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Forget Black Friday, it’s Bleak Friday for 18,000 homeless young people

Youth homelessness Centrepoint has dubbed today ‘Bleak Friday’ to raise awareness of the number of youngsters spending Christmas without a place to stay

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More than 18,000 young people are at risk of homelessness this Christmas, according to research by homelessness charity Centrepoint.

The youth homelessness charity has dubbed today Bleak Friday – a week on from mega-spending consumer event Black Friday – to raise awareness of the plight of young Brits aged 16-25 in the UK.

A 2.000-strong online survey found that 40 per cent of people reported seeing more young people sleeping rough in the past few years.

Christmas is a season to splurge with thousands enjoying the Black Friday deals, but for young homeless people it can be bleak, scary, and sometimes life-threatening

However, that does not tell the full story with a quarter of homeless young people sofa-surfing and 68 per cent staying temporarily with friends to avoid abusive situations.

A further three quarters of 16-25 year olds expect to feel loved and content over the Christmas period while eight out of 10 expect to spend Christmas in their family home.

But a quarter of homeless young people will not have that the same opportunity, spending the holiday with a stranger because they have nowhere to stay.

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For Centrepoint Manchester hostel resident Josh, a family dispute – one of the leading causes of homelessness – led to him spending Christmas on the streets when he was 18.

“I was made homeless on Christmas day when I was 18. I was admitted to hospital in chronic pain and diagnosed with sciatica,” he said.

“A relative visited and told me that, following a family argument the night before, I was no longer welcome at home. I was discharged from hospital to the streets. I just had some clothes, my phone and my medication.

“I went to Centrepoint in Manchester where my key worker helped place me in supported accommodation, and onto a course where I could get the skills to live independently.”

Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin added: “For many, Christmas is a season to splurge with thousands enjoying the Black Friday deals, but for young homeless people it can be bleak, scary, and sometimes life-threatening.

“With the problem of youth homelessness growing, we need help now more than ever to protect these vulnerable young people and help them have a brighter New Year.”

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