Will you give young homeless people the support they need?
For young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton and Hove, Christmas can be very tough. While some will have access to emergency accommodation, many will be facing the uncertainty of rough sleeping. For these young people in vulnerable situations, the drop-in centre is a safe place, somewhere to escape loneliness and isolation, where there are hot meals, showers and laundry facilities. There’s also advice on benefits, accommodation, budgeting and more, or emergency support in a crisis.
It costs £20,413 a month to keep the doors of our drop-in centre open in the run-up to Christmas. But we simply cannot offer this essential support without you.
Will you give a gift today – and help keep our drop-in centre open in the lead up to Christmas.
By donating, you’ll help us raise the £20,413 necessary to keep our doors open during December, providing support to young people like Kurt, as well as a Christmas meal and a present.
Help us raise the £20,413 we need to keep our drop-in centre open during the run-up to Christmas – and give young homeless people the support they need.
£20,413
thank you for helping us to hit our target!
£250
Kurt’s Story
‘I was 15 when my grandfather died. I missed him so much, and turned to drink and weed to drown out my feelings. In no time, I was taking heavier drugs.
My relationship with Mum became volatile, so when she decided to move up north, I stayed in Brighton, mostly sofa surfing, but also occasionally living on the streets.
With support from my boss, I started the 12-Step Programme. But recovery was very up and down, made worse by a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2020. I received chemotherapy during the pandemic, and thankfully managed to stay clean, recovering from the cancer.
The stress of being ill, as well as trauma from my early childhood, drove me back to the drugs. But I’d had enough, and sought help from the drop-in centre.
It felt like normality – somewhere to have a meal, shower and wash my clothes, as well as receive support with rehab.
Recovery has not been straightforward. I relapsed over Christmas last year, and felt too ashamed to come to the drop-in centre. But when I finally returned, no one judged. I was shown kindness, and given a proper meal after days of going without.
I haven’t touched drugs for eight months now, and life could not be more different. I am about to start an adult social care course at college, hopefully followed by university. I hope that one day I can help young people – and give something back.’
With your help, we can keep the doors to our drop-in centre open this December, and give another young person experiencing homelessness, like Kurt, the emergency support they often desperately need.
Our Christmas appeal will help us to raise the £20,413 needed to fund our drop-in centre during December. If we’re lucky enough to raise more money than we need, your gifts will help us to continue to support young homeless people in 2024. Thank you.
We use models and change the names of the young people we work with to protect their identity, however, all stories are true and as told by the young person.