Centrepoint is delighted to have been chosen by the new Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Jonathan Glanz, to be the beneficiary charity of his Mayoral term in office. For over 50 years Centrepoint has housed and supported the City of Westminster's most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. We are very excited to be working with the Lord Mayor to raise funds for homeless young people who need our help now more than ever.

Centrepoint was founded in Westminster in 1969 by the Reverend Ken Leech. Dismayed by the numbers of young people sleeping rough on the streets of his parish, the Reverend opened the basement of St Anne's church in Soho to provide food, a warm bed and safety from the dangers of the night. With help from a small group of volunteers, the Reverend provided makeshift beds, a nutritious evening meal and some words of comfort for the lonely and vulnerable young people.

Fifty years on, Centrepoint is now the largest youth homelessness charity in the country and provides housing and support for young people across London and beyond. Housing is still a vital part of our work, but we also support young people to improve their health, reengage with education and find work. Every day we help young people to build the skills and confidence to leave homelessness behind.

Centrepoint remains an essential part of the community in Westminster. We house over 60 young people each night in Westminster and operate a resource centre for young people from the very same site where our work started over fifty years ago. Centrepoint began in Westminster and we are proud to be recognised for our important work by the Lord Mayor and to work with him to help homeless young people turn their lives around.