Oxford News
Youth homelessness crisis reveals need for independent living support
Many of them find themselves at the sharpest end of the housing crisis: unable to afford even the cheapest rent and lacking the stability needed to pursue a career or complete their education.
A lack of housing supply has been a policy challenge for several years. Successive governments have struggled to get homes built, and housing charities argue that some 90,000 social homes are needed every year in order to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing.
Michelle Donovan, Head of Independent Living at Centrepoint, says the cycle of instability caused by a lack of housing can be disruptive for young people in particular, “It’s such a crucial time for them. It can harm career progression and educational attainment.”
In response, the youth homelessness charity launched its Independent Living Programme. The initiative’s crucial innovation is to cap rent at one-third of a resident’s earnings, and to provide support services focused on ensuring they are ready to maintain employment and housing when they move on.
Michelle says the most important thing is that young people have space to hold down a job “Our homes give them that stability and from there it ends their reliance on benefits and hopefully means they can escape homelessness for good. The idea is we’re giving young people the stability they need to focus on their futures.”
The flat that changed one young woman’s life
A woman who spent the pandemic lockdowns alone in her room in homelessness accommodation is now fulfilling her dream to be a midwife.
Katelin, who became homeless at 17 after years of family arguments, said the isolation gave her time to plan the steps she needed to achieve her goals. “During COVID I thought, where do I see myself if I stay where I am?”
She spent two years in supported housing but – like 1 in 5 young people in similar situations – struggled to move on and start living independently.
Her support worker told her about a scheme run by Centrepoint for working young people who couldn’t afford rent elsewhere, “I got incredibly lucky – the scheme was offered to me and one other person. I wouldn’t be able to say I’m a midwife now if it wasn’t for me living at the independent Living Programme.
We Can’t Do This Alone
Last year, over 118,000 young people faced homelessness. That’s one young person every four minutes. At a time of life when most of their peers are trying new things and taking their first steps into adulthood, these young people found themselves alone and afraid, and unsure where to turn.
It doesn’t have to be like this, with the right support at the right time, these young people can escape homelessness or avoid it altogether.
At Centrepoint, provide more than a bed for the night. We provide a safe place to rebuild, support into education and work, and the confidence to believe in a better future.
Youth homelessness is not inevitable. With the right help at the right time, it can be prevented and it can be ended.
Our mission is to end youth homelessness – and you can help us.
Whether it’s running a marathon or holding a sleep out, you, your friends, family and co-workers can join our movement to end youth homelessness and give vulnerable young people a brighter future.
To find out more, donate or get involved, please visit our website:http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/newspaper
PE Teacher Gains Independence Through Centrepoint
A PE teacher has revealed how living in a Centrepoint Independent Living Programme home has made a “significant difference” to his life, giving him the stability and independence he previously struggled to find.
Londoner Naihum always loved sport and teaching. And, after finishing university, he secured a full-time role as a PE teacher. However, despite his dedication, he faced a common problem for many young people: a lack of affordable housing. Rents in his area were high, and the stress of trying to cover his living costs began to weigh heavily on him.
“I couldn’t find a place I could afford,” he said. “It was really difficult to manage everything on my own.”
Things changed when he heard about Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme. After applying, he was offered a place in one of their homes where rent is capped at a third of his salary.
“Living here has made a significant difference. I’m able to afford it without having to stress overnight and having to think about where I’m going to get the money from with the job that I’m currently at,” he explained, “I know that other people are in situations where they are finding it hard and their mental health is affected.”
The Independent Living Programme homes are more than just housing; residents are also able to access additional support in acquiring the life skills young people need to sustain tenancies in the future. Naihum has worked with mentors to improve his budgeting and financial management, helping him to understand what he can do to cover essentials like food, transport, and bills.
The stability and support has helped Naihum in other ways too. Over time, he has built a strong sense of community with other young people living in similar situations to him. “It’s great because you’ve got others to reach out to and it just makes it easier,” he said.
Now the charity hopes even more young people like Naihum can be supported thanks to the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw in the Lake District, which will help fund more of the charity’s Independent Living Programme homes and give young people the chance to move from homelessness into independence.
The partnership could not have come at a more important time. Centrepoint’s chief executive, Seyi Obakin OBE, is hopeful that many dozens more young people will get to benefit from the stability that the charity’s Independent Living Programme affords young residents: “The guaranteed £1 million raised by Omaze will help us expand our services and build more genuinely affordable homes for those ready to move forward. Together, we can help transform young lives and end youth homelessness for good.”
The incident took place on Tuesday (June 9) in the car park of The Beacon in Wantage.
A 34-year-old man was arrested, charged, and remanded for possession with intent to supply, and his vehicle was seized.
