Homelessness charities announce merger By Ben Cook, Third Sector Online, 19 October 2007
Nightstop UK is an umbrella body that supports 48 schemes providing safe emergency accommodation for homeless young people aged from 16 to 25 in the homes of approved volunteers. The Depaul Trust offers services to vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness, social exclusion, reoffending, violence, vandalism and bullying.
According to the trust, one of the reasons for the merger is that Nightstop UK has been struggling to secure the funding it needs. There have been fears that the charity would have to fold. Under the terms of the merger, all Nightstop staff will join Depaul, but Nightstop will retain its name.
A statement from Nightstop said: “To facilitate the growing number of Nightstop schemes, it was deemed necessary to find another organisation with similar values and purpose that would help to nurture and grow the provision of this much-needed service. As a national charity, Depaul Trust is in a position to offer that stability and potential for growth for this network.”
Paul Marriott, chief executive of the Depaul Trust, said: “Depaul is committed to preventing youth homelessness – this merger brings us into direct contact with the army of volunteers who make up the Nightstop schemes around the UK.”
Sue Trennery, manager of Nightstop UK, said the charity was very impressed with the Depaul Trust.
“They are as passionate as we are about tackling youth homelessness,” she said. “Being part of a larger organisation will help us to be more efficient and more effective.”
