Trent Vineyard Church, Nottingham

Providing a safety net for young people at a moment of great vulnerability.

Nottingham Nightstop provides emergency accommodation to young people aged 16-25 who are at the point of becoming homeless. The project, set up as a partnership between Trent Vineyard and Christian Centre Nottingham, offers hundreds of bed-nights a year in the homes of trained volunteers, many of whom are members of the partner churches.

Each young person is referred to us by one of our partner agencies, who also work with them by day to find appropriate longer-term accommodation. Our volunteers host them one night at a time until suitable arrangements can be put in place, keeping them out of unsuitable accommodation and preventing them from sleeping rough or in other unsafe environments.

Nottingham Nightstop prevents young people at a point of crisis from entering a downward spiral of homelessness and its associated problems, which often include drug abuse, sexual exploitation, ill-health and disengagement from education and employment.
 

Nottingham Nightstop volunteers are ordinary people who are willing to open the door of their home for a few nights a month to help young people in need. We give them full training to ensure that both they and the person they are hosting is comfortable and safe. We also provide opportunities for volunteer drivers to transport them to their accommodation.

In 2009 we are piloting a befriending and mentoring support service to run alongside the accommodation service. Open to young people who have been hosted on the scheme, our trained volunteer mentors help them to develop the confidence and life skills they need to maintain independent living and avoid repeat homelessness. Support is provided to access appropriate education, training and employment.

Visit www.58i.org for more information and the stories of some of the young people we’ve helped.

Contact
Becka Stewart - 0845 055 7555/ (0115) 988 7060
104-114 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL
info@nottinghamnightstop.org

A 2008 survey of homelessness in Nottinghamshire reported that half of all homeless women in the county are aged 16-24. This is an especially vulnerable age group and the effects of homelessness on these girls can be devastating – so with support from charity Aquila Way, we set up Cedar Housing Nottingham to provide a Christian response to these issues.

In Spring 2009, Cedar Housing opened its first support service, offering accommodation and support to ten women at a time in a specially refurbished house. Staffed 24 hours a day, the service offers its residents the professional and volunteer help they need to escape homelessness for good. For more information, visit www.cedarhousing.org.uk

Opportunities exist for women-only volunteers to give their time, experience and skills in providing free education and training, plus mentoring and support.

If you are interested in being involved, please contact the church office. For more information on our partner, Aquila Way, visit www.aquilaway.org

Cedar housing is a registered charity (number 1125369).