A new three-year partnership between the Berkeley Foundation and Camden-based charity New Horizon Youth Centre will support young Londoners experiencing homelessness to move into safe and sustainable housing.
The collaboration will see the Berkeley Foundation provide £450,000 over three years to strengthen the charity’s vital frontline services across London and ensure young people experience the support they need at a time of crisis.
Staff from Berkeley Group, which founded and funds the Berkeley Foundation, will also directly contribute to through volunteering and pro-bono support. New Horizon is a leading youth homelessness charity, giving young Londoners somewhere safe to stay in the short term while they find a long-term home.
Berkeley’s funding has allowed the charity to appoint a new Referrals Coordinator (Simon), who is now the primary point of contact for young people accessing the centre.
The new referral system allows for relationships to be built from the offset, before young people have even arrived at the centre. This makes what can be a really nerve-wracking moment less daunting and leads to better outcomes.
Simon is now in post and has already engaged with 183 young people through self-referrals and professional referrals.
One young person commented: “If Simon wasn't here to meet me, I probably wouldn't have stayed."
Phil Kerry, CEO of New Horizon Youth Centre, said:
“Our new Referral Coordinator plays a crucial role as the first point of call for young people self-referring into the service. That welcome is a vital first step for young people accessing help and might shape how young people feel about the service moving forward so we are really excited to be investing in this part of the process. It’s so important for us to get this part right and make sure that all young people feel welcomed, heard and believed from the moment they engage with us. We’re really pleased to have launched this Strategic Partnership with the Berkeley Foundation, and are looking forward to continuing an already great relationship.”
Clare Maddison, Interim Head of Berkeley Foundation, said:
“New Horizon is at the forefront of youth homeless services in London. They provide vital support for young people experiencing homelessness, supporting them into accommodation that is safe and secure, and equipping them with essential life skills to move out of homelessness for good. We’re really excited to build on our previous work together, and look forward to supporting New Horizon to grow and develop over the coming years.”
The Berkeley Foundation was established in 2011 by the Berkeley Group and has now committed more than £30 million to the communities around Berkeley sites. It operates through a unique delivery model based on long-term partnerships with leading charities.
The Foundation is a big part of life inside Berkeley Group and more than 50% of staff directly contribute to its partnerships and programmes through volunteering, fundraising and payroll giving.
Find out more about New Horizon at https://nhyouthcentre.org.uk/
Find out more about the Berkeley Foundation at https://www.berkeleyfoundation.org.uk