From Salesman to Craftsman: Embedding Systemic Practice in Homelessness Prevention

Family breakdown remains the leading cause of youth homelessness in the UK. For over 50 years, Centrepoint has supported young people aged 16 to 25 in crisis. In some cases, this meant helping young people co-exist with their families and networks whilst they sought independence. Now, for the first time, we are working with secondary school children through the Upstream Project, a preventative approach designed to identify and support those at risk before crisis occurs. 

Reflecting on my journey from ‘salesman’ to ‘craftsman,’ I will explore what it means to engage new stakeholders unfamiliar with homelessness, such as schools, and how I embed systemic practice in a way that is collaborative, contextually responsive and sustainable. This work opens new conversations within a traditionally crisis-focused sector, offering alternative ways of working through a systemic lens.