We joined forces with Centrepoint and Inflect to challenge a broken system and make work pay for young people in supported housing – delivering a campaign that put their voices at the heart of policy change.
Centrepoint
Making work pay for young people in supported housing
challenge
Young people in supported accommodation should be helped to secure the employment and better prospects they are striving for. But just when they need it most, the system is rigged against them making progress.
At present, young people in supported housing face significant financial penalties when they take on more than a few hours of paid work.
‘Make Work Pay’ campaign, which calls for a fairer system: one that ensures young people are always better off in work, that makes work pay for the 30,000 young people in supported housing and helps them stay in work and reach their full potential, saving the Treasury millions and increasing productivity.
solution
We put young people front and centre, co-creating the campaign with those directly affected. Together, we developed the ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ – a powerful, visual stunt that captured the injustice and drove media and political engagement.
The physical ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ highlighted that when young people in supported accommodation try to work more hours, every outcome leaves them worse off – losing benefits too quickly and risking homelessness instead of improving their situation.
We planned a stunt on Parliament Square for the 3rd of September, inviting young people, MPs, sector supporters, as well as press and photographers to capture the wheel in action.
We created a series of assets, including the wheel, banners, flags and placards, to make a visual statement.
impact
As a result of Centrepoint’s ongoing engagement with key stakeholders over the past, in the Autumn 2025 budget, the Treasury committed to fixing the system.
Additional results include:
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MPs attending the stunt and engaging with the wheel
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young people’s experiences spotlighted through media coverage
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pieces of media coverage achieved in targeted titles including Big Issue, Mirror Online and The House Magazine (Politics Home)
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