Centrepoint (charity)
Encyclopedia
Centrepoint is the leading charity
in the United Kingdom
supporting homeless young people aged 16-25. Its patron is HRH The Duke of Cambridge
.
It provides a range of accommodation and additional support in health, education and life skills. Its accommodation includes emergency nightshelters, short and long stay hostel
s, specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats and floating support services.
Additional support services include a designated health team and mental health team, specialist support to help young people back into education, training or employment, and the teaching of life skills, which encompasses everything from money management to cooking.
Centrepoint also has its own Centrepoint Parliament - a group of 18 young people elected by their peers to be the 'voice' of the charity. It is involved in charity-wide decision-making, lobbying and policy work, and media. Last year's Parliament was instrumental in convincing the government to retain the Education Maintenance Allowance for vulnerable young people. This was managed by Centrepoint's policy and participation team.
Centrepoint also runs successful volunteering schemes, such as mentoring, which pairs a person with a young persn for 12 months. It currently works with almost 100 mentors.
The charity was founded by the Reverend Kenneth Leech
and set up its first shelter in a Soho
church on the 16 December 1969. Centrepoint opened its first accommodation service outside London in Consett
, County Durham
on 7 October 2005. The homeless individuals who took part in the Cycle of Life
in 2008 are from Centrepoint projects.
Centrepoint's former patron was Diana, Princess of Wales
and its current Patron
is her son, HRH The Duke of Cambridge.
Its ambassadors include Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox
, actress Lisa Maxwell
and journalist and presenter Kirsty Young
.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
supporting homeless young people aged 16-25. Its patron is HRH The Duke of Cambridge
Duke of Cambridge
Duke of Cambridge is a title which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family several times. It was first used as a designation for Charles Stuart , the eldest son of James, Duke of York , though he was never formally created Duke of Cambridge...
.
It provides a range of accommodation and additional support in health, education and life skills. Its accommodation includes emergency nightshelters, short and long stay hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
s, specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats and floating support services.
Additional support services include a designated health team and mental health team, specialist support to help young people back into education, training or employment, and the teaching of life skills, which encompasses everything from money management to cooking.
Centrepoint also has its own Centrepoint Parliament - a group of 18 young people elected by their peers to be the 'voice' of the charity. It is involved in charity-wide decision-making, lobbying and policy work, and media. Last year's Parliament was instrumental in convincing the government to retain the Education Maintenance Allowance for vulnerable young people. This was managed by Centrepoint's policy and participation team.
Centrepoint also runs successful volunteering schemes, such as mentoring, which pairs a person with a young persn for 12 months. It currently works with almost 100 mentors.
The charity was founded by the Reverend Kenneth Leech
Kenneth Leech
Kenneth Leech is an Anglican priest and Christian socialist in the Anglo-Catholic tradition.Leech graduated with a BA degree in 1961 from the University of London and then went to Trinity College, Oxford. After theological studies at St Stephen's House, Oxford he was ordained to the priesthood in...
and set up its first shelter in a Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
church on the 16 December 1969. Centrepoint opened its first accommodation service outside London in Consett
Consett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town: below the ground was coking coal and...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
on 7 October 2005. The homeless individuals who took part in the Cycle of Life
Cycle of Life
Cycle of Life is a cycling expedition organised to raise awareness and funds for rural African communities in and around conservation areas.-The expedition:...
in 2008 are from Centrepoint projects.
Centrepoint's former patron was Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and its current Patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
is her son, HRH The Duke of Cambridge.
Its ambassadors include Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox
Sara Cox
Sara Cox , known as "Coxy", is an English TV presenter and radio DJ, most well known for presenting the breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 between 2000 and 2003...
, actress Lisa Maxwell
Lisa Maxwell (actress)
Lisa Maxwell is an English actress and television presenter.-Early life:Born in the Elephant & Castle district of Southwark, South London in November 1963, she was trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, and first acted on TV aged 11 in a schools programme A Place Like Home...
and journalist and presenter Kirsty Young
Kirsty Young
Kirsty Jackson Young is a Scottish television presenter and radio presenter. She is the main presenter of Crimewatch and Desert Island Discs. She is married to millionaire club owner Nick Jones.- Career :...
.