Across Coventry, more young people are facing housing crises and difficult choices between heating, rent and food. The Bardsley Youth Project, based at Bardsley House on Hill Top, is working to make sure no one has to face those decisions alone.
The charity supports 16–25 year olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Some are street homeless or living in temporary hostel accommodation, but the majority are what’s known as hidden homeless. This includes young people who move between sofas, short-term stays or other unstable living situations.
Each young person who comes to Bardsley is paired with a dedicated support worker to help with housing applications, benefits, council tax and other services such as mental health support. The project also offers relaxed drop-in sessions, a food bank, clothes and furniture banks, and help with moving into independent accommodation.
A Practical Response to a Growing Need
This winter, Bardsley Youth Project has launched its Nourish, Connect, Support campaign, a local appeal to provide warm, nutritious meals for young people who use the charity’s warm hub.
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The idea is simple:
Every £5 donated buys one meal for a vulnerable young person in Coventry.
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These meals are served in a safe, welcoming space where young people can rest, eat and access the support they need. It is a campaign that combines nourishment with connection and practical advice, reflecting the project’s wider aim of helping people move from crisis toward stability.
Last winter, more than 100 young people used Bardsley’s warm space to eat, rest and plan their next steps. Many returned across the season for ongoing support. The team hopes to build on that success again this year.
How the Community Can Help
Everyone can get involved.
Individuals can donate £5 for one meal, £25 for five meals or £50 for ten.
Businesses can sponsor meal blocks such as £250 for 50 meals or £500 for 100, or run fundraisers including quizzes or team challenges.
Community groups and schools can host festive events such as bake sales, carol nights or jumper days, setting collective goals like “100 meals by Christmas.”
Bardsley’s Communications Lead, Rachel Orman, said:
“Your support made a real difference last winter. Young people came for meals and stayed for support. This year we want to keep that going, practical, proven and powered by our city.”
Anyone planning a fundraiser or partnership can email rachel@bardsleyyouth.org for materials or guidance.
Donations can be made anonymously, and businesses can request receipts or acknowledgements for their records.
Building Stability Through Connection
The Nourish, Connect, Support campaign reflects a wider regional focus on prevention and early help, as outlined in the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Positive Pathway model. Each meal creates a moment to pause, to connect and to build trust, often the first step toward securing and sustaining a stable home.
This winter, Bardsley Youth Project aims to provide meals, practical support delivered with care and a reminder that Coventry stands behind its young people.
To support the campaign, visit
👉 justgiving.com/campaign/nourish-connect-support-25-26
or find out more at bardsleyyouth.org