With almost 50,000 young people getting involved each year, the National Citizen Service (NCS) project, run by The Challenge, is a fantastic way for young people to meet peers from different backgrounds and take on a project which positively affects their community.

We were approached by a group of ten young people from East London who had been inspired by the homelessness crisis in Newham, and had chosen to support Caritas Anchor House. The young people visited us and met with residents to begin to understand the lives of the people behind the shocking figures.

The team decided to hold a BBQ and sports day for residents on Wednesday 8th August, and managed to raise £300 through sponsorship which funded the supplies for the event. Together with residents, they group prepared chicken burgers, fish and a range of salads, rice and vegetable bakes to feed almost 50 attendees. The group also set up sports tournaments for table tennis, pool and Wii Sports to promote gentle exercise and encourage conversations between residents and the group.

We were delighted to see our new residents’ kitchen in full use, and our residents who take part in our weekly FEAST cooking club getting stuck into preparations.

One of the young people said, “It’s been really amazing to be here in Caritas Anchor House. We have spoken to a lot of different people and I think we all understand a bit more about what it’s like to be homeless and why people become homeless.”

Serena, our Fundraising and Marketing Officer who works with community groups and young people, said, “The event went really well, and we were pleased to see lots of residents take part, enjoying the food and engaging with the group from The Challenge. It was a great opportunity for local young people to give up their time for a cause they believe in, and we hope to continue hosting groups in the future.”

If you would like to get involved and support Caritas Anchor House, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch by emailing info@caritasanchorhouse.org.uk.