Homeless young people living in Derventio Housing Trust properties benefit from special grants

• Young people who have experienced homelessness in the Midlands are using small grants to personalise their supported housing.

• Funding from the Fairer Futures partnership is helping residents buy everyday items – from bedding and cookware to musical instruments.

• The scheme aims to help young people feel more settled and supported as they rebuild their lives.

Young people who have experienced homelessness in the Midlands are being given the chance to turn their supported housing into somewhere that genuinely feels like home.

Residents aged under 25 living in properties run by Derventio Housing Trust have been buying everyday comforts such as fresh bedding, mugs and cosy throws – and in some cases musical instruments – thanks to grant funding aimed at helping them personalise their space.

The Derby-based charity supports around 1,200 people a year across the UK who might otherwise be homeless. A significant number of those residents are aged between 18 and 25, many of whom have found themselves without stable housing due to family relationship breakdowns, mental health difficulties or other personal challenges.

Funding for the items has come through the More than a Roof personalisation grant programme, part of the Fairer Futures partnership between Centrepoint and Nationwide Building Society. Derventio, which works as a Centrepoint partner organisation, secured funding last year.

So far the charity has used the money to support more than 50 young people living in Derby, Derbyshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire, with additional funding still available for future residents.

Young people have chosen a wide range of items to make their rooms more welcoming and practical. Purchases have included kitchen basics such as pots, pans and tin openers, along with towels, bedding and measuring spoons for baking. Others have opted for comfort items like bean bags, rugs, cushions and throws.

Some residents have also used the grant to support hobbies and self-expression. One young person bought a keyboard, guitar and microphone, while another chose a lava lamp alongside LED strip lights, mugs, cushions and socks.

The need for support among younger residents remains significant. In Derby, around 18 per cent of people supported by Derventio are aged between 18 and 25. In Derbyshire the figure rises to almost a quarter of residents, while in Staffordshire roughly one in five are in that age group. In Warwickshire, young people account for close to a third of those being supported.

The personalisation grant programme forms part of the wider Fairer Futures initiative led by Nationwide, which aims to tackle major social challenges through partnerships with charities. Alongside youth homelessness work with Centrepoint, the programme also supports organisations including Action for Children, Dementia UK and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Sarah Hernandez, managing director at Derventio Housing Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been granted this vital ‘More than a Roof’ funding to help the wellbeing of young people accessing our services.

“Many don’t know how many young people in the UK are experiencing homelessness but the truth is this is a significant proportion of those we help.

“With this funding we are able to do so much for under-25s accessing our services. Young people using our services may have come from significant trauma with many unable to rely on the families they grew up with for a safe home any more. A set of bedding, a bean bag or a lava lamp can provide real comfort in a dark time in someone’s life. It can make a person feel safe, warm and looked after – perhaps for the first time ever. Thanks very much to the More than a Roof funding team for helping us support young people.”

Charlotte Kensett, Director of Customer Experience and Social Impact at Nationwide, said: “For young people facing homelessness, supported accommodation is a lifeline. Through Nationwide Fairer Futures and our partnership with Centrepoint we’re proud to make a difference to young people’s lives by helping them make their space feel like home – creating a sense of safety and stability that’s crucial for their wellbeing.”

Lisa Waring, Head of Partnerships at Centrepoint, said: “For many young people in supported accommodation, the room they are given may be the first safe space they have ever had. Having the opportunity to put their own stamp on these spaces and make them homely can make a world of difference as they work towards rebuilding their lives.

“It has been fantastic to see the enormous difference the first round of funding has made to the young people our partners support and we look forward to helping more access this transformative grant. We cannot thank Nationwide enough for partnering with us and giving us the resources to extend this support beyond our services.”