Leading UK charity, Centrepoint, held its annual awards ceremony last week, celebrating the resilience and achievements of young people who have overcome homelessness.
The star-studded awards ceremony took place at the British Museum, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and attended by award presenters including Prince William, Lady Kitty Spencer, West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen and presenter Yinka. It was an evening dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of young people, with a vision to end youth homelessness in the UK.
College of North West London alum, Andrew Onasanya, received the Independent Living Award for his success overcoming homelessness and his inspiring work campaigning for others in similar situations.
Andrew said: “I am so grateful to receive this Independent Living award; I hope it shows that things really can get better if you continue to work at them, and I see this as the first chapter in my story. I would like to thank the Apprenticeships Team at United Colleges Group, particularly my tutor, Stephen, for their patience and understanding while I was going through a challenging time while completing my apprenticeship, and I’d also like to thank my assessors Mark and Francis.
While training as an electrical apprentice at College of North West London, Andrew took charge of his future by reaching out for support from Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme, enabling him to live safely during work and study. Andrew completed his Level 3 Electrotechnical Apprenticeship Standard at CNWL last year and is now a qualified electrician. Outside his work, Andrew is an advocate for vulnerable young people and campaigns to end youth homelessness.
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“The facilities here are brilliant. You have range of courses you can study. My teachers in the Performing Arts department have got history in the industry, which is very useful. You get to ask them for advice and actual knowledge from the industry, and take that into your own work within the college also afterwards. ”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
“My favourite thing about studying here has definitely got to be the teachers. They’re really helpful, kind and in the industry, so it’s good.”
“The technical knowledge and hands-on experience gained during my apprenticeship at College of North West London have been invaluable, particularly in understanding site processes, health and safety requirements and the understanding of electrical systems.”
“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
“I was so grateful to have won Apprentice of the Year at the West London Business Awards 2026, I could not have done it without the support my company Size Group and the College of North West London.”
