Following research undertaken by Centrepoint into youth homelessness in Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth Doorway became a registered charity in 1997. Originally based in Bedworth with two employees we developed a range of services to advise and support young people aged 16 – 25 who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

In 2006, Doorway renewed its relationship with Centrepoint through an ongoing partnership agreement which helps youth homeless charities build capacity and this enabled delivery of our Lifewise Programme. 

For our 10th anniversary a Young People's Group project was to create a billboard (see above) which was at roadsides in Nuneaton, Bedworth and Atherstone. It became our website homepage for several years and the man in the doorway is made up of a collage photos of young people, stakeholders, committee members, staff and volunteers.

Towards the end of 2012 we relocated to Nuneaton to premises with a Drop-in centre enabling us to provide a young people friendly area which they helped to plan and more volunteer opportunities. Other facilities for young people include laptops, a shower, a meeting room to deliver Jobwise and Lifewise sessions and a place for our Young People’s Group to meet.

In 2018, we changed our structure to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) to enable Doorway to achieve business plan objectives and increase our accommodation options for homeless young people

In September 2021 we revised our vision and mission statements and aim during our Business Plan away day:

• Our vision is to prevent youth homelessness and minimise its impacts by ensuring that all young people have a safe and secure place to live, a productive fulfilling purpose, positive relationships with  others and good health to enjoy them.
• Our mission is to give homeless young people a future through advice, accommodation options, support and life skills development.
• Our aim is to make sure that vulnerable, homeless young people can look forward with optimism, raise their aspirations and improve their quality of life.

We are now in our 28th year and we are proud to have worked with so many fantastic young people who often just needed someone to listen to their concerns and plan their next steps and basically get the help they needed to get back on track.

We work with a range of partners which helps increase our resources and create wider opportunities for everyone. Through our teams’ dedication to our core values and mission we develop individual plans with our young people to ensure they feel safe and empowered to make decisions about the next stage in their lives. 

We couldn’t do what we do without help from our supporters and partner organisations.

• Be a part of our team by volunteering
• Help us continue providing vital help by donating
• Help us to do even more by fundraising for us