How to access support

If you are 18-24 and need help with housing or homelessness, come to our day centre.

Opening times

Monday: 10.30-16.00

Tuesday: 10.30-16.00 appointment only

Wednesday: 10.30-13.30

Wednesday: 14.00-16.00 Women and Non-Binary Only Space

Thursday: 10.30-16.00

Friday: 10.30-16.00

Friday: 16.00-18.00 Men and Non-Binary Only Space

Address

New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, Camden, London NW1 1JR

Phone

020 7388 5560

Find us on google maps

Search for New Horizon Youth Centre

Google Maps location

What happens when you arrive

When you first arrive you will be greeted by our receptionist and you will complete registration with one of our friendly youth workers. Please bring your ID.

Housing appointments, for advice about your housing situation with our expert housing advisors, are given on the door each day when you arrive.

Get to the centre for 10.30am for your best chance of getting a housing appointment that day.

We cannot provide housing or emergency shelter straight away. There is a long process and it can take days, weeks or even months – but we will always do our best to help you.

Once registered, you can access our daily day centre services, activities and stay for a hot lunch.

We can help you with:

  • Housing advice, and advocacy – support to get help from other services
  • Support with accessing benefits, universal credit and understanding what you’re entitled to
  • Education, employment and training support
  • Counselling and mental health support
  • Physical and sexual health advice
  • One-to-one support around independent living and communication skills
  • Breakfast and hot lunches
  • Showers
  • Wifi
  • Laundry
  • Clothes and health essentials
  • Youth work and life skills programme including art, music, sports and drama

If needed, we will also help you find and use other specialist services, for example LGBTQ+ support, legal help or immigration advisors.

We are part of the London Youth Gateway so may refer you to other specialist organisations in London.

What we cannot do

  • Offer housing straight away
  • Offer emergency accommodation straight away
  • We are not the council, probation or the Government
  • Support people aged 25 or older, families or children
  • Provide clinical medical help or prescribe prescriptions
  • Share any of your details with anyone without your permission (unless in safeguarding situations)

Are you in crisis now?

If you need urgent help or information, are aged 25 or over, or are not able to access our day centre, these support services are here for you:

Call emergency services

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

Call: 999

Shelter housing advice helpline

0808 800 4444

For all advice around housing and homelessness, for any age or situation. Call Mon-Fri or visit their website

Get help from Shelter

Streetlink

If you are sleeping rough tonight, make an alert on their website. They can 'verify' that you are sleeping rough and connect you to vital services.

Tell them where you are

Homeless Link

A database of support services for those facing homelessness in England run by Homeless Link

Search for support near you

London Youth Gateway

LYG is London's only youth specific homelessness partnership. We support young people 18-25 with housing needs, including those from LGBTQ+ and migrant communities.

Get support

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

All ages - if you want information mental health or need access to services

Visit their website

The Mix

text 85258

Our crisis messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you’re aged 25 or under, and are experiencing any painful emotion or are in crisis.

More support from The Mix

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.

Advice about and support for domestic abuse

LGBT Switchboard

0800 0119 100

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

Advice for anyone LGBTQ+

Galop

0800 999 5428

for LGBTQ+ people experiencing violence or abuse.

Visit their website

Migrant Help

0808 8010 503

Free asylum help line. Asylum support, refugee resettlement, victims of slavery and human trafficking support, interpreter services

Contact Migrant Help

Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline

08000 121 700

Report if you or someone you know is at risk of modern slavery or exploitation

More information

Common Questions

We support over a thousand 18-24 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. Here’s how we help them:

What do you mean when you say ‘homeless’?

We work with young people who are homeless or facing homelessness, or are unsafe.

Examples of homelessness and situations where we could help with your housing: sleeping on a friend’s couch, sleeping on the streets, not being sure where you’re staying tonight, 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, welcome or safe staying with them. You could be in danger if you return to your area. You could be a refugee or asylum seeker kicked out of your accommodation. You might have been evicted by your landlord or unable to access rental properties in London. You could be a student in London with nowhere to go in the holidays.

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

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.

Why do I have to bring ID?

This helps us to know who you are, your details and makes it easier for us to refer you to different services and support you with options that are available to you. If you do not have ID, talk to reception when you arrive.

ID can be a passport, driving licence, biometric residency permit or another form of photo identification.

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.

How can I come to the day centre activities?

Any young person who has registered with us 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.

We have ESOL classes for people to learn English, and a Communications Support Worker who can help with other speech and language needs.

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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