Brighton charity supporting young homeless people receives almost £500,000 National Lottery funding

A Brighton-based charity providing high-quality support for homeless young people has received almost £500,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

The Clock Tower Sanctuary is one of over 250 charities and community groups in the South East of England doing vital work with communities, to have been awarded over £10 million of National Lottery funding in the last three months.*

The project aims to support 200 homeless young people in Brighton and Hove by providing essential provisions, such as food and accommodation, to improve the quality of life of young, vulnerable people.

The charity aims to reduce the growing rate of homelessness in Brighton and Hove, with new figures from Shelter stating 1 in 78 people in the city are homeless (living in temporary accommodation or sleeping on the street)**.

The Clock Tower Sanctuary is the only service in the city which has a specific strategy to reduce youth homelessness, through its Youth Voice programme. The charity is working with 13 homeless providers, as well as local services like Sussex Police and YMCA Downslink, to meet the needs of young homeless people in Brighton and Hove.

The funding will help expand The Clock Tower Sanctuary’s service, ensuring the charity is there for young, vulnerable people amidst a “cost-of-giving” crisis, a term used in response to current financial pressures reducing public donations to the charity sector.

Esther, a person who has benefited from the service, said: “I started to come to The Clock Tower Sanctuary last year, but it’s helped turn my life around already. With the help of my case-worker, I’ve gone from emergency accommodation into a more permanent, supported accommodation, and I am now waiting to move into independent social housing. The people here have helped me find strength that I’d forgot I had.”

Frances Duncan, CEO of The Clock Tower Sanctuary, said: “Amidst a cost-of-living crisis and ensuing “cost-of-giving” crisis, our four-year funding award from The National Lottery Community Fund enables us to plan with confidence, knowing we can be here for young people experiencing homelessness.

“This funding will enable us to continue delivering our Tenancy & Independent Living Skills courses, and supports our year-round recruitment and development of volunteers. As part of our 2022-2024 strategy, we are committed to developing our Youth Voice work. With the support of The National Lottery Community Fund, we can accelerate this work in 2023, ensuring young people are in the lead and feel heard.”

Helen Bushell, Head of Regional Funding for London, the South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this vital funding will have a huge impact on young people’s lives across Brighton. Our funding plays a big role in strengthening communities and it is great to see groups like The Clock Tower Sanctuary making a positive difference to young, vulnerable people’s lives.”

Brighton isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £133 million of National Lottery funding has been awarded to over 2,400 community groups in England in the past three months.*

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes across the UK. In the last 12 months we have given out nearly £600 million to 12,500 organisations reaching every local authority and constituency in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk