The immersive experience coincides with the charity releasing its new prediction that 23,500 young people aged 16-24 are at risk of facing homelessness in England this season.
Every year, around 2.5 million people visit the popular London attraction, Winter Wonderland, spending nearly £100 million. Yet against the same city backdrop, thousands of young people experience homelessness – from sofa surfing to wandering the streets. With its ‘Winter Wanderland’ installation, Centrepoint is turning this cultural moment on its head to highlight the scale of the youth homelessness crisis.
Located at London’s Outernet, just a stone’s throw from Winter Wonderland itself, the immersive experience invites visitors to step into a deceptively charming winter scene, where the stories of young people who have experienced homelessness are told through the objects that helped them survive their darkest moments. From a teddy bear to a shirt, each item represents a lifeline – and a reminder of the resilience of young people facing homelessness. The experience aims to bring to life the stark contrast between warm festive cheer and the cold reality of having nowhere to call home this Christmas.
Paul Brocklehurst at Centrepoint Helpline comments, “This winter, over 23,000 young people across England could be at risk of homelessness. Some of these young people will be sofa surfing or wandering the streets alone, with nowhere safe to go. Many of them will call the Centrepoint Helpline because they don’t know where to turn or can’t access the support they’re entitled to.
“Experiencing homelessness has a huge impact on a person’s life journey, especially at a young age. Every young person deserves to feel safe in their own home and can thrive. But reality is that thousands will be reaching out for support this winter because they don’t have that safety or stability.”
Latest figures from the charity suggest that one young person faces homelessness every four minutes, and that at least one young person a day calls Centrepoint’s Helpline because a local council has wrongly turned them away from homelessness support.
The Winter Wanderland installation features the story of Jahz, 20, came to Centrepoint two years ago after being in and out of the care system from the age of four. Jahz talks about how select personal belongings have helped him along in his journey, including his collection of teddy bears and a shirt his uncle gave him before he passed away.
Centrepoint gave Jahz the opportunity to maintain independence with support available when needed.
Moving around throughout his childhood Jahz had his teddy bears as a consistent comfort. While tattered and warn, they continue to support Jahz through life today.
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Jahz shares: “I started my teddy collection when I was 3 years old, I still have a lot of these teddys to this day, including Simba a lion teddy. I’ve had them with me for so long and I don’t think I could give them away now, they hold so many memories, supporting me through tough times.”
Visitors to the installation will be encouraged to donate or sponsor a room through Centrepoint, helping provide safe accommodation and wraparound support for young people in crisis.
The Centrepoint Helpline is available for any young person aged 16–25 worried about homelessness. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Freephone: 0808 800 0661.
