New Nightstop Service created by Aberdeen Foyer, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils hopes to Combat Youth Homelessness in Northeast Scotland
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A NEW initiative which hopes to end youth homelessness in Aberdeen City and Shire by connecting young people in crisis with local hosts is desperately seeking volunteers.
The Nightstop service, created by local charity Aberdeen Foyer in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils, hopes to support young people facing homelessness by connecting them with community hosts who can provide them with a safe and welcoming temporary home.
Cllr Anne Stirling, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Communities Committee, said: “We welcome this partnership with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Foyer to develop an innovative service for young people aged 16-25 who may be at risk of homelessness.
"We hope the service will provide the opportunity for young people to engage with services to avoid homelessness where possible and help with a planned move to suitable long-term accommodation or to reconcile with family members if appropriate. This development has arisen from actions within our Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan to address youth homelessness.”
Last year, 720 young people presented as homeless in Aberdeen City and Shire. From Aberdeen Foyer’s direct experience working with young people, they have found that many feel they have little or no choice but to remain in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation.
The Nightstop service hopes to change this by providing accommodation to low-risk young people who have been referred to Aberdeen Foyer by local authorities and other agencies.
By matching hosts to those in need of support, a young person gains a safe place to stay for a night or two to decide their next steps.
The service offers both crisis response for young people presenting as homeless and early intervention respite for young people who are experiencing conflict within the family home but may be able to move back home with support.
Convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Operational Delivery Committee, Councillor Miranda Radley, said: “This is fantastic partnership that aims to tackle a hugely important issue within our city. Services like Nightstop mean that even in the most difficult circumstances, young people in Aberdeen will have an option of somewhere safe to spend the night.”
Chief Executive Leona McDermid said: “Nightstop can offer young people who are in crisis a safe space free of danger, and the opportunity to connect with any support they might need whilst continuing their daily lives such as going to school, college or work.
“Nightstop relies on host volunteers from our local communities with the Foyer providing support and training and is rewarding in so many ways. Your spare room might be the difference between a young person staying safe or ending up on the streets, and I would encourage anyone who might be interested in hosting to contact us for an informal chat and more information.“
The Nightstop programme urgently needs volunteer community hosts who would be willing to offer their spare room to a young person for emergency overnight accommodation
Volunteer community hosts will be supported by Foyer’s Nightstop service and must able to offer young people aged from 16 to 25 years a private spare room, shower, hot meal, laundry facilities and a listening ear.
Those interested in volunteering can email: nightstop@aberdeenfoyer.com or visit: https://www.aberdeenfoyer.com/services/nightstop/ to find out more.
Council Co-Leader, Councillor Ian Yuill, added: “Working together with organisations like Aberdeen Foyer strengthens the Council’s commitment to combating homelessness in Aberdeen. We urge those able and willing to volunteer to do so and help support this initiative aimed at keeping vulnerable young people safe.”
