Home Sweet Home

The Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, visited the Centre yesterday to bless the newly-opened Basil Hume House, a project to help homeless youngsters to live independently.

Basil Hume House is the result of our One Hundred and Ten Project, which has been two years in the making, and which now comprises five new flats on Horseferry Road, Victoria. The project aims to provide a home for young people who have successfully turned their lives around. It is a great opportunity for them to practice independent living, and increase their chances of sustaining a private tenancy in the future. Sara, 19 (pictured below), is the first young person to move into the House. She said:  I wanted to move on from my previous hostel, because I am very self-sufficient now, and wanted a bit more independence, but still be able to talk to  someone if I've had a bad day.

The staff here are really friendly, I got a good feeling about them. The best bit about the flat is it is close to my work and it is newly furnished - as a young person in my situation, you never get anything new, it's really homey. Financial support for the build came from a number of the Centre's donors, from individuals giving five pounds, to trusts, companies and other donors - including Land Securities, the Westminster Amalgamated Charity and the Doughty Hanson Charitable Foundation - making larger gifts.  We were thrilled to welcome a range of these supporters to witness the blessing and visit the new building for themselves. Cathy Corcoran, the Centre's Chief Executive, said:  We'd like to thank everyone involved for helping to make Basil Hume House a reality.

  We believe it has the potential to truly change lives. Archbishop Nichols said,  Since its foundation in 1986 the Cardinal Hume Centre has helped many young and vulnerable people. The five new flats being opened today offer the opportunity of dignified living to young people. We thank God for these flats and ask God's blessing upon them and all who will dwell in them. May the Cardinal Hume Centre long continue to do the work of God. Sara is just one of many people who come to the Centre every day, desperate for help. We know that with support from the Centre, people can change their life for the better. But we can't do it without you. Please help to bring hope to people like Sara, by making a donation to the Centre today: