In 2017, we awarded £55,000 towards the refurbishment of a youth centre and emergency accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness in London.

Organisation

Depaul UK was set up in 1989 to provide emergency accommodation in response to the growing number of young homeless people in London. Today, the charity works across the country in some of the most disadvantaged communities, and supports more than 3,000 youths every year by offering them a safe  place to stay in a crisis, helping them to take the step from homelessness into stable housing, and providing specialist long-term support to help them get their lives back on track. Depaul also campaigns to raise awareness of homelessness and to change perceptions of homeless people.

Sherbourne House capital project

Depaul UK identified the need to create a safe haven for young people facing homelessness in London and who needed to find help in an emergency. Their leased building on the South Bank acts as a mid-way point between North and South London, with the need for this particular type of service particularly identified south of the river. The key service they proposed to offer was an additional ’Daystop’ element to the Nightstop service they provide nationally. Nightstop is an award winning service which offers same night accommodation to a young people in a volunteer’s spare room. The ‘Daystop’ element would enable young people to self-refer in a safe and friendly environment and offer follow-on support and access to partner organisations. The Centre would also host education and employment training, family mediation, money management, conflict resolution services. Depaul UK had raised £650,000 of the £720,000 needed to complete the project at the time of their application. A grant of £55,000 was awarded.