Youth homelessness charity Depaul UK is celebrating a landmark achievement receiving an extraordinary £25 million in funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery over the last 13 years. This milestone has powered life-changing support for thousands of young people, helping them move from trauma to transformation.
Thanks to the sustained generosity of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Depaul UK has been able to deliver crisis intervention, safe housing, mental health support, and long-term guidance to young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness right across the UK.
It has also funded initiatives such as the Client Involvement Programme, now in its second year, which ensures that the voices of those with lived experience of homelessness are central to shaping the charity’s services.
Jack*, from the North East, is one of twelve Client Reps, all bursting with energy, ideas and a desire to use their own experiences to improve how Depaul UK works, making sure the decisions taken and services delivered are truly informed by those who have lived them.
By doing so, the programme is reducing the likelihood of homelessness reoccurring in the future and is a genuine collaboration that the charity believes is influencing change from the inside.
One of the many other lives transformed by the charity, is Darren’s*.
Darren, now cheerful, clean-cut, and happy, once lived in a tent in Middlesbrough after redundancy, eviction, bereavements, and a five-month battle with drug addiction and homelessness. Despite repeated refusals from the council, his determination for a better life never wavered.
After connecting with Recovery Solutions and Depaul UK’s drop-in centre, Martin, Depaul UK’s Middlesbrough centre manager recognised Darren’s drive. He secured him a quiet flat through Depaul Housing Services, giving Darren a stable home and the support he needed.
Today, sober and beaming with pride, Darren says:
I can’t wait. It’s a nice flat…You can’t change your past, but you can change your future. Only forward from here.
The £25 million raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery has enabled Depaul UK to respond to youth homelessness with practical and compassionate support across the UK, whether that’s through Nightstop emergency accommodation, wraparound mental health services, or personalised recovery planning.
Depaul UK’s CEO Alexia Murphy said:
This incredible milestone reflects not just the generosity of People’s Postcode Lottery players, but their belief in a better future for young people facing homelessness. With their support, we’ve helped thousands of young people rewrite their stories. And both Jack and Darren are living proof of what can happen when someone is given safety, support, and the space to heal.
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s fantastic that that players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £25 million for Depaul UK. The support from players is helping young people have a better chance to build a future with hope and opportunity. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and thanks to the tireless work of Depaul UK, that’s becoming a reality for so many.”