Young people 16-25
Our Young People’s Day Centre provides a range of services for homeless people aged 16 to 25 years old. We aim to help young people in crisis to deal with the physical and personal consequences of homelessness and enable them to find long term solutions to their housing and employment problems. We encourage clients to gain the confidence and skills they need to live independently and access work or further education.
Services we provide include:
Youthwork & practical facilities
Youthwork staff are the first point of contact for young people when they arrive at the centre. Through befriending, informal counselling and advice, staff create a supportive environment for young people in crisis, helping to address social, mental and physical needs. Youthworkers also co-ordinate health services (GP, podiatrist, nurse and alternative therapist), as well as showers, lockers, post collection and laundry.
Creativity has an important role in helping people to progress, so we offer a daily drop-in art group, and singing and drama workshops for young people.
We run special groups for those who are in a minority within the homeless population including young women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Advice, outreach and specialist support
We work to ensure that people have access to the facilities they need to address their immediate problems, move off the streets and reintegrate into society.
The initial contact point for most young rough sleepers is through our outreach workers who cover all of the major rough sleeping areas in the West End of London. They work with young people out on the streets and encourage them to come into our Young People’s Day Centre.
Qualified staff concentrate on providing services to newly or short term homeless people, making referrals to emergency accommodation and hostels, and advising on welfare, benefits, finances, family, relationships and legal issues.
Our team of specialist workers provide support services to those who have problems with mental health or substance misuse problems.
Training and employment
Our Workspace programme is devoted to creating real opportunities for homeless and unemployed people. Workspace provides vocational and careers advice for those who want to continue their education, participate in training courses or enter employment. A drop-in service helps clients to find out about the latest job opportunities and get advice. Workspace also runs accredited training courses to help young people to explore their options, plan their next steps and progress towards independence. We also run in-house training courses in IT, literacy, numeracy, ESOL and life skills.