EMERGENCY accommodation service Nightstop is appealing for volunteers in Redditch so it can continue to help young people at risk of sleeping rough.
The service relies on the kindness of trained and vetted volunteers with a spare bedroom which they are willing to offer to a guest.
During their stay, Nightstop staff will work to find somewhere more permanent for the young person and offer any additional support they might need.
Robert Treen and his wife Barbara have been hosting young people across Redditch at risk of homelessness for over 12 years.
They said: “Both our daughters left home some years ago, leaving us with a lot of extra space which we wanted to put to good use.
“We’ve lost count of the number of young people who have come to stay with us, mostly for one night, sometimes a couple of nights, sometimes a few more depending on what our plans are and their needs as well.”
Barbara, who took early retirement from being a Prison Governor, said she had seen the transformative effect of Nightstop support.
“One lad who came to stay for the night really sticks out in my mind, he was a teenager, and had had a rough time.
“We spoke to him over dinner and you could see he really appreciated the opportunity to talk and wanted to spend time with us.”
The couple said it was a huge privilege to be able to host young people for the night, so they had the space and time to be helped by the Nightstop team in the office. They support them and, if appropriate, find them longer-term accommodation.
Lydia Kendall-McDougall, Nightstop and supported lodgings network officer, said: “While the people that access Nightstop are the passion that drives our work, our volunteers are the life-blood which keeps our vital service running.
“Our volunteers may come from all backgrounds but they have one thing in common – they want to make sure no young person sleeps in an unsafe place ever again.
“We support hosts and guests every step of the way which offers them great peace of mind.
“It’s such a fantastic initiative to be part of.”
Visit redditchnightstop.co.uk for more information.
