02-03-2025
Charity receives £7,000 grant to tackle youth homelessness
A charity has received a £7,000 grant to help tackle youth homelessness in Cornwall.
St Petrocs, based in Truro, was given the money by Nationwide as part of its Fairer Futures strategy.
The £7k grant is part of the More than a Roof scheme, which helps smaller charities to improve their services and the quality of life for the young people they support.
The money will help St Petrocs to support people in dangerous or risky situations, those who are sofa surfing, and those who are forced to sleep rough while they wait for council support.
The grant comes as new data from national charity Centrepoint reveals that youth homelessness in the South West has increased by 58 per cent in the past year, compared to a 10 per cent national average increase.
Dr Tom Kerridge, policy research manager at Centrepoint, said: "Our research suggests that councils across the South West are dealing with rising levels of youth homelessness and that a large proportion of these young people might not be getting the support they are entitled to.
"Sadly, we're hearing from an increasing number of young people in desperate situations who have been turned away, including those who are pregnant or fleeing domestic abuse."
