 New Forest Nightstop is a local charity, run by Community First New Forest, which provides short-term accommodation to young homeless people across the Forest.
With the help of National Lottery funding, in the last 3 months alone New Forest Nightstop has provided 71 ‘bednights’ to young people.
Millie, one of New Forest Nightstop’s 14 volunteer hosts speaks out about her role in helping young homeless people.
I am 17 and my mum and I are Nightstop hosts.
We have been hosting for about 3 years and we first became hosts when we found out about Nightstop through another Community First New Forest scheme.
I wanted to become a host because I wanted to help kids that were my age who were struggling.
It seemed such a simple gesture to simply open your house to them and invite them in.
Before I started to host I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of people we were hosting, but after the first couple had stayed I realised that they are totally different than expected.
You could walk past them in the street and not be able to tell that they were homeless.
They are so polite and grateful for what the hosts do and most of the time they are shocked that someone would actually do this for them. We have had many young people come and stay with us and I have enjoyed it so much.
As a young person I feel it is good hosting for Nightstop as I am able to connect with them and it sometimes helps them feel more comfortable if they are able to talk to someone their own age.
The Nightstop scheme is very flexible and caters for you as a volunteer.
If you were busy one evening you can simply call in and let the office know or if you felt uncomfortable you could call in and the young person can go to a different host.
The scheme is also very safe as the young people are all checked before they come to stay and have no drug, alcohol or criminal problems.
With the Nightstop scheme it is so easy. You never feel as if you are giving at all, you learn so much from the young people, for me it feels as if they are giving to me.
They have their own experiences and lives to share with you.
The young people are always grateful to have people who are interested in them and who actually want to listen to what they have to say. I really love being a host and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I have learnt so much and love and look forward to people coming to stay with me.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer host, driver or support volunteer with New Forest Nightstop then contact Jude Todd, Support Worker, New Forest Nightstop at Community First New Forest on Tel 01425 478391 or email nightstopsupport@cfnf.org.uk
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