In conversation with Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin
As 2023 draws to a close, here at Citadel we are looking back at all the work we have done over this previous year. As a founding client, Citadel has worked with Centrepoint continuously for 18 years. Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin agreed to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on their own history, as well as their relationship with Citadel.
In 2003 Seyi joined Centrepoint as Finance Director before becoming CEO of the charity in 2009.
“Centrepoint was conceived in 1969 by a group of energetic people who looked at the number of young people sleeping on the streets of London and instead of saying ‘something should be done’ thought ‘what can I do?’”
“With £30 in the bank, they started an ambitious voluntary venture to provide a safe and secure place to stay for young people sleeping on the streets of London. They gathered the food and bedding needed and, importantly, worked with the young people they supported to seek the skills and employment needed to move on to independence.”
With Seyi at the head, Centrepoint have set the ambitious goal of ending youth homelessness by 2037.
“We understand that youth homelessness has many interlinked triggers and therefore, its threat can never be removed for young people.”
“However, we believe it is possible for the number of young people being made homeless to become negligible; rapidly to provide a place of safety and security for those affected; and to resettle them into permanent homes as soon as they are ready to live independently.”
The core of Centrepoint’s work revolves around working directly with young people who are experiencing homelessness, to help empower them to gain skills, jobs, and affordable homes. Through assisting central government and local authorities and promoting public awareness to the mobilisation of donors and volunteers, Centrepoint support more than 1,500 young people every day and 16,000 young people living elsewhere, both through their partner charities and directly.
Centrepoint has the longest standing relationship of all Citadel’s clients. This special collaboration is built on respect and trust from their stakeholders, their relationships within the policy-makers and with other charities have paved the way to improve future outcomes for young people.
“Centrepoint works directly with young people, but it must also influence systems and orchestrate change nationally, regionally, and locally. [Citadel’s] ability to connect Centrepoint with and influence key political stakeholders is second to none.”
“One example of such an outcome is persuading the government to cancel its plan to withdraw automatic entitlement to housing benefit from 18–21-year-olds and another example is persuading the government to exempt young care leavers from the Shared Accommodation Rate.”
The policy brief looks more broadly at support for young people to prevent homelessness, those at risk of homelessness with multiple and complex needs, supported accommodation and to move on towards independent living. As we emerge post-pandemic and into a cost-of-living crisis, over the last year work with Centrepoint has focused on what a youth offer from government could look like for 16-24 year olds, too old for children’s and ill-suited to adult services.
“Citadel understands that youth homelessness has many complex triggers and that many young people fall between the cracks of various agencies, charities and local authorities. They are therefore always looking for ways to bring people together so that the journey from homelessness to independence is as brief as possible.”
What next together, as we move towards an election year in 2024?
“Society as a whole and our communities are all evolving, creating new challenges all the time. Bringing people together – national, devolved, and local governments, voluntary organisations, civil society, etc – will remain critical to tackling these challenges. The thought, skill, and brokerage that Citadel offers so skilfully would remain intrinsic to finding solutions.”
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