At least 3,030 young people in Greater Manchester approached their local council for help last year because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness, according to new data from the Youth Homelessness Databank, a project run by youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
The nine councils who responded or partially responded to FOI requests accepted just 873 young people, or 29% of those who approached them as, being legally owed accommodation.
This confirms that only a minority are entitled to be housed, raising worrying questions about what is happening to the majority who present in need.
The figure is released a week before the charity hosts its first ever Sleep Out event in Manchester to raise vital funds for its work in the city. Centrepoint began working in Manchester earlier this year to provide practical support and advice for young people at risk of homelessness.
Hundreds of participants will spend the night in the unheated building and courtyard of the London Road Fire Station, one of the city’s best known historical buildings, which has been generously loaned by Allied London.
The Cooperative Bank, which is supporting Centrepoint through a major charity partnership, is sponsoring the event, and over 90 members of staff from the bank’s head office in Manchester are taking part.
Lisa Maxwell, former cast member on The Bill and Hollyoaks, and long-standing Centrepoint ambassador, is hosting the evening. Hollyoaks cast members Jimmy Essex and Aisling Jarrett-Gavin will read a bedtime story. Rapid Relief Team will be providing food during the event and DJ Brandon Block will be performing a set to entertain sleepers before they bed down for the night.
Ben Bowden, Regional Fundraising Manager at Centrepoint said:
“What is alarming is that these figures do not present the full scale of youth homelessness in the region. It’s likely that there are many more young people who are hidden homeless: sofa surfing or putting themselves in dangerous situations to find a bed for the night. Centrepoint knows that with the right support, these young people can turn their lives around and fulfil their potential in education, training or work.
“We want people to have fun at Sleep Out but there is a serious side to it too. All the money we raise will go towards helping the thousands of young people in need of support in Greater Manchester. We’ve got a few spaces left, so if you want to help, take the chance and sign up now.”
Melissa Foy, one of The Co-operative Bank employees who is taking part in Sleep Out Manchester said: “All of us at the Bank are committed to helping Centrepoint tackle homelessness as it affects so many young people across the city, and it’s great that so many of us are taking part in this event. I’m sure there will be great team spirit on show as everyone pulls together. It will be cold though so I’m definitely going to make sure I’ve got my favourite hoodie and at least three pairs of socks with me!”
Also attending Sleep Out Manchester is Matthew Carter, Products and Communications Director at The Co-operative Bank. He said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring the first Sleep Out event being held in Manchester and supporting the work being done by Centrepoint not only to raise money, but also to raise awareness of this problem affecting so many young people in the city.”
The event will take place on Thursday 19 October and registration is now open for participants at £25. To sign up, visit: https://centrepoint.org.uk/sleepout.
