To back track slightly, I didn’t get a chance with all the hectic last minute preparations to write up about our time spent with ‘Centrepoint’ in London.
I was introduced to Centrepoint’s work approximately three years ago now, and have been a big supporter ever since. Not only do they offer immediate help to homeless young people in London, and the North East, but also they help to offer long term solutions through a number of innovative initiatives.
Our time was slightly limited there, but we did manage to see first hand the positive effects their work can have on young people’s lives, who through one reason or another have found themselves in a difficult situation.
Again, in terms of the stigma attached to homelessness, it really is about time that the world woke up, and realized that often people find themselves in these positions through no fault of their own, and really all they need is a little support to get back on their feet, and begin fulfilling their potential.
The common belief amongst many that homelessness is the result of alcohol or drug addiction, simply is naivety at it’s worse, and really I urge these people to pop down to one of Centrpoint’s centres themselves to see the truth behind the issue of youth homelessness.
As Damion Mulrain (Centrepoint Employee) put it so perfectly last Friday, “it is simply about communicating with them, not on their level or on our level, but on any level. It’s all about engaging them”.
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