

Our Appeal will not only help fund the service for three years but also help pay for places in accommodation and the expert advice, including mental health, addiction and family breakdown, those who turn to it require.

Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, who launched the Appeal with Prince William, said: “It is incredible that such a large amount of money has been raised so fast.

'Amazing achievement': Evgeny Lebedev with Centrepoint resident Kumba and Prince William
Samia Meah

"As a result, young people who may have fallen through the cracks will now receive the support they need when they need it.

"I can't thank everyone who has backed this appeal enough. This is an amazing achievement!"

Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin said everyone at the charity “had been touched by the scale of kindness from the Evening Standard readers” – but urged people to continue to donate to ensure the futures of the helpline and its support services.

'Touched': Centrepoint Chief Seyi pictured with Sdie Frost at a sleep-out event
NIGEL HOWARD ©

“We still have much work to do,” he warned. “We know 25,000 young people are at risk of homelessness this Christmas.

"There could be many thousands more across the country that don’t ask for help and find themselves taking desperate measures to avoid a night on the streets.”

As well as the remarkable number of donations from Evening Standard readers, the appeal has also been supported by a number of corporate backers and organisations.

The latest is the ASOS Foundation, which has given an incredible £450,000 to help turn the helpline into a reality.

Sponsorship for the London Sleep Out – where celebrities including Downton Abbey actress Daisy Lewis and fashion designer Sadie Frost joined more than 1,000 fundraisers on the Greenwich Peninsula – raised a massive £520,000.

Centrepoint sleep out

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Responses to the ‘Safe Christmas’ advertising campaign that is further boosting the Appeal total for Centrepoint has received a further £700,000.

Centrepoint’s London manager Matt Carlisle, 49, who as a teenager was young and homeless himself, said everyone was “blown away” by the amounts.

“It's like a Christmas miracle,” he said of reaching the £2 million marker. “Everyone who has given should know it’s going to help save lives.

“Young people who are homeless make a lot of rash and dangerous decisions because they don't have a choice.

"This helpline will help them make a better and a safer choice. Thank you so much.”

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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