The Amber Foundation supports homeless and disadvantaged young people and gives them the structure and support needed for them to transform their lives.

Over the course of the pandemic, Amber remained in operation, accepting new homeless people when space became available. During this time, the young people at Amber experienced an increased level of anxiety, not only due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, but also about their long-term prospects.

Despite issues with infection control, staffing, fundraising, IT and the increased stress and mental health issues of the young people, Amber have had some notable successes. Tasha grew up in a dysfunctional family, and at 16 was kidnapped by a County Lines gang and put to work delivering drugs. She managed to escape but had become addicted to drugs and then homeless last summer when the country came out of lockdown. At Amber, Tasha remained clean from drugs, and enrolled in a full-time mechanics course after attending a course with GASP. She said, “If I hadn’t come to Amber, I think I’d be dead or in prison. I would definitely still be using, as I couldn’t see any way out from the situation that I was in. Amber saved me.”

The Amber Foundation

Awarded 2020-2021