Advertisement
Housing

Why England World Cup stars are saying it’s not coming home

Stones and Alexander-Arnold are joining Beth Mead, Micah Richards and Sir Geoff Hurst in supporting Centrepoint’s campaign to prevent 30,000 young people becoming homeless this winter

England defenders John Stones and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be playing in the Qatar World Cup to the sound of chants of ‘It’s Coming Home’ – but they’re among a host of football stars saying the opposite in a bid to combat youth homelessness.

Stones and Alexander-Arnold have joined Lionesses star Beth Mead, England World Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst and pundit Micah Richards in saying ‘It’s NOT Coming Home’ in a new charity film.

The football stars, alongside other famous faces including comedian Jack Whitehall, rugby and Strictly star Ugo Monye and TV personality Mark Wright, are backing Centrepoint’s new campaign to prevent 30,000 young people from becoming homeless this winter.

The charity is predicting a surge in homelessness for 16- to 24-year-olds as the cost of living crisis bites – equivalent to five for every minute played at the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off on Sunday.

Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription

That prediction is based on figures from Centrepoint’s Youth Homelessness Databank which uses Freedom of Information requests to track the number of young people approaching their local authority because they are homeless or at risk of losing their home.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

Seyi Obakin, Centrepoint chief executive, said the charity’s estimate of how many young people are at risk of homelessness is a “conservative” warning and it is likely that the true number is “significantly higher”.

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

“Everyone should be able to keep a roof over their heads, pay their bills and put food on the table,” said Obakin.

“That is becoming increasingly difficult for the country’s most vulnerable young people, some of whom have just £5 a week to live on after rent and bills. This comes at an enormous personal cost of skipped meals, poor mental health and isolation. 

“The government has taken some steps to support young people during this crisis, but it’s clear that they are still struggling. We need further action if we are to avoid more and more young people facing homelessness.” 

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

SIGN THE PETITION

Will you sign Big Issue's petition to ask Keir Starmer to pass a Poverty Zero law? It's time to hold government to account on poverty once and for all.

Recommended for you

Read All
Renter fury as no-fault eviction ban likely delayed until 2026: 'Let down yet again'
renters protest in London with protesters holding placards
Renting

Renter fury as no-fault eviction ban likely delayed until 2026: 'Let down yet again'

Public transport not keeping up with surge in new homes, analysis finds: 'We must plan more intelligently'
a bus
Public transport

Public transport not keeping up with surge in new homes, analysis finds: 'We must plan more intelligently'

Government pledge to help care leavers into social housing 'will literally save lives'
care leavers hand in petition at Downing Street
Social housing

Government pledge to help care leavers into social housing 'will literally save lives'

Social services threatened to take refugee's newborn baby away in row over horror hostel
A stock image of a baby's foot
Asylum accommodation

Social services threatened to take refugee's newborn baby away in row over horror hostel

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue