Cardinal Hume Centre Chosen as Lord Mayor of Westminster's Charity of the Year
July 5, 2024
The Cardinal Hume Centre are thrilled to have been chosen by the new Lord Mayor, Cllr Robert Rigby, as one of his beneficiary charities for 2024/25.
Cllr Rigby has been a long-standing supporter of the Centre and also attended Ampleforth College, of which the Centre’s founder, Cardinal George Basil Hume, was Abbot before being made Cardinal.
As one of the chosen charities for the mayoral year, the Cardinal Hume Centre hopes to increase awareness of the issues facing young people and their families in Westminster, particularly the rising numbers of children living in poor quality temporary accommodation as a direct result of the national housing crisis. With 25% of Westminster’s children living in poverty, the Centre is trying to break the cycle, providing support with everything from accommodation to immigration to employment.
Cllr Rigby emphasised the importance of the work of the Centre, saying:
“I have long been impressed with the work the Cardinal Hume Centre does in providing a lifeline to young people and families. There are complex reasons why people become homeless, and the Cardinal Hume Centre is fantastic at helping young people who, for whatever reasons, have ended up on the streets.
“It provides not only immediate respite in the form of sheltered accommodation, but the confidence to find a route out of often traumatic circumstances. Time and again it has proven itself to be the bridge to a better future, and I look forward to working with the centre to raise funds and showcase what the team does.”
Commenting on the impact that this partnership will have on the Centre, CEO George O’Neill said:
“We are delighted that Cllr Robert Rigby, The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Westminster 2024/25, has named the Cardinal Hume Centre as one of his chosen charities to support through his mayoral year. The Centre is here for the people who need us most in Westminster as we work to break the cycle of homelessness for children and young people. We’d love to see more support from the wider community – whether it’s volunteering or helping us to fundraise so we can have an even greater impact.”
