We are supporting young people over the Christmas period with a range of serious housing issues, including those who are homeless, sofa surfing or living in unsafe accommodation. This can be the hardest time of year for those young people. No one and nowhere to go, fighting the elements, facing damp walls or the reality of another night on a stranger's sofa.

For those young people, No Limits provides a lifeline. Our free, comprehensive support helps them to resolve their issues and see a brighter, more hopeful future.

We are seeing increasing demand for our housing support, with 318 young people in housing crisis coming to No Limits in the last year. Overall demand for housing advice and support has risen 25%.

The number of young people needing support at Christmastime has increased, too. From 2021 to 2023, the number of young people needing help with serious housing issues in the run up to Christmas more than doubled (56 to 121). We are expecting to be supporting similar numbers this year.

How do we support these young people?

🟢 Providing emergency provisions, including sleeping bags, coats, hats and gloves, food vouchers and sanitary products.

🟢 Having our Advice Centre on Southampton High Street open and available to be used as a safe, warm space. It's open for over 40 hours each week across six days, including two evenings.

🟢 Facilities at our Advice Centre are also available for use by homeless young people, including a washing machine and tumble dryer, a shower and computers for internet access.

🟢 Finding them emergency accommodation if they have nowhere to go, or their current living situation is unsafe.

🟢 Supporting them to apply for support from other organisations such as Basics Banks, housing associations and Southampton City Council Homebid.

🟢 Making contact with other support teams, such as Street Homeless Prevention Team.

🟢 Helping them to make referrals to other specialist services, such as refuges and domestic violence charities.

🟢 Providing a range of services all under one roof, meaning that young people can access help from No Limits for other support needs, such as mental health, employment and finances at the same time as receiving housing support.

All our support is free and appointments aren’t needed to speak to our youth workers, so young people can go to our Advice Centre and get emotional and practical help from trained staff whenever they need.

Jacob's story

Jacob first buzzed the door to No Limits’ Advice Centre on a crisp Tuesday morning. He had spent the previous few nights on the streets, having been kicked out of his rented accommodation. He had had little to eat and only his coat to protect him from the elements. Our youth worker, Sam, welcomed him into the Advice Centre and brought him toast and a cup of tea. Sam sat with him for a while as Jacob opened up about how he'd lost his job after missing work due to his mental health and couldn’t afford his rent. With no family or friends nearby, Jacob had slept rough.

While Jacob used the shower and laundry facilities at our Advice Centre, Sam contacted the Street Homeless Prevention Team with the location of his rough sleeping, as well as getting him a sleeping bag, hat and gloves. Sam told Jacob that he could come and use the Advice Centre as a warm, safe space whenever it was open. Together, they contacted a supported housing organisation and Jacob completed a referral. He then completed applications for Universal Credit and the Basics Bank with Sam’s support.

Jacob was housed by the supported housing organisation shortly after and now lives in his own flat through the council. He attended No Limits’ Work Club, where youth workers supported him in gaining a new job as well as attending our Safe House and Emotional Resilience groups, getting support for his mental health. Jacob is happier than before and is grateful for his new start.

Please donate

To help young people like Jacob, please donate to No Limits. Every pound goes directly towards supporting young people in our area.

🟢 Donate £10 to buy a keep warm kit, including hat and gloves, hand warmers and hot chocolate.

🟢 Donate £20 to help support our Advice Centre, meaning homeless young people have a safe space to go and can use our facilities.

🟢 Donate £30 to pay for two sessions of youth worker support. These sessions could be life changing, helping the young person find safe accommodation, set up a bank account or apply for benefits.