This Christmas, Stewarts is supporting Centrepoint and St George’s Crypt, two homeless charities based in London and Leeds, with its Christmas card charitable donation. The Stewarts Foundation will be supporting both charities alongside its usual grant, with its traditional Christmas donation.

Centrepoint

Centrepoint has been providing long-term, specialist support to vulnerable 16 to 25-year-olds since 1969. The charity provides each individual with a tailored pathway to independence, and as well as helping those in need now, works tirelessly to prevent others from becoming homeless in the future.

This Christmas, over 23,000 young people in the UK will experience homelessness. Four thousand of these vulnerable young people will be in London. The recent Coronavirus outbreak has exacerbated the existing crisis, and the charity’s Helpline has received a rise in calls of more than 50% as a result.

Emma Hatley, who has backed Centrepoint for support from the Stewarts Foundation, commented:

“I nominated Centrepoint for a grant from the Stewarts Foundation in 2020 because the global pandemic has created a perfect storm for vulnerable young people and this year is expected to be the worst homelessness crisis in decades.

“As the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint not only helps rebuild lives by providing over a thousand bed spaces each night, but the scope of their work goes well beyond the basic need of housing to health and learning. At a time when lockdown has added to the strain on mental health, Centrepoint is able to provide therapeutic support to enable vulnerable young people to build a future. By providing training for qualifications or in life skills, the involvement of Centrepoint marks a turning point for young lives. I am delighted that our charitable foundation is able to make a difference and support Centrepoint’s work. Saving lives. Changing lives”.

Lucy Coleman, Senior Corporate Development Manager of Centrepoint, commented:

“Centrepoint is so hugely grateful for the continued support of Stewarts. The donation that Stewarts has given to Centrepoint this Christmas could provide 10 homeless people with our Success Bundles. A success bundle, priced at £250, includes a room for a year, the tailored support of a Key Worker to meet a young person’s needs, and a study kit to help support their educational journey.

“At minimum, the Coronavirus has highlighted the importance of a safe and stable home environment. For many of us, lockdown is a nuisance, but for young people without stable accommodation, it’s a stark reduction in options. Sofa surfing is no longer possible, nor is using dating apps to find a warm place to stay. The need for support is increasing.

“Working together, we will continue to support young people at risk and those experiencing homelessness, and with the help of Stewarts will continue to provide a bright future to young people who so deserve one.”

For more information on Centrepoint and how you can help this Christmas, please visit Centrepoint’s website.

St George’s Crypt

St George’s Crypt has been providing care and support to homeless and disadvantaged adults in Leeds for 90 years. It offers food, emergency accommodation, specialist residential projects, recovery from addiction, volunteering/work experience and skills training for its service users and much more.

Cheryl Harrington (MCIOF), Head of Fundraising at St George’s Crypt, commented:

“We are delighted with the ongoing support we receive from the Stewarts Foundation. The money raised from not printing and sending Christmas cards will be put towards Dentaid, which is part of the health and wellbeing services at St George’s Crypt. Dentaid brings a dentist van on site to give emergency dental treatment to our homeless residents and day clients who don’t have the access they need to an NHS dentist.

“We would normally be doing the Leeds Big Sleep Out at Headingley Stadium, but due to Covid-19 restrictions are unable to run the event this year. Therefore, we are planning a virtual event, ‘Leeds Big Sleep… In’ on 5 February 2021, which we hope will keep the momentum going. This is a partnership event with two other Leeds charities: St Gemma’s Hospice and Leeds Rhinos Foundation. We are encouraging people to ‘Sleep… In’ somewhere uncomfortable: the floor, the bath, the garden or the office.

“The pandemic has made all of our lives change, but for some people, life on the streets or living with a terminal illness has made the hardship even harder”.

Daniel Herman, who suggested the Stewarts Foundation provide support to St George’s Crypt, commented:

“St George’s Crypt is a wonderful charity that the trustees of the Stewarts Foundation have been proud to support since 2012. St George’s Crypt is so much more than a hostel that feeds and provides shelter for the homeless. It also provides wider support to homeless and vulnerable people by providing practical help, it works closely with key agencies in Leeds to enable vulnerable people to access GPs, dentists and other health providers, it provides pathways and training to enable people to become more independent, and it runs a drug and alcohol abstinence programme, offering training and volunteering opportunities with the aim of integrating people back into the community. It’s a fantastic cause that we are delighted to continue to support.”

For more information on St George’s Crypt, please visit the charity’s website here. You can also view its Christmas newsletter, as well as its Christmas video, attached.