How to access support

If you have nowhere else to go or are about to become homeless, please don’t wait. Come to our day centre or contact emergency services.

How to access our day centre

Monday to Friday • 10:30am - 4:00pm (closed between 1:30-2:00pm)

If you have nowhere else to go, feel in danger or are about to become homeless, please come to our day centre in King’s Cross (68 Chalton Street, NW1 1JR).

Please note that Tuesdays are appointment only so just come to the day centre if you have been asked to be there at a certain time by a member of staff. We run a women only space on Wednesday afternoons from 2-4pm.

If you have a form of ID, a national insurance number, or proof of your income, please bring them with you. But don’t worry if you don’t, we can help you without these and can support you to get them if you need.

Worried about your English? We can also support with translators so language isn’t a barrier.

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Make an online referral

Unfortunately we are not accepting online referrals at the moment because of the high level of demand for our services. Please come to our day centre in person if you need us. We will re-open referrals as soon as we can.

16 or 17 years old?

If you’re 16 or 17 years old, we can support you with advocacy, advice and referrals to appropriate Children’s Services. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to provide emergency accommodation to under 18s.

But we can help figure out how to get the specialist support you need. We make sure that you are safe and that your voice is being heard in the process, so other professionals listen to you.

If you are at risk of being homeless, please come to our day centre or make a self-referral so we can support you. You can also contact the Children’s Services at your council or turn up at a local police station or A&E, where a duty social worker can help you.

What we can do

We can help you with:

  • Housing advice and support to get help from other services, like the council (including specialist support if you’re sleeping rough)
  • Support with accessing benefits and understanding what you’re entitled to
  • Education, employment and training support
  • Counselling and mental health support and advocacy
  • Physical and sexual health advice
  • Showers
  • Hot food, clothes and health essentials
  • Youth work and life skills programme including art, music, sports and drama
  • Support to access external legal or immigration advice
  • One-to-one support around independent living and communication skills
  • And many other services tailored to young people

If needed, we will also help you find and use other specialist services, for example LGBTQ+ support, legal help or immigration advisors. We will do this with you, so you don’t have to repeatedly tell your story or do a lot of admin.

You may be offered a mix of in-person and remote services depending on what works best for you. If you need urgent support, please use the resources listed below.

What we can’t do

We are not a government organisation like a council or probation service. Our support is instead optional, so you can stop using it whenever you want to. We do work together with such statutory services, often to make sure they give you the help you have the right to but in normal circumstances we will not share your information without asking you.

We are not a clinical service. That means that we can’t give medical help like a GP or hospital, but we can support you to register with a GP or dentist. We also help around mental and sexual health as well as offering checks and advice on your physical health at our day centre.

Are you in crisis now?

If you are in a crisis, unwell, in danger or need emergency support, we might not be able to respond as quickly as some other services. If you need help or information right now, we recommend reaching out to these other organisations:

Call emergency services

If you're in a serious crisis or at risk of harm

Call: 999

Shelter housing advice helpline

0330 0536091

If you are 18-25 and need advice around housing

Visit their website

Streetlink

0300 500 0914

If you are sleeping rough

Visit their website

The Mix

0808 808 4994

If you want to find out more or talk about challenges you are facing, from mental health to money to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.

Visit their website

The Samaritans

116 123 (24hrs)

If you are feeling very low, feeling suicidal or need to talk to somebody urgently. You can also go to A&E at any hospital.

Visit their website

Mind

0300 123 3393

If you want information mental health or need access to services

Visit their website

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

0808 2000 247 (24 hrs)

If you are in an abusive or violent relationship or fleeing any kind of violence or abuse and need help urgently. In an emergency, always call 999.

Visit their website

LGBT Switchboard

0300 330 0630

If you identify as LGBTQ+ and need information and support.

Visit their website

Your Local Authority’s Children’s Services Team

If you are under 18 and have nowhere to stay or feel at risk of harm. Please visit the website for your Local Authority and search for “Child Protection”

Find out more

Common Questions

We support around thousands of 16-24 year-olds every year, the majority of whom are in urgent need of housing. Any young person who is referred to us can access our housing support. We understand that you might have some more questions before you get in touch with us. Here are the answers to some of the ones young people have often asked us.

What do you mean when you say ‘homeless’?

There are a lot of unhelpful and harmful stereotypes when it comes to homelessness. Here at at NHYC we mean by homeless anyone who doesn’t have a fixed address or doesn’t feel safe where they are staying. This could be sleeping on a friend’s couch, not being sure where you’re staying tonight, or staying with a person or partner you don’t feel safe with. You could have fallen out with your parents, family or friends and don’t feel comfortable or welcome returning home. You could be new to London, coming from somewhere in the UK or abroad. You could be a refugee or asylum seeker. You could be a student or working. You might have been kicked out by your landlord or unable to access rental properties in London. All of these are examples of homelessness. There’s no shame in it, it’s not your fault. You deserve a safe home and we’ll do everything we can to make sure you get one

I’m already working with you and I want an update

We will continue to work with anyone who is already getting support from us until they reach the age of 25. If you are already known to us and want an update, then please call 020 7388 5560 or email [email protected]. Someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Please note that as the centre is only open on 10:30-16:00 weekdays, we may not always be able to answer your call. We are regularly checking the voicemail but if you need something urgent, we would advise emailing first.

I’ve made an online self-referral, what happens next?

A member of our team will review your referral and get in touch with you as soon as possible. They will most likely give you a call and invite you to come into the day centre so we can get your support package started. The team will talk you through everything and answer any questions you have. They can also let you know exactly how we can support you in your individual situation. We try to respond to all referrals within 3-5 working days, so if you are in an emergency situation and can’t wait, please come to the day centre in person or use the emergency services listed above. If you can and have it, please bring a form of ID with you when you first come to the day centre; a passport or driving license is best.

After your assessment you will be offered all the services we can to get you what you want. You may be offered a mix of in-person and remote services. You will be consistently working with a few people you can get to know and trust.

I’ve made an online self-referral but I haven’t heard back. Why?

We are very busy and our team does their best to get to the people most at risk the quickest, so try not to worry if you don’t hear from us immediately. We try to respond to all referrals within 3-5 working days. If you are unsafe and need help right now, please come to the day centre or use one of the emergency services listed above

I have been asked to come in for an initial assessment, what does that mean? What will you ask me?

We will ask you some questions about yourself, your situation and what you’re looking for. We do this for legal and safety reasons, but mostly so we can get you exactly what you need. If you’re not sure why we have asked you for something, the team member you’re working with can answer. If you have a form of ID, a national insurance number, or proof of your income, please bring them with you. But don’t worry if you can’t: we can help you without these and can support you to get them if you need.

I want to make a referral for somebody else

If you are a professional organisation and wish to refer on behalf of young person you’re working with, you should find everything you need on this page.

What happens at the day centre?

Our day centre is open every weekday. We run our advice, health, life skills and housing services from the day centre, as well as offering workshops, basics like food and clothing and activities like football, supper clubs and trips out. Basically, our centre is the main point where you can get our support, as well as a lot of fun and helpful extras.  But don’t worry if you can’t come to the centre: you may also be offered online services or contact via phone.

How can I come to the day centre activities?

Any young person who has completed their initial assessment can come to our activities. You can speak to any member of the team if you’re not sure or have questions.

 

I have learning or access needs. Are the centre and NHYC’s services accessible?

We can accommodate all learning and access needs. Our day centre is fully wheelchair accessible, and we can provide quiet spaces and adjustments for any other kind of disability or neurodiversity. Our staff will make sure we understand your boundaries and expectations and do our best to deliver those in all areas. We offer language support (see below), food for any dietary or allergy requirement and our day centre has adaptive technology for most learning and communication styles. If we aren’t familiar with what you’re asking for, we will look into it and adapt to best support you.

I don’t speak English, can I get help from NHYC?

We can help you via translation and interpreter services. As this takes a little time to set up,  please tell us as soon as possible so we can organise this.

Will I be safe at NHYC?

Many of the young people who come to us don’t feel safe in certain areas of London or around certain people. We are aware of this and will check when you do your initial assessment if there is anything we need to avoid. Tuesdays at the day centre are appointment only for this reason. Whatever you need to feel safe, we will do our best to deliver. You can find out more about our safety and outreach offer here.

Will I be treated differently to how I have at other services?

We are not a government organisation, which means our help is completely on your terms. We are not the council, police or any other formal organisation and we don’t talk to them without your permission unless we have to for safety reasons. We won’t approach your family or community unless you ask us to. We will help you as much as you want but you remain in control; we won’t force you into anything and you can stop working with us whenever you want. Our team are experienced and trustworthy and we hope you’ll see that in how we treat you.

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