Young Derbyshire people at risk of homelessness have been kitting out their Derventio Housing Trust properties with fresh bedding, mugs, cosy throws and even musical instruments like a keyboard, thanks to grant funding.
Derby-based Derventio Housing Trust, which provides accommodation to around 1200 people a year across the UK who would otherwise be homeless, has been able to use funding awarded through the Centrepoint and Nationwide ‘Fairer Futures’ grant programme: More than a Roof, to benefit the many young people it helps.
A significant proportion of its bed spaces are used by people aged 18-25 who have found themselves without homes for a range of reasons, such as relationship breakdowns with their families or mental ill health.
Awarded last year, Derventio – which is a Centrepoint Partner organisation – has so far been able to use the grant money to help over 50 young people in Derby, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire with more cash still available to support more.
Young people have chosen to spend the money on a range of items to make their spaces homely, including kitchen essentials like pots, pans and tin openers; towels and bedding; measuring spoons for baking; bean bags, cushions, rugs, throws, a clock radio, a guitar and microphone.
One young Derby resident has opted to buy a lava lamp. LED strip lighting, mugs, cushions and socks.
In Derby, 18 per cent of those supported by Derventio are aged between 18 and 25, while in Derbyshire the proportion of young people amounts fo nearly a quarter of all residents. In Staffordshire, around a fifth of Derventio Housing Trust residents are young people while in Warwickshire the figure rises to nearly a third.
The More Than a Roof: Personalisation Grant programme, funded by Nationwide, has been made available to Centrepoint’s network of partners. In Round 1, over 25 partners across the UK were able to access a pot of £200,000. In Round 2 a further £200,000 will be distributed to 21 partners.
The grant programme is just one part of Centrepoint’s partnership with Nationwide as part of their social impact strategy, Fairer Futures. Nationwide Fairer Futures aims to tackle four of the UK’s biggest social issues through charity partnerships – youth homelessness (Centrepoint), family poverty (Action for Children), the challenges faced by people living with dementia (Dementia UK) and supporting people affected by cancer (The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity).
Sarah Hernandez, managing director at Derventio Housing Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been granted this vital ‘More than a Roof’ funding to help the wellbeing of young people accessing our services.
“Many don’t know how many young people in the UK are experiencing homelessness but the truth is this is a significant proportion of those we help.
“With this funding we are able to do so much for under-25s accessing our services. Young people using our services may have come from significant trauma with many unable to rely on the families they grew up with for a safe home any more. A set of bedding, a bean bag or a lava lamp can provide real comfort in a dark time in someone’s life. It can make a person feel safe, warm and looked after – perhaps for the first time ever. Thanks very much to the More than a Roof funding team for helping us support young people.”
Charlotte Kensett, Director of Customer Experience and Social Impact at Nationwide, said: “For young people facing homelessness, supported accommodation is a lifeline. Through Nationwide Fairer Futures and our partnership with Centrepoint we’re proud to make a difference to young people’s lives by helping them make their space feel like home – creating a sense of safety and stability that’s crucial for their wellbeing.”
Lisa Waring, Head of Partnerships at Centrepoint, said: “For many young people in supported accommodation, the room they are given may be the first safe space they have ever had. Having the opportunity to put their own stamp on these spaces and make them homely can make a world of difference as they work towards rebuilding their lives.
“It has been fantastic to see the enormous difference the first round of funding has made to the young people our partners support and we look forward to helping more access this transformative grant. We cannot thank Nationwide enough for partnering with us and giving us the resources to extend this support beyond our services.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Derventio Housing Trust by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
