Almost 23,000 young people will face homelessness this Christmas

CENTREPOINT, the country’s leading youth homelessness charity predicts that almost 23,000 young people will face homelessness this winter.

The latest figures from the charity suggest that one young person faces homelessness every four minutes and that more than one young person a day calls Centrepoint’s Helpline because a local council has wrongly turned them away from homelessness support.

As well as the physical discomfort that homelessness often brings, it can also have a long-lasting psychological effect on those impacted. According to a survey of homeless young people carried out by Centrepoint 71% said that being homeless worsened their mental health.

Two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed said they felt anxious for their safety because they had nowhere to stay at Christmas.

To bring this harsh reality to life, Centrepoint has unveiled a giant Christmas ‘snow globe’ on London’s Southbank. The installation uses projection mapping technology to tell Mars’ story – a 19-year-old who became homeless after a family breakdown.

In contrast to the jolly festive scenes snow globes usually depict, the Centrepoint installation highlights feelings of fear, loneliness and being forgotten. Brought to life by renowned illustrator, Fernando Cobelo, and animator Paolo Luca, the projected artwork explores Mars’ journey before and after they received support from Centrepoint.

Struggling with their identity and mental health at home, Mars faced rejection. After being forced to leave, they sought help from Centrepoint, where they received emotional support, mental health services, and life skills training. Now, Mars feels safe, understood, and hopeful for the future, enjoying a sense of belonging and independence.

25% of young people surveyed said they never felt cared for during Christmas before coming to Centrepoint and 20% said they had never felt safe at Christmas until they found support from the charity ^iv.

Mars commented: 

“Before I left home, I felt suffocated and would not have survived if I stayed. I was lucky to have a friend though who made me realise what it felt like to be supported and understood. I realised things could be different and was able to take the next step by reaching out to Centrepoint for support.

“I felt so relieved after speaking to the Centrepoint Helpline advisor – they explained my rights and what I needed to tell the council. I can’t tell you how it felt to eventually move into Centrepoint accommodation and have my own space, where I was safe and could finally be myself.

“When I step into my room, I feel like I am home. I feel calm and happy. There isn’t a single thing that the staff at Centrepoint haven’t done for me, and I am eternally grateful. I can feel myself growing as a person.” 

Doctor Helen Miles, Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist and Head of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) at Centrepoint said: 

“Experiencing homelessness at any age can have a huge and long-lasting impact on a person’s physical and mental health, but young people are particularly vulnerable. The trauma and instability of not having a safe home, family or network to turn to can severely affect a young person’s sense of physical and emotional safety, which can impact on their ability to engage in life opportunities, critical at this age in order to reach their full potential in the future.

“Our snow globe installation on Southbank is a powerful visual representation of some of the hidden struggles homeless young people face, and how important the right support is in enabling them to move on from homelessness for good.

“Every young person deserves to feel physically and emotionally safe, valued, and hopeful, not just at Christmas, but every day of the year. We hope this installation will inspire greater understanding and action from the wider community.”

Through Centrepoint, you can sponsor a room to get a homeless young person off the streets for good. Your gift will not only pay for a warm, safe room for up to a year, but it will also go towards providing vital support they may have never been given before.

If you believe every young person deserves to feel safe and have a warm place to stay this Christmas, give them a life-changing gift by donating here: centrepoint.org.uk/snowglobe.

The Freephone Centrepoint Helpline is available for any young person aged 16-25 worried about homelessness. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. The Centrepoint Helpline number is: 0808 800 0661.

For more information, please visit www.centrepoint.org.uk