Guardian and Observer readers have raised £1,531,000 for three UK charities tackling youth homelessness and refugee destitution.

More than 15,000 readers donated to the papers’ 2017 charity appeal, the third year in succession that it has passed the £1.5m mark. The funds will be shared between Centrepoint, Depaul UK, and the No Accommodation Network (Naccom).

Charities Trust was delighted to play a part in handling readers' donations as Linda Minnis, our CEO explains: "Once again it has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with the team at The Guardian and Observer to help manage readers' donations. This appeal has coincided with a surge in rising levels of homelessness and we know that the money raised will make a big difference to the charities."

Katharine Viner, the editor-in-chief of the Guardian and Observer, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to the thousands of generous Guardian and Observer readers who donated to the 2017 charity appeal. As many readers have told us, homelessness and destitution are increasingly visible in our towns and cities, and we are proud to support the work our three appeal charities do to highlight the problems and help mitigate their terrible effects.”

Seyi Obakin, chief executive of Centrepoint, thanked readers and said the donations would help the charity continue to provide vital support to homeless young people. “If further proof were needed, this fantastic response shows that there is a real desire in this country for the government to go further and end youth homelessness for good.”

Hazel Williams, the national director of Naccom, praised readers’ generosity of spirit: “Working with destitute people it can often feel like the world is against them. Donating £1.5m to help them access shelter and support, and importantly treat them as fellow humans, restores our faith in humanity.”

Depaul’s UK interim chief executive, Ian Brady, said: “This is an incredible sum to have raised. On behalf of all the young homeless we work with, I would like to thank everyone who has donated for their great kindness.”

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