Hayleigh went into care when she was 10 years old and since then has navigated a number of challenges.
“Growing up, the situation at home wasn’t working so my grandma stepped in and gave up her job as a nurse of 18 years to look after us,” explains Hayleigh.
Hayleigh remembers that it was hard to trust adults trying to provide help as there was a lack of consistency in the system: “When I was younger, there were a lot of social workers involved at different times. I struggled to connect with them as I thought they were all just doing it because it was their job -not because they wanted to help me. For me, that was a big struggle.”
There is currently inadequate support for young care leavers looking to secure affordable and stable housing, and Hayleigh struggled with this huge turning point in her life.
But over the past decade, The Young Lives Foundation in Kent – a valued partner of Centrepoint’s – have consistently supported Hayleigh with independence and helped her to find her voice as she worked towards securing her own home.
Through the charity’s programmes, the support she received helped her to identify that she lacked confidence in her own abilities and often judged herself harshly. As she started to find her voice, she began to see that her natural empathy and warmth towards others were two of her greatest skills, and wanted to put these to good use advocating for other young people from similar backgrounds.
Hayleigh is now an active member of the Children in Care Council and both officials and councillors defer to her to be the voice of care experienced young people. She is also continuing to work with The Young Lives Foundation, becoming an inspiration for the charity’s younger members.
Describing Hayleigh, her Leaving Care Mentor Amy said: “I met Hayleigh four years ago and was immediately impressed. Seeing her talk so passionately about other young people and wanting to support them is so admirable. I look up to her – I’m just really proud.”
Hayleigh was nominated for Centrepoint’s ‘Partner’ award by her Young Lives Foundation team. She is looking forward to attending the awards with one of her biggest supporters – her grandma.
Hayleigh said: “When I found out that I won an award, I was speechless. It’s really rewarding as it shows you are doing something right. When I was younger, it was hard for me to express myself but now people are recognising me. It’s not just for me, but for other young people as well.”
New housing benefit rule to make it easier for young people to work
A new Housing Benefit rule comes into effect this month, making it easier for young people in supported housing to start and stay in work.
It follows campaigning from youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, to end a long-standing benefit trap which was preventing young people in supported housing from entering the workforce.
The flaw in the system meant that these young people were actually left worse off when taking on more hours of work. Centrepoint estimated this was limiting opportunities for over 30,000 young people in supported housing.
However, this October the government introduces a new earned income disregard in Housing Benefit for claimants in supported housing and temporary accommodation. It means that more of a young person’s earnings will be ignored when their Housing Benefit is calculated, allowing them to keep more of what they earn.
This will remove the quirk in the system that disincentivises work, and reduce the financial cliff edge when moving into, or progressing in, employment.
Lisa Doyle, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Centrepoint, said: “This is a significant victory for those trying to escape homelessness, particularly young people at the start of their careers, who have so far found their ambitions blocked by the system.”
She added, “This would not have been possible without our partners and campaigners, particularly those who have joined our calls for the government to make work pay.
“We are incredibly grateful to them and would like to thank each of them on behalf of the young people we support.”
”We Can’t Do This Alone”
Last year, over 118,000 young people faced homelessness. That’s one young person every four minutes. At a time of life when most of their peers are trying new things and taking their first steps into adulthood, these young people found themselves alone and afraid, and unsure where to turn.
It doesn’t have to be like this, with the right support at the right time, these young people can escape homelessness or avoid it altogether.
At Centrepoint, provide more than a bed for the night. We provide a safe place to rebuild, support into education and work, and the confidence to believe in a better future.
Youth homelessness is not inevitable. With the right help at the right time, it can be prevented and it can be ended.
Our mission is to end youth homelessness – and you can help us.
Whether it’s running a marathon or holding a sleep out, you, your friends, family and co-workers can join our movement to end youth homelessness and give vulnerable young people a brighter future.
To find out more, donate or get involved, please visit our website http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/newspaper
Centrepoint entrepreneurs backed by £70k of support
Centreprise – an innovative programme, designed to inspire a new generation of business leaders – has been launched by the youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint.
16 young people from London and Bradford were given the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, build confidence and develop business ideas that could one day grow to become the UK’s next big company.
It culminated in a Dragon’s Den-style final, during which participants pitched their ideas to a panel of respected business leaders and entrepreneurs including; Centrepoint donor Alison Fortescue; founder of Amber Labs, James Bennet; and Co-founder of Little Moons, Vivien Wong.
Sadie Odeogberin, Head of Centrepoint Works, said: “All young people want to work but there are some who aren’t given the support or opportunities to do so. Centreprise is changing that.
“The past few weeks have been amazing, and I’m incredibly proud of what the young people have achieved.”
The initiative was made possible thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Alison Fortescue, whose late husband Alex Fortescue left a £1 million legacy gift.
The money will fund Centreprise for the next five years and this year was put towards equipment, software and professional services which judges allocated at the end of the day to help young people build their businesses.
They will also have access to weekly 1-to-1 mentoring sessions, plus check-in calls with their mentors for three months.
Alison Fortescue said: “I was so impressed by the enthusiasm of the young people participating in Centreprise, their commitment and ambitions are truly inspiring.”
