HOMELESSNESS charity ALABARÉ is helping more vulnerable young people turn supported accommodation into a place they can truly call home thanks to a £4,000 grant.

The funding is being used to help young people living in supported accommodation across Wiltshire and Hampshire buy items that make their rooms feel more personal, comfortable and welcoming.

ALABARÉ clients aged between 16 and 21 have benefitted from the More Than a Roof scheme, funded by Nationwide and distributed by youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.

Many of those supported have previously been in care and are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

Purchases from the latest grants have included bedding, blankets, lights, mirrors, pictures and even onesies.

Crucially, the items belong to the young people themselves and can be taken when they move on to independent living, helping to ease the transition and providing a sense of continuity and stability.

The More Than a Roof programme brings together charities and corporate partners to support youngsters at a critical point in their lives.

In this second round of funding, £200,000 has been made available nationally to organisations working directly with those at risk of homelessness.

Lucy, who was supported by ALABARÉ, is a previous grant recipient and described the impact it had on her life.

She said: “It made me feel more relaxed, more settled. It’s made my room feel more homely and more comfortable. I now don’t have to worry about buying more stuff for the future, too, so it’s definitely helped in that aspect.”

Lucy with service manager Natalie Murchie at Sarum House in Andover.

Head of young people’s services at ALABARÉ Spencer Whatmore said the funding plays a vital role.

He said: “The grants make an incredible difference to the young people within our supported living accommodation.

“Facing the risk of homelessness is a hugely stressful situation for anyone, but for the younger generation, that uncertainty, fear, and potential isolation can impact them for the rest of their adult lives.

“Giving young people the chance to choose the right items to make their journey with us more comfortable means there’s better engagement with their support workers, and they feel valued.”

Head of partnerships at Centrepoint Lisa Waring added: “For many young people in supported accommodation, the room they are given may be the first safe space they have ever had.

“Having the opportunity to put their own stamp on these spaces and make them homely can make a world of difference as they work towards rebuilding their lives.”