Nightstop Concept

The Nightstop concept is simple - it is the provision of emergency accommodation for 16 to 25 year old young people in the homes of approved volunteers.

Nightstop volunteers are ordinary people who are willing to open the door of their home to help young people in need, or who offer their time to help local Nightstop services in other ways. All volunteers have to undertake specific training before commencing their volunteering role with a local Nightstop.

About half the young people who are referred to Nightstop are under 18. A young person would usually stay with a host for 1 to 3 nights at a time. Should the young person still be in need of emergency accommodation then it would be normal for them to stay with another volunteer from the same service. In some areas Nightstop services have developed their support to young people to offer such services as: tenancy support, mediation, preventative education work, housing advice, Crashpad and supported lodgings.

The first Nightstop was established in Leeds in 1987, and there are currently local Nightstop services in all of the nine government regions of England and in some regions in Scotland and Wales. Development into local communities within these regions where there is currently no provision of a Nightstop service remains a priority of Depaul Nightstop UK.