Centrepoint is the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people and support over 9,000 16-25 year olds into housing and employment every year. They run hostels seven days a week, every week of the year - even Christmas day.

Their staff are dedicated to making sure they can help every young person that comes through the door, from support workers, to fundraising, to finance and our board.

Working directly in London, Yorkshire and the North East of England, Centrepoint also partners with other organisations across the UK and gives homeless young people a voice through the Centrepoint Parliament.

Five-year-old girl blasts Theresa May for not helping the homeless`

It conducts research and influences government policy with the overall aim of ending youth homelessness.

Centrepoint provide a home and help vulnerable young people get physically and mentally healthy using our proven approach and wide ranging help, with 90 per cent of young people positively moving on from Centrepoint .

They get homeless young people back into education, training or work and ultimately into independent living.

However, there are more than 150,000 young people a year across the UK that present to their local authority asking for help. This can’t continue.

Ever since Centrepoint began, they've focused on improving the lives of homeless young people, and through this they’ve seen thousands of success stories in the last four decades.

The causes of homelessness Show all 7 1 /7 The causes of homelessness The causes of homelessness Family Breakdown Relationship breakdown, usually between young people and their parents or step-parents, is a major cause of youth homelessness. Around six in ten young people who come to Centrepoint say they had to leave home because of arguments, relationship breakdown or being told to leave. Many have experienced long-term problems at home, often involving violence, leaving them without the family support networks that most of us take for granted The causes of homelessness Complex needs Young people who come to Centrepoint face a range of different and complex problems. More than a third have a mental health issue, such as depression and anxiety, another third need to tackle issues with substance misuse. A similar proportion also need to improve their physical health. These problems often overlap, making it more difficult for young people to access help and increasing the chances of them becoming homeless Getty/iStock The causes of homelessness Deprivation Young people's chances of having to leave home are higher in areas of high deprivation and poor prospects for employment and education. Many of those who experience long spells of poverty can get into problem debt, which makes it harder for them to access housing Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Gang Crime Homeless young people are often affected by gang-related problems. In some cases, it becomes too dangerous to stay in their local area meaning they can end up homeless. One in six young people at Centrepoint have been involved in or affected by gang crime Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Exclusion From School Not being in education can make it much more difficult for young people to access help with problems at home or health problems. Missing out on formal education can also make it more difficult for them to move into work Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Leaving Care Almost a quarter of young people at Centrepoint have been in care. They often have little choice but to deal with the challenges and responsibilities of living independently at a young age. Traumas faced in their early lives make care leavers some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities, with higher chances of poor outcomes in education, employment and housing. Their additional needs mean they require a higher level of support to maintain their accommodation Getty Images/iStockphoto The causes of homelessness Refugees Around 13 per cent of young people at Centrepoint are refugees or have leave to remain, meaning it isn't safe to return home. This includes young people who come to the UK as unaccompanied minors, fleeing violence or persecution in their own country. After being granted asylum, young people sometimes find themselves with nowhere to go and can end up homeless Getty Images/iStockphoto

Centrepoint continue to have a major impact for some of the country's most vulnerable young people, all thanks to their fantastic supporters.

HRH The Duke of Cambridge has been their Patron since 2005 - following in the footsteps of his mother, Princess Diana.

Prince William would visit their hostels when he was a child and, when it was his turn to take over some of her patronages, Centrepoint was the first one he chose.