Centrepoint

Starting out as a night shelter, Centrepoint’s work with young people has evolved beyond all recognition over the last 50 years.

In the centre of London’s Soho in December 1969, the Revered Ken Leech opened a night shelter in the basement of his church to give young homeless people a safe place to sleep. Towering over Soho was the Centre Point building, left empty to make money for property developers. Incensed by this “affront to the homeless”, Ken Leech called his shelter Centrepoint.