Give A Homeless Young Person A New Start With A Centrepoint Gift
Last winter, more than 29,000 young people faced homelessness, with numbers expected to rise this year due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
For many homeless young people, Christmas can be isolating and upsetting – a reminder of what they don’t have.
Some may have never experienced a home-cooked meal, surrounded by friends and family. They may never have exchanged gifts or taken part in other traditions many of us take for granted. For others, this time of year can bring back memories of spending Christmas in an unsafe environment.
Sometimes even a small gift, when it is needed most, can be a new beginning for a homeless young person. Through Centrepoint Christmas gifts ranging from just £10 to £1,500, any donation small or large will make a meaningful difference.
And with the last posting date having been brought forward due to the postal strikes, you can send an e-gift instantly by email to someone who will be delighted for you to donate to Centrepoint in their name.
Under £50
Home-Cooked Christmas Dinner, £10
This is no ordinary home-cooked Christmas dinner. It’s a dinner filled with safety and warmth and the chance to sit around a table, share stories, and forget about the past for an evening. When you gift a home-cooked Christmas dinner you are giving a homeless young person the chance to experience the magic of Christmas and letting them know that someone, somewhere is thinking of them.
Toiletries and the Chance of a Fresh Start, £15
We take basic things like soap, deodorant and toothpaste for granted. But living on the streets, sofa surfing or sleeping on a night bus can make it hard for a young person to take care of their basic hygiene. The gift of toiletries can help a young person stay healthy and feel themselves again.
Counselling to Build a New Life, £20
Even a single session of counselling can be life-changing. Because when you buy a counselling session for a young person, you are helping to give them the vital support they need to recover from their past traumas.
Warm Bed and Safety, £35
A bed at Centrepoint is not just a way to bring a young person in from the cold this Christmas. It’s also a physical and mental break from sofa surfing and the streets, and a safe space to rest without fear and uncertainty. The simple comfort of a warm bed can be rejuvenating and give a young person the energy they need to take their first steps back into education, employment or training.
Gifts Over £50
Transformational Clothes, £65
A cosy jumper, a fresh pair of socks and a coat are not just a way to fight off the bitter cold this Christmas period. When you gift a young person a new set of clothes you are gifting them the chance to feel confident. You are helping them feel like the most presentable version of themselves, perhaps to attend their course or a job interview. You’re helping to give them a renewed sense of identity and the self-assurance to face the world again.
Study Kit that Breaks Down Barriers, £85
For a homeless young person, stationery, backpacks and course equipment can carry an unrealistic price tag. Yet without these, education can be an uphill struggle. Our study kit can help ease a young person into their education or training. By choosing this as a gift you are helping to start them off on the right foot and giving a young person the best chance to succeed.
Pic: iStockphoto
The Greatest Gift Bundles
This year, Centrepoint has introduced ‘The Greatest Gift Bundles’, meaning you can combine gifts to make an even bigger difference to a homeless young person.
Gift of Christmas, £65 – Christmas Dinner + Bed + Clothes
A warm meal and the company of people who know what you’re going through can be an enormously meaningful gift to give a young person this Christmas. Combined with a good night’s sleep and a few items of fresh clothing, this gift can help a young person feel re-energised and ready to reflect on their next steps.
Gift of Health, £105 – Food Voucher + Toiletries
With the cost-of-living crisis biting hard this Christmas, it’s becoming more and more difficult for homeless young people to eat, let alone eat healthily. Our food vouchers are a chance to provide nutritious groceries and vital sustenance over the winter period.
In combination with our selection of simple toiletries like soap, deodorant and a toothbrush, this gift can also be transformative. You’re not only helping a young person stay healthy, you’re also giving them a chance to feel like themselves again.
Gifts of £100+
Sponsor a young person’s stay at Centrepoint for a year, £144
When you sponsor a room at Centrepoint you open the door to a new future for a vulnerable young person – a future free from homelessness. You’re also gifting them the vital support they may not have had before, for an entire year. With a commitment of just 40p a day, you are providing a young person with the complete package of a room of their own, counselling and health support and the one-to-one practical advice of a Key Worker.
One month’s bills for a young person living independently, £300
Even before this year’s price rises, basic costs like gas and electricity can be a huge struggle for a young person. You miss one deadline, suddenly, you’re in arrears, and the stress of meeting your next bill can spiral out of control. By gifting a young person one month of their bills, you’re giving them the breathing space and peace of mind they desperately need to focus on rebuilding their lives.
Course of 15 Maths and English Lessons, £500
When your main concern is how you’ll even make it through the day, progressing in education can seem out of reach. Many young people lack access, or simply have never had someone encourage or believe in them.
Yet we have seen, time and time again, that when you gift a young person a course of lessons, you’re giving them so much more than the foundational skills they need in daily life. You’re giving them the safe space to learn from trained professionals and unlock hidden talents. And you’re providing them with the confidence they need to progress into the world of work.
Pic: Shutterstock
Deposit for a young person to rent a flat and a move into independence, £750
Knowing you’ll have a roof over your head, knowing that you’ll be safe tonight. Knowing that someone you’ll never meet took a chance on you because they cared. These things could be the greatest gift a homeless young person could receive this Christmas.
Many of us will remember our first flat. Taking that big step to live independently for the first time – it’s a special moment for many. By gifting a young person a deposit for a flat, you could give this incredible experience to someone and give them the security they need to help create a whole new beginning.
Gifts of £1,000+
Gift of Education, £1,000
A course of Maths and English Lessons, Study Kit + One month’s bills for a young person living independently
Exams are designed to be tough. But can you imagine how tough they are if you’re also trying to work out how you’ll pay your bills that day? Or whether you can afford breakfast the morning you sit down to take the test? With this education bundle you’re not only providing a young person with a course of 15 lessons, they’ll also get the essentials they’ll need to study, including stationery and a laptop. By removing the stresses of their day-to-day bills you’re giving them the breathing space they need to build an independent and positive future.
Emergency food and the foundations to start thriving, £1,000
In the last year, the number of homeless young people needing emergency food support has quadrupled. And the consequences go far beyond hunger. These young people are often stuck in ‘survival mode’ and not having enough to eat plays havoc with their sleep and health, which makes it impossible for a young person to move forward. Our emergency food gift will take a load off their young shoulders this Christmas.
When you give this gift you are ensuring that food cupboards are restocked at four Centrepoint services for a month. By simply giving food, you are giving a young person the freedom they need to stop worrying about where their next meal is coming from, and the space to focus on building an independent future for themselves.
New Year New Start Box, £1,500
Our New Year New Start Box includes all the essentials a young homeless person needs to help them leave homelessness behind for good. So many young people have been given little or no support from family or friends on their journey into adulthood. With this gift you can help ensure that they have the sanctuary and safety they need to learn how to live independently.
With the New Year New Start Box you’ll be giving six homeless young people a full year of room sponsorship. This sponsorship package includes basics like bedding, pots and pans and toiletries. They’ll also get a course of long-term counselling sessions, a health check and cooking lessons.
And because it’s Christmas, after all, they will receive a gift. Many of the young people we meet haven’t experienced a lot of human kindness in their lives. So for someone like you to make this commitment, really is nothing short of life-changing.
