So what is Nightstop?
Nightstop is a simple idea: emergency accommodation in the homes of approved volunteers for one night at a time, until the agencies have had time to work out something more permanent for the homeless young person. Nightstoppers have to be single, homeless and between 16 and 25. The scheme provides a breathing space for vulnerable young people to consider their options.
Since the first Nightstop was first set up in Leeds in 1987, another 46 or so Nightstops have sprung up in different parts of the country, including Stockport, Macclesfield, Preston and Carlisle in the North West. Together they have provided thousands of nights accommodation for homeless young people, many of whom stayed on the scheme for several nights. Up to the end of 2006 Nightstop in Stockport, which started in May 1994, has been asked for help on more than 11538 occasions.
The volunteer hosts are ordinary people with a spare room, willing to do their bit to keep a homeless young person off the street at night. They also offer an evening meal and breakfast, bath/shower, and possibly the use of the washing machine. The volunteers specify when and how often they host.
Other volunteers also take telephone referrals at their own phone, or offer to drive a nightstopper to the designated host.
“I felt I hadn’t really had a home for years. But this time I didn’t even have a roof over my head. Homeless in every sense of the word.” – a nightstop guest
Sounds risky for the hosts. What if…..?
Clearly such a scheme requires that a would-be host consider carefully the difficulties involved. However, the experience of hosts both ours and of other Nightstops has been almost entirely postive with rare annoyances. For its part Nightstop:
- arranges basic training sessions at the start;
- supplies comprehensive reference material;
- offers support in case of emergency (very rare);
- arranges social and formal meetings so that experienced hosts can share experiences with others;
- does not accept as guests those who require specialist help (in the areas of drink, drugs, uncontrolled medical conditions, violence).
And remember – the young person needs protection also, which is why we run thorough checks on volunteer applicants and insist on complete confidentiality from both staff and volunteers.
“She left here broken, and came back with her dignity” a social worker about a first-time nightstop guest
What’s involved in being a telephone volunteer?
A telephone volunteer offers to stay by the phone for a 3 – 4 hour period as often as s/he wants per month. Some offer four sessions, some as many as eight.
During that period a referral agency such as Social Services may telephone asking if you can find a bed for someone. You have a list of hosts, a referral form, a list of questions to ask, and access to a member of the committee in doubtful cases. Training is given.
And Driving?
You simply say on which evenings in a month you are prepared to be called out to drive a nightstopper to a host’s address. It is, of course, expected that you have a roadworthy car and clean driving licence.
“I had begun to think ‘Why should I care about anyone? No one cares about me.’ Then I found that people – total strangers – did care. It was a turning point for me.” – a nightstop guest
Starters
Starters is a young tenant support scheme managed by Nightstop Stockport and Trafford. Volunteers help young inexperienced tenants through the first months of their tenancy. The tenants will be under 25, mostly single, mostly first-time tenants, and often previously homeless. Volunteers are given full training.
What kind of people are we looking for as volunteers?
Ordinary people who are over 18, from all sorts of backgrounds who are patient, tolerant and who don’t judge people too easily. Volunteers need to be understanding of people’s background and have the ability to listen to young people and be discreet about the work they do with them. We need people who are reliable that can attend and fulfil the commitments they have made. We don’t expect experts in anything just people who can be realistic about the amount of time they can give, who can expect in return, training and full support from the Nightstop staff. Any out of pocket expenses are reimbursed. All volunteers are checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
Words of a volunteer
For more information
How you can help Nightstop (3 fold A4 leaflet on volunteering)
about Nightstop (4 page A5 leaflet)
