Call for volunteer hosts in Brighton & Hove!
Sussex Nightstop
Do you have a spare bedroom in your house or flat that is only occasionally occupied? Would you be interested in participating in a new local initiative that aims to reduce youth homelessness in Brighton & Hove?
When a young person loses their accommodation it can lead to breakdown in many areas of their life including relationships, education and employment. You could make a difference to young people by offering a safe alternative to emergency accommodation or homelessness.
Sussex Nightstop Plus are looking to recruit volunteers from within the community to reflect the diversity of young people in our City.
You would be required to make available a spare room on a night by night basis for an agreed time period. Hosts will be valued members of a Nightstop community and receive intensive support as well as training and expenses.
If you are interested in making a difference, and would like to receive more information or have an informal chat please email the Nightstop Co-ordinator at coordinator@sussexnightstop.org.uk or call on 01273 828828.
Click here for more information or here to download an application form View the Host Recruitment Application form here
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Sussex Nightstop Plus is a charity that works with young single homeless people across Sussex aged 16-25. They aim to respond to youth homelessness, by building a community resource in which young people are hosted in volunteers’ homes. They hope to provide a safe and appropriate alternative to emergency accommodation options in Brighton & Hove. Sussex Nightstop Plus is based on and affiliated with DePaul UK’s Nightstop Model.
What is a Nightstop?
Nightstop is the provision of emergency accommodation for 16 to 25 year old young homeless people, through homes of approved volunteers called ‘hosts’.
All Nightstop projects abide by the Nightstop UK’s Minimum Standards of Practice and Care.
This means they will:
Young People at Sussex Central YMCA
- Provide free, safe, secure, emergency accommodation for single young people aged 16-25 in the homes of approved volunteer hosts
- Accept referrals only from agencies/organisations who accept and understand the Nightstop referral criteria
- Interview, carry out Criminal Records Bureau checks, obtain references, train and support all volunteers
- Provide ongoing training and support for volunteers
- Have a 24 hour emergency ‘on-call’ system in place to support volunteers
- Refer young people back to a recognised agency to look at longer-term housing options appropriate to their need
Be a Sussex Nightstop Host
Nightstop volunteers are crucial to the continuation of the project and without them there is no Nightstop. Sussex Nightstop Plus are ready to hear from anyone who has a spare room in their home which they can make available on a night by night basis, has some time to give to the project, and has an interest in young people’s issues and homelessness.
Initially, they are recruiting hosts within the Brighton & Hove area, but once the project grows they aim to recruit hosts across Sussex.
The project is keen to recruit hosts who will reflect the diversity of the community in Brighton & Hove. In return for the hosts participation Sussex Nightstop Plus offers comprehensive and engaging training, support from our coordinator (day and night), the opportunity to be part of a friendly and unique community organisation and a worthwhile volunteering opportunity where you will make a valuable difference to the lives of young people accessing the service.
In addition, hosts will receive expenses to meet the costs of hosting. Financial incentive is not the main reason to be involved in a Nightstop as the expenses will be minimal. Hosts will be attracted to and involved in Sussex Nightstop Plus because of their genuine interest in helping to prevent homelessness and the experience that they will gain, as well as the feeling that they are contributing in a meaningful way to the community.
Sussex Nightstop Plus are aware of the concerns that hosts may have regarding hosting and takes every care to protect both the hosts and the young people from risk. They have put in place effective measures to ensure that hosts and young people feel safe to take part in Nightstop.
