The whole culture and ethos of Nightstop is based on volunteering. From the beginning, 1987, the idea (that eventually developed into Leeds Nightstop) was for members of the public in the Leeds area to open their doors to offer emergency accommodation as a way of giving something of themselves in order to support the homeless young people in their communities.
Volunteering
Volunteering for Nightstop Schemes
Information about volunteering opportunities is available, use the link below to find your local Nightstop scheme. As each scheme operates differently, to better meet the needs of the young people and to fit in with the services of other agencies in their area, volunteering opportunities differ from scheme to scheme. Wherever the scheme is located there is a need for volunteer hosts, additionally some schemes may require telephone contact volunteers, drivers, members for Management Committees and support with administrative and other tasks.
Related Links:
A Host's View
Andrew has been volunteering as a Host with Leamington and Warwick Nightstop since the scheme launched in 2004.
Questions and Answers for Volunteers
What kind of people volunteer as hosts?
Nightstop hosts are ordinary people who want to reduce the problems associated with homelessness amongst young people and who have a room which can be used to keep a young person off the street for a night.
Any household grouping can apply to be hosts, and would be assessed through an acceptance and vetting procedure.
A good host is someone who is tolerant but willing to set boundaries on behaviour, is accepting and able to listen to young people without telling them what to do, and who is warm and welcoming, making people feel at ease without becoming so close that the young person becomes dependent.
What are hosts expected to offer?
The minimum that Nightstop offers to a young person is a room for their exclusive use for the night, access to a bathroom, an evening meal and breakfast, the opportunity to wash their clothes and a warm welcome.
Accommodation is offered from the evening through to the next morning. Hosts are expected not to leave the young person alone in their house and are given the choice of when they wish to make accommodation available. The host will be prepared to listen to the young person and will offer immediate support and encouragement, but will not be expected to provide counselling or professional help.
How often will you want me to put someone up?
The hosts may offer as many or as few nights as they wish. Each month they will be contacted to specify their availability for the month, though this can be changed if necessary. Some may have a room which is only available at term time, while a son or daughter is away at university, others may have regular commitments which mean they are only available on certain evenings. The aim of Nightstop is to provide a service which enables volunteers to support and help young people.
What training will I get?
All Nightstop volunteers will be offered training on a variety of topics. A day’s training on Nightstop, and sessions on Child Protection and Working with Young People will be considered essential elements to becoming a volunteer, however there will also be optional training sessions made available to all volunteers such as First Aid, and Negotiation Skills. All training will be free of charge to our volunteers. Nightstop training will include a chance to speak with volunteer hosts from another Nightstop.
What support will I get?
Support will be available both through the local scheme staff and through networking with other volunteers. Whenever a host is accommodating a young person, they will have access to 24 hour telephone support. There will be regular opportunities for volunteers to come together in order to exchange ideas and experiences.
