Dear applicant,

Life is not linear. Nobody knows that better than the young people who come to New Horizon Youth Centre. While the thousands of stories they tell us every year are as different as they can be, one thing unites them: their current experiences of homelessness do not define them or where they will end up. Indeed, as one of the young members of our Women’s Space told us, sometimes you have got to go through the darkness to get to the light.

During the last few years COVID, cost-of-living and housing crises have created challenges for us all, but young people have felt it particularly acutely. Youth homelessness is currently at unprecedented levels. In 2023, over 20,000 young people in London approached their council because they were, or were about to be, homeless.

To meet these rising levels of need, we are expanding our staff team, services and partnerships. By joining us, you will be part of ensuring New Horizon consistently and powerfully does what it does best: championing young people, collaborating for impact and being determined to find a way to holistically support every young person that comes through our doors.

Whilst making sure that basic needs are met and young people are safe, housed and able to focus on their future, it is also critical that we guarantee that young people, especially those experiencing homelessness who have been systemically denied a voice, are present in the creation of systems that will change and impact their lives for the better.

We are not afraid of being bold and thinking big in response to today’s challenges; it requires us to grow our staff team, our collaborations, our funding and our campaigning to end youth homelessness. Staff wellbeing is a crucial part to this journey, along with ensuring that young people are with us every step of the way.

We know that far too many young people find themselves unhoused, unsupported and unsafe. Now is the time to right this wrong and ensure that every young Londoners’ potential has a home.

We hope that you’ll join us.

Phil Kerry, Chief Executive