We have a pitch inside Euston station on Monday 12th December 2011 between 15.00 and 19.00. We shall be singing carols and other Christmas songs to raise money for NHYC’s Christmas provision for young homeless people. Lyrics will be provided.
We need high volume and as many hands on deck as possible as four hours is a lot of singing. If you have a half hour or longer to spare come and join us. Do let us know when you can attend by e-mailing info@nhyouthcentre.org.uk.
The American Church in London kindly selected the centre as the beneficiary of The Thanksgiving Day Service for the American Community in London at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Members of staff and young people attended the service where The Reverend Dr Barry Gaeddert, Senior Pastor, The International Community Church, Surrey explained about the work of the centre and the needs of young homeless people especially coming up to Christmas.
The offering from the service will go towards young people’s Christmas at the centre, when every young person receives a gift of warm clothing and toiletries. The centre will be open every day throughout the period and good food and festivities will be shared with all young people.
New Horizon Youth Centre is featured on the LVSC website. Click to download a PDF of the case study.
At a Celebrating Partnerships event on Wednesday 16th November, 150 organisations attended – Shelagh O’Connor, Director of New Horizon Youth Centre highlighted that the numbers of young people we are seeing has increased by 20% in the past six months and yet there are fewer and fewer emergency spaces for these vulnerable young people.
The situation is exacerbated by Government cuts, Local Authority cuts, and the reduction in the availability of private rented sector accommodation and the proposed welfare reforms.
The lack of appropriate options for young people will mean that they end up on the streets of London rough sleeping with all the ensuing problems that this will bring for their own futures and for society in general”.
The event launched a new partnership with the Depaul UK ‘Night Stop Plus’ which will secure volunteers to provide emergency bed spaces in people’s homes for someone at risk for up to six weeks New Horizon Youth Centre will provide a package of support in this window of opportunity to find move on an accommodation and to help that young person into independent living through the range of offers at the Centre.
Speaking about the event, Shelagh O’Connor said…
“More is required, we need new thinking, we need Local Authorities, Central Government and the voluntary sector working together to reduce the pressures on accommodation in London and to ensure that a prevention agenda is foremost.”
In October six young people from the centre attended a sailing residential for a week with Cremyll Sailing www.cremyll-sailing.org.uk who provide sailing experience to young people to develop character, build self-esteem and an awareness of the needs of others through teamwork and a shared adventure.
We certainly had an adventure! We were split into two teams – setting the sails, steering and participating in life on board; finding out about the weather and tides and charts by navigating the boat.
We were set a task to sail from The Isle of Wight to Plymouth… Unfortunately having to stop at Weymouth due to extremely strong gales but after sailing for eighteen hours on the last day (in very choppy seas!) we finally made it to Plymouth!
Thank you to Skipper Tom and Conall for looking after us and ensuring everyone who sailed passed their RYA Competent Crew Certificate!
I just wanted to write a massive, big THANK YOU for your generous donation to our comic library for homeless and vulnerable young people at New Horizons Youth Centre following my comic youth project there with House of Illustration. We received over 100 comics and graphic novels from Manga to Super hero comics and Indi. Good stuff!
Many thanks to: Mark Haylock, Karen Rubins, Ellen Lindner, Sean Azzopardi, Mike Medaglia, William Morris, Paul Gravett, Jude Fransman, Jonathan Plackett, Kripa Joshi, Jared and Oliver Pickles and OK comics and to Alex Bowler and Jonathan Cape for their generous support.
And a HUGE thank you to Emily Jost and the House of Illustration staff and to New Horizon members and staff… and most of all to Mark Cruise for his endless support and genuine love of comics!
Many, many Thanks! I hope the following photos will show you how much the young people appreciate it!’
Karrie Fransman
On Thursday 27th October, the London branch of the Football Association (FA) held their Grassroots Football award ceremony at Stamford Bridge – home of Chelsea FC.
Alex Eagle – our Sports & Mens Worker picked up the award for ‘Inclusion Partner of the Year’ in acknowledgement of his efforts in encouraging those from a highly disadvantaged background to get involved with Football in London. Well Done Alex!!