This was after 32 wraps of Class A drugs and a “significant amount of cash” were found on him.
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Thames Valley Police posted an update on their South Oxon and Vale of White Horse Facebook page this morning (Monday, June 15).
The statement said: “On June 9, 2026, our team was out looking for a vehicle that had recently piqued our interest. We located it in the car park of The Beacon.
“Now, he might have been there to pick up tickets for the open mic night, Rory Bremner, or even Noasis (who are there next week and apparently very good), but it was far more likely he was there to deal.
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“A search confirmed our suspicions: 32 wraps of Class A and a significant amount of cash were found on him.
“Thanks to previous chases, we blocked him in early and ensured he was safely detained.
“A 34‑year‑old male from outside the area was arrested, charged, and remanded for Possession With Intent to Supply. The vehicle was seized.”
The incident occurred at around 2pm yesterday (June 13), a white and blue BMW motorcycle and a grey Audi A3 were involved in a collision.
This was near the junction of B480 Watlington Road and Pettiwell, and Thames Valley Police officers attended the scene.
There was a large emergency response with the South-Central Ambulance Service and the “Helicopter Emergency Medical Service” also present.
READ MORE: Young child hit by car and man arrested in ‘harrowing’ incident
Police say that the rider of the motorcycle was a man in his 40s and that he sustained serious life-threatening injuries.
He remains in hospital receiving treatment at this current time, Thames Valley Police informs.
The driver of the grey Audi A3 has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst over the specified limit for drugs.
From Wallingford, the 51-year-old man has been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.
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Thames Valley Police is now appealing for witnesses following the serious road traffic collision in Garsington.
Investigating officer, PC Kerrie Ingham of the Roads Policing Unit said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the members of the public and the medical staff who stopped to assist.
“We are carrying out a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this collision, with a man being arrested at the scene shortly after police arrived, in attendance with paramedics from SCAS and HEMS.
“I would particularly like to hear from anyone who witnessed the grey Audi A3 driving northbound to the junction of B480 Watlington Road and Pettiwell prior to the collision.
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“I would also like to hear from anyone who witnessed the white and blue BMW motorcycle driving southbound towards the junction of the B480 Watlington Road and Pettiwell prior to the collision.
“If you saw either of these vehicles prior to the collision, or have dash-cam footage at around the time of the incident, please come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or submitting a report via the website, quoting reference number 43260296300.
Alternatively, you can report this anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Nestled just off Burford’s sloping High Street, The Angel at Burford stands on Witney Street in a 17th-century stone building that has welcomed locals and travellers for generations.
Records and local guides trace the inn back to around 1652, and much of that period charm remains in place today, with low ceilings, original oak beams and thick stone walls creating an intimate atmosphere inside.
Open fireplaces, polished brass and traditional pub furnishings add to the sense of history, giving drinkers and diners an authentic coaching-inn feel in the heart of the market town.
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Over recent years, the pub has developed into an award-winning gastropub with rooms, picking up plaudits while still functioning as a relaxed local for residents.
With a proud Hook Norton Brewery sign outside, the bar within features a line-up of the Oxfordshire brewer’s cask ales.
Separate dining areas offer a mix of cosy corners and larger tables, allowing the kitchen to serve seasonal menus that focus on classic pub dishes, Cotswold produce and modern gastropub favourites.
Beyond the interior, one of the standout attractions is the outdoor space, which is easy to miss from the street.
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From the front bar, customers head along a corridor towards the rear of the building before emerging into a surprisingly spacious beer garden hidden behind the main frontage.
A high stone wall and surrounding buildings shelter this area, creating a secluded, almost secret walled garden that feels far removed from the bustle of Burford’s busy centre.
Landscaping has introduced planting, stone paving and plenty of wooden tables, so there is ample room for larger groups as well as quieter spots for couples and families.
Because the garden is fully enclosed and set back from the High Street, traffic noise quickly fades, so people can sit and chat in relative quiet while still being only a short walk from the centre of Burford.
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On a warm Cotswolds afternoon, the garden becomes a suntrap, with visitors able to sit among the greenery and enjoy a pint of Hooky or a meal in the open air.
Many first-time guests comment on the contrast between the modest street view and the generous outdoor space tucked away at the back, making the garden a particular draw in spring and summer.
Accommodation above the pub provides a small number of letting rooms, giving people the chance to stay overnight in Burford, often described as the “Gateway to the Cotswolds”.
Combining centuries of history, traditional interiors, brewery links and a picturesque hidden beer garden, The Angel continues to serve as a popular stop-off for both local drinkers and tourists exploring this part of Oxfordshire.
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