Neil Jones, professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing; Vicky Pattison, influencer, podcast host and member of Geordie Shore’s original cast; Rhys Connah, Ryan from Happy Valley; and Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, who plays Ash from Eastenders, have joined forces to highlight the truth about youth homelessness.
The four TV stars appear in charity Centrepoint’s latest campaign video, calling on viewers to imagine what it’s like for young people who are “fighting for survival and wondering where their next meal is going to come from.”
The video was shared on the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The video was posted today on Centrepoint’s channels @centrepointuk here: instagram.com/p/CpKkpJJNKr9/?hl=en
Geordie star and podcast host Vicky, begins by telling us that “129,000 young people faced homelessness in the UK last year” and Strictly’s Neil follows up stating that “in England 1 in 53 young people didn’t have a safe space to call home”.
Neil, Vicky, Rhys and Gurlaine urge the public that “change is possible” but “we need you to make this happen”.
The all-star team are asking people to “tell your MP to help the cycle of youth homelessness and help them dream big again”.
The video comes after Neil recently opened up about his previous experience being homeless, for a previous Centrepoint initiative #MyBreakthrough. When he was just 16, and had just started his professional dancing career, he found himself unable to pay his bills and ended up on the streets. A local charity helped him find a place to stay.
Find out about Neil’s story here: instagram.com/reel/CnMtnnrBlaL/ and instagram.com/p/CnMZRajIiuE/
Queen of the Jungle Vicky Pattison has also worked with Centrepoint before, when she hosted and took part in the charity’s virtual event STAY:UP, during the pandemic, encouraging people to stay awake all night, just as homeless young people often have to, in order to keep out of danger on the streets.
Plus almost 6 years ago, Vicky Pattison bedded down for the night at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, taking part in Centrepoint’s Sleep Out.
